I couldn't say more great things about Empire and their Basics class! I was a complete beginner to…read moremartial arts, nervous to start and I felt the perfect balance of being pushed and welcomed on the very first day. John is an extremely attentive and detailed instructor and I was hooked right away. I attended the weekly basics class after the first class and have been feeling a lot of growth. The community is great, have made wonderful friends, and am excited to now have jiu jitsu as part of my life. Highly recommend for everyone - especially complete beginners!

I was in town for work and wanted to do a quick drop in to train somewhere before I had to actually…read moredo work. I left a message on their website about and got a response back that I'd be welcome. I managed to find parking around the corner and walked up. I got there in between classes so I was able to get the waiver signed and pay the drop in fee. The class seemed to be a lot of regulars. The students all seemed to know each other real well and there definitely seemed to be a sense of community there. The rolls were tough but friendly and I'm glad I dropped in, probably the most productive part of my work trip in SF.

Filipino Martial Arts is surprisingly lethal!…read more Dropped in at Legacy while on vacation and after one class I already feel more confident and better prepared to defend myself in a real world situation. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a good work out along with self defense and attack techniques using weapons. Thanks, Joseph!

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!

My family has called El Niño home for years and I mean that literally. My son is turning 13 and has…read morebeen training since he was 4, right alongside his sister. This place isn't just a gym, it's where they grew up. The coaches here are something else. They don't just teach technique they invest in YOU, they remember your name, and they make you feel like you belong from day one. Walking into a martial arts gym for the first time can feel intimidating, but El Niño strips all of that away. You walk in a stranger and leave feeling like family. And for anyone making excuses I'm a mom of two, a wife, and I work full time. If I can carve out time to train Jiu-Jitsu and fall completely in love with it, anyone can. This gym meets you where you are and grows with you. I will be here for the rest of my life. Best gym. Period. Highly recommend.

I love this place been here since 2011 the location has great parking and even better coachesread more

World Muay Thai Team USA is the best Muay Thai gym in San Francisco. The gym is big and well…read moreequipped, with plenty of heavy bags, lots of mat space, and a full ring for sparring and drills. Classes are well run and open to all levels, from beginners to experienced fighters. The atmosphere is welcoming, focused, and respectful. I've trained with Kru Sam for over 20 years. He has proven to be one of the best Muay Thai trainers in the world. Over the last 25 years, he has developed multiple world champions and helped launch the careers of some of San Francisco's top Muay Thai and MMA fighters. His teaching is clear, technical, and patient. He gives the same attention to new students as he does to seasoned fighters. He also hosts fight events, giving his students real opportunities to compete. This gym has a strong and supportive community. Everyone trains hard and looks out for one another. If you want real Muay Thai with world-class coaching and a team that feels like family, World Muay Thai Team USA is the place to be.

I've been going to this gym for about 4 months (-time off for work trips) and ended up going almost…read moreevery day. The coaches are skilled, personable, and really love to see when you're improving. The other students are welcoming and all putting in their best effort to better themselves all for various reasons, and if you're doing the same, you're gonna make some solid friendships here. Kru Sam is actually from Thailand and knows the traditions of the art and still goes back himself or sends students there regularly to train, which may be part of why he's trained so many champions. If you're looking to compete, a place to learn how to defend yourself, or even a place to get in a solid workout, give it a shot!

Many boxing classes often focus on cardio boxing or kickboxing with minimal focus on actual boxing…read moretechniques. What I like about this gym is that the instructors all have boxing experience (not just fitness or cardio kickboxing) and provide instructions on boxing techniques. The gym is fairly large with an ample amount of heavy bags. There is a section for weight lifting though I hardly use that. Finally there is an open area for sparring for those interested. To start, you have to take a few introductory boxing classes where you learn the basics of their boxing techniques (e.g 1 is jab, 2 is cross, 3 is front hook punch, etc.). After that you can take the other more advanced classes. I typically take the Old School Boxing Class. The Old School Boxing Class consists of a 5-10 min warmup, some basic boxing warmup like shadow boxing, some partner drills, and finally some punching on heaving bags. Good workout for an hour.

Because it's true. The realest gym inna city! Everyone is a help. Everyone is a somebody…read more Everyone makes eachother better. And you're constantly learning. 3rd Street Boxing Gym Builds WARRIORS!

Patrick was extraordinarily patient with me at my first class today. I lost both my father and my…read moregrandfather in 2016. The shock of the loss of the two of them has finally cleared a bit and I'm s-l-o-w-l-y making my way out of my grief and into fitness again. This was the first formal class exercise I'd done since 2015. Once again, Patrick was patient, encouraging but not overt about embarrassing you with giving positive feedback. It was a challenging work out and I took my time getting re-aquainted with my body as I definitely needed help. I'm more of a visual learner when it comes to anything kinesthetic so was grateful for Patrick's patient coaching on getting my movements down. It was good to check in with my body after being checked out of it with grief for sometime. I'll be back.

This place is quite possibly the most under-rated gym in San Francisco. I almost feel bad giving it…read moremore exposure because I selfishly don't want the classes to get too crowded but I have to give Patrick and his Russian kettle bell class the recognition and praise it deserves. I found this place through Class Pass and to be honest was a little underwhelmed the first time I came in. I almost couldn't find the place as there is no sign whatsoever and it is actually inside of another Gym (Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu). The front desk didn't know what to do with me at first as I wasn't there for martial arts, but after some explanation and signing a waiver I got connected with Patrick, the instructor. Patrick does not coddle you. He does not give you inspirational speeches or nutritional advice. He is not here to be your friend. He is here to make you work. In the world of boutique fitness studios I found this to be a breath of fresh air. Each class consists of Patrick leading you through a deceptively difficult Kettle bell workout full of full body moves that force you to recruit all of your strength and stability to get through them. Yes you will be doing a lot of kettle bell swings but you will also be doing other moves like the fiendishly intense Turkish get up, clean and press, hanging leg raises, goblet squats, one-handed swings, and much much more. Patrick also incorporates some interesting full body stretches into the routine, which give you little breathers and help you keep those hamstrings limber as the class goes on. Patrick cares a lot about proper form and will not hesitate to tell you if you are doing a move incorrectly. This is a rarity in the modern fitness landscape and is much appreciated! There is nothing sexy about a back injury. These classes are so great because there is simply no cheating or slacking with kettle bells. You cannot hide from the hard work here. Kettle bells are so effective because they make you perform complex compound movements that require a degree of core stability and recruitment of all of your major muscle groups. Each move requires your utmost focus, attention, breath, and strength. As such you find yourself working pretty much every muscle in your body, breathing hard, and sweating a ton by the end of class. Come here. Work hard. You will sweat. You will learn. You will get stronger in a no-bullshit setting. This class is certainly not for everyone. If you are looking for entertaining work outs with choreography and music and talkative receptionists you should not come here. You will not have fun and will feel out of place. There is no fluff or padding to these classes. They are full-body weight training with the fat trimmed out (fitness pun intended). Come here for results. You won't regret it.

When we started taking classes at Motion, we were total beginners. Like, we were lucky if we took…read morethe dogs for more than a 20 minute walk and we accidentally found the place because we were hunting for Vietnamese sandwiches .. those type of beginners. Good thing we lucked out and ended up at Motion FMA! She was interested in taking Jiu Jitsu, and he was interested in taking Muay Thai. So, like any commitment-phobic people, we bribed each other into taking both classes. (Yes, they have both! And now more!) The BJJ classes are well-structured with both drills and sparring, extremely practical, and definitely did not need us to already be hella fit just to get started. The Muay Thai classes are great for cardio and, let's face it, some serious frustration-management ("f***in boss!" LOL). Everyone else in the classes is also super welcoming, which definitely makes it easier to start something new, as well as says a lot about the community they've built. We were super stoked when they started the Stick Mobility classes, and have now been trying to get everyone and their moms to join us. We tell them, it's like fun yoga, with the after-feeling of a massage, set to 80s music. The great thing about Martin and Jyn is that they really know how to adjust the teaching based on your learning style, experience, and ability. We found that in all their classes, we were having a great time learning while getting a hell of a workout in. We highly recommend Motion FMA for anyone looking to make the move from couch *potato* to having a *grape* time getting your fitness on with some awesome folks!

Martin and Jyn are amazing in and out of the mats , if you are in Pacifica area I highly recommendread more

Professor Chris and the other coaches have been so amazing. They are great with all the kids and…read moreare able to talk them through difficult moments on the mat, particularly with the littles. Both my kids love it here and everyone is so kind and welcoming. Highly recommend!

My son started here less than a month ago, and it already feels like he has become part of…read moresomething very special. From the very first day, the coaches and students welcomed him with open arms and genuine kindness. They guide with patience, skill, and heart -- always focused on helping each student grow, both on and off the mat. What I appreciate most is how they teach more than just jiu-jitsu techniques. Every class is also about values -- respect, humility, discipline, and teamwork. You can truly feel the sense of community they are building. It's not only a place to train; it's a place to belong. Seeing my son's confidence grow, his excitement before every class, and how supported he feels means everything to me as a parent. This academy represents what jiu-jitsu should be: strength, respect, and family.