After I got assaulted on a bus earlier in the year, a few good friends highly recommended I take a…read moreself-defense class from this place. I've never taken a self-defense or martial arts class in my life. I figured it was about time, given the current circumstance of the world we live in. I took a self-defense class on riding public transit from Moses. Moses was great providing instruction and examples of the why and how on self-defense and it felt really practical. It definitely eased my anxiety a little bit considering I've often feel intimidated by the idea of just doing anything related to conflict. It also was intense and I got winded pretty quickly (and I thought I was in excellent shape from being a trained dancer and roller skater!). Just one class alone did provide a lot of value and practicality of what I need to work on when riding public transit as well as general awareness of safety now. In reality, with every skill you learn, it's going to require practice and consistency of training to stick. I'll definitely come back once I get my schedule back together.

Very inclusive, no ego gym. Instructors are very patient and welcoming with clear instructions. All…read morethe students are very friendly, no ego and help each other out. Easy to jump into a class and get on board.

I attended a seminar with Grand Master Bobby Taboada and I was very impressed with this group. The…read moreinstructors were present and helpful, and everyone was very friendly. I had never visited this school before and did not feel like a stranger at all. I this is any indication of what the school is like on a daily basis I would not hesitate to attend if I lived in town. Thank you!

I love Legacy. I wish I had found it sooner (sadly now I have to move). It can be very…read moreintimidating entering a Martial Arts School but the teachers and members were very welcoming. I connected with Sir Joseph via email beforehand, he's very responsive which I was really grateful for. He patiently answered all of my questions. I really appreciated that they have an organized curriculum. They also teach/give access to learning more about the Filipino culture outside of the Martial Arts. I took the 6:45 pm adult class 1-2 per week for a few months. They do offer other classes though like Dirty Boxing and youth classes if you're interested in that. As a pinay I hold so much value to this art. It's beautiful and takes a lot of skill. So give it a try and give yourself some grace if it doesn't come naturally at first. If you could bring a friend with you, that would be super helpful, because a lot of the material requires combat with another person. Anyway, I'm getting off track, all of the teachers/to be teachers are kind, knowlegable, and always willing to assist so don't be afraid to ask questions! Maraming salamat to all of the friends and guros I got to know and work with at Legacy, I hope to see you in the future!

These guys are the real deal…read more One of the things I like most about Combat Krav Maga is that there are no egos and no need to prove anything. You have people from all walks of life and different ages training together, and after spending some time here, you quickly realize how much knowledge and experience is in the room. Joel and the team focus on practical, real-world self-defense. The training is challenging, welcoming, and very different from a lot of martial arts schools that focus more on looking impressive than being effective. What really impressed me was seeing how skilled everyone is. There are a lot of experienced people training here, and it's a reminder that experience, technique, and good instruction matter far more than appearances. If you're thinking about learning self-defense, come visit, watch a class, and talk to the people here. You'll quickly see why so many students stay for years. Highly recommend. These guys are the real deal.

Tried out the women self defense class. Very informative. Instructor was very patient and showed us…read moremany practical useful techniques. Will definitely come back to learn more

Our family moved away from Menlo Park this past month, and I knew I needed to update my review to…read morereflect my experience here. For 8 months I've trained at Urban Combat, and not only can I say that the instruction is stellar, but the people have become like family to me. Due to the small class size and the built-in mentality of mentorship from more advanced students, I felt like I was part of a community who not only cares about self-defense, but cares about building up the people who train here. For example, when a student has a competition coming up, or when I had a certification I was hoping to test for, the class learns the material alongside their classmate to help them prepare. As far as self-defense is concerned, the curriculum is thorough and engaging. Brian covers everything from home invasion, weapons defense, situational awareness, striking, multiple opponents, and everything in between. I loved that the class built in strength and conditioning as part of the program so that I was getting in a solid workout as well. As our family relocates, I will be looking for a new place to train, but the bar is high after my experience at Urban Combat. If you're looking for solid self-defense training and a great time, look no further.

Exceptionally good training . I have trained in various styles in different cities over my adult…read morelife and can confidently say that this is the best overall training that I have found Effective and reality-based but without the edge some places have

I had so much anxiety going into this event - what would it entail? Would I look silly? Would I be…read moreclumsy? Would I fail? By the end of the event, all of that was gone. The instructors are so friendly, compassionate, and approachable. They saw all that anxiety and tension and uncertainty I brought to class and they helped me release it, piece by piece. They made it safe to fail, safe to look silly, safe to be messy and imperfect, and most importantly, they made it safe for us to do all of that together. They were human and authentic, and made it safe for us to be human and authentic too. If you're curious about this class, don't wait - enroll. You will not be disappointed. I know I wasn't.

I still think about this place/training and want my young daughter to come here for teen training…read more I came to my classes back when I was very scared because of something that had happened. It was difficult, but I left feeling empowered!

The Mother-Daughter class was more than I had anticipated and well worth the time and money…read more Jay explained why he was saying and doing things, asked permission before demonstrations and understood everyone's comfort level with being physical. Being able to actually do the physical moves on another person as opposed to having to "pull punches" or just mimic the movements really helped for a better understanding of what is physically necessary. My daughter expressed that she had more fun than she thought she was going to and walked away with a new confidence. We will be organizing an event for our Girl Scout troop after this experience.

I took this class with my co-worker. Jay did a great job explaining why certain movements worked…read more We got to try simulated situations. He addressed real concerns we had and showed us how to navigate them. We are discussing a possible class for the women in our office. While I don't have all the skills I could have, I am confident that I have a fighting chance if a situation were to happen. Taking this class has made me want to learn more. I really appreciate Jay helping us understand that we are all a lot stronger than we realize if we know how to use the tools we have.

My son has been with USSD for at least the past four years, which has included all of his middle…read moreschool years. We started off at our local USSD dojo location in San Anselmo, which closed shortly after the start of the pandemic, and it led us to the SF location. I've seen my son grow confident, dedicated, and disciplined, by being a part of USSD. USSD SF has adapted to the pandemic by offering a combination of zoom classes and in-person classes, which works for us, since my son attends class virtually during the week, and goes in-person on Saturdays. A testament to Sensei and the bond between the team is seeing students grow up, go off the college, and come back to visit on school breaks. USSD SF also offers additional activities, such as ninja nights, summer camps, and competitions in southern CA. The location on Fillmore offers plenty for parents to do while kids are in class - there are a variety of eateries and shops within walking distance, and Japantown is only a couple of blocks away. Parking is metered right in front of the dojo, though you can drive a block or two to try to find non-metered parking.

Our family has been studying with Master Collins for 3.5 years and we love it! I signed both my…read morekids up, and my wife started taking lessons as well. We love the physical and mental concentration karate requires, and all of us have advanced tremendously at this dojo. It's wonderful for the kids, and they've gained not only physical self defence skills, but confidence and concentration as well. Master Collins is a great teacher with a wide range and decades of experience. I couldn't recommend this dojo more, for kids and adults!

My son has been in Taekwando with Defense Pro for a a few months. It's been an extremely positive…read moreexperience. He was struggling with team sports and we needed something more self paced. He has adhd and has trouble concentrating. Taekwondo has been great for him because there is enough movement to keep his attention. John is really great with the kids. He has the perfect balance of keeping them in line while also keeping things fun. I've been really impressed with the program and we plan to stick with it for the long term. Side note: You sign up through novato parks and rec.

Empowering, Confidence Builder from an Experienced Professional!…read more We had a great private self-defense session with my high-school age daughter and John at our house. My hope is she will never need to leverage the techniques John taught her, but now she has the tools to defend herself if/when necessary. John's approach is very effective. He brings the right tools to train on self-defense and understands how to communicate to the student - including providing relevant stories and examples to make it relatable. Every young woman should go through a course like this: - Situational awareness: How to avoid being in a bad situation (when you are alone, when you are with a male 'friend' who has different intentions, or when you are with friends at 'gatherings' with 'beverages'). - Self-defense: How to defend yourself from an 'friendly' who is aggressive or a true aggressor (how to get out of 'uncomfortable' situations, how to get out of common physical 'holds', and how to fight back). I highly recommend and we will be back for a refresher before my daughter goes off to college.

Our daughter absolutely loves coming to karate classes and always looks forward to every training…read moresession. Coach Greg is outstanding with children, both as a sports instructor and as a mentor. He knows how to motivate kids, teach them discipline, and make them feel confident and supported. These classes are not only about self-defense -- children also learn patience, respect, responsibility, and many other important values that help them grow both on and off the mat. I also really appreciate how the students who have been training for a longer time are always so kind and supportive toward the newer children. They help them selflessly, encourage them, and make them feel welcome, which creates such a positive and friendly environment. Our family gives this karate club our sincere and wholehearted recommendation!

Greg is the kind of mentor you want for your child . An amazing human and a dedicated teacher …read more USSD is a great place to have a vocation for a child for overall development and not just martial arts . As an organization, USSD is very well run with excellent communication and ample opportunity for growth and development for kids . The community is very good too as one would expect under good leadership.

Wonderful gym with great coaches! My kids have been taking…read moreclasses here for some time now and we are really happy to have found such a lovely community of people here.

Solid open mat and no-gi here. If you live in the neighborhood and want good rolls of all levels I…read morerecommend checking this place out. Everyone was super friendly. Mats were very spacious too!