1. Universal Martial Arts Academy

    1. Universal Martial Arts Academy

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    San Francisco, CA

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    Universal Martial Arts Academy

    5.0 (5 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    Zhong Luo's Dragon House

    Zhong Luo's Dragon House

    4.5
    (33 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    Legit gym with proven results but unforgivable unprofessionalism and predatory billing turned my…read moreexperience into a nightmare. Proceed with caution. I'll start with the truth: Zhong Luo's Dragon House MMA is a legitimate operation. Luo has undeniable credentials in traditional Chinese kung fu, runs a full-scale MMA program, and promotes his own successful fight events (Zhong Luo Cage Fighting Series) that draw serious talent. The gym produces competitive fighters, hosts high-level amateur and pro bouts, and clearly knows how to develop athletes who go on to bigger stages. No question. On paper, this place has credibility and results. But legitimacy doesn't excuse treating a sincere student like absolute shit. And that's exactly what happened to me in 2019. As someone with a profound admiration for Chinese culture and its martial traditions, I train religiously, pushing my physique to exceptional levels of strength. Raw power, disciplined conditioning, unyielding drive. I sought out Dragon House specifically for its authentic Kung Fu roots blended with modern MMA. Under proper guidance, channeling that energy and refining my skills, I could have become a devastating force in that realm; the kind of dedicated fighter any coach would be proud to mold. Instead, I got blatant disrespect and neglect. Luo repeatedly no-showed for scheduled classes; not once, but multiple times. I'd arrive eager to train, only to wait in vain while unsupervised students sparred chaotically around me. Safety was a joke. On my first day alone, one person attempted to eye gouge me during sparring. There was no oversight and no correction, only serious health and safety risks because the so called "Sifu" failed to honor his commitments, and because of racism (the person I was paired with was a racist white man, a grown adult who tried to eye gouge me, a college student). Even if those no-shows were some colossal "misunderstanding" (which I highly doubt), Luo offered zero explanation and zero apology on both occasions. Not a word. Just silence and indifference toward a student who showed up with nothing but respect and hunger to learn. Then came the real kicker: this "legit" gym still billed me whereabouts $1,700 for a full fucking year of training that I never received. When I disputed and blocked the unauthorized charge through my bank (because paying for phantom services is insane) they sent it straight to collections. Harassing me over money for services that were never provided. Unbelievable predatory bullshit from a place that claims to uphold discipline and honor. I'm not denying the gym's successes or Luo's skills. Plenty of people thrive there. But my experience exposes the rotten underbelly: chronic flakiness at the top, zero accountability, and ruthless billing tactics that screw over anyone who falls through the cracks. This isn't bitterness; it's outrage at being dismissed and exploited despite my sincerity. Dragon House has potential and pedigree, which makes the unprofessionalism even more shameful. Strong warning: sign anything here at your own risk. Demand clear terms, track attendance meticulously, and be prepared for zero recourse if things go south. There are other legit gyms out there worth considering instead. As my dear friends in China would say, "可惜你".

    What the fuck cant go well in this gym? Im a mid 50s MARINE. (We dont say former Marine because…read moreonce MARINE always Marine) . The family atmosphere is what had me hooked. In addition, the beast and savage fighters taking time to teach low level fighters the core basics is nice....they will take you to the side and actually TEACH you while they are prepping for fights. Ive never seen anything like this. Perfecting fighting and and teaching at its finest. Ive been to literal wars...Every single soul in this gym i would welcome as a combat buddy....SEMPER FI....AKA "always faithful"..DRAGON HOUSE...USMC..UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS...fyi..they had me gassed in the warm ups...shout out to everyone

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    *Mortal Kombat Theme Song Plays*
    *Mortal Kombat Theme Song Plays*
    New mat space on the first floor. Weights are in the room to the left, cardio room is upstairs.
    New mat space on the first floor. Weights are in the room to the left, cardio room is upstairs.
    Gi or No Gi, BJJ is a game of strategy, technique and endurance. Learn to control and submit your opponent!

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    Gi or No Gi, BJJ is a game of strategy, technique and endurance. Learn to control and submit your opponent!
    Manuel's Renshinkan Karate

    Manuel's Renshinkan Karate

    5.0
    (16 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    My niece has been taking karate classes here for over 5 years. This school, the instructors and the…read moreentire community that revolves them are amazing. The lessons they teach students goes beyond self-defense. Here, you child will learn service to others, self-discipline, commitment to excellence, pushing beyond your limits and more. SUPER CLEAN too.

    I went down two jean sizes from in a 2-month time frame…read more That should be enough to convince you to train with ryan right? If not here are some more awesome things about ryan gonzalez's personal training and bootcamps and manuel's renshikan. Personal Training- Ryan's workouts are intense. It is very challenging and he will make you work. The hour goes by really fast because it is non-stop. I came to him to prepare for my wedding and When I started my joints were clicking and my knees were messed up. the best part is not only will he tell you how to work out, he will also teach you a lot of stuff on how to correct yourself to be better and stop having pains and aches. I train 2x a week and do cardio on my own. Ryan has secrets on the best cardio workouts you can do on your own as well. Bootcamp- saturdays are 1 hour circuits. 9-10am. Also intense. Barely any rest but thats why its called a workout and not sleeping in. Be warned: this is no joke. But if you are a beginner he will actually give you alternatives to ease you into them. And at $10 its a very good deal. Sundays- boxing/kickboxing. They're long 9-10:30ish. I recommend Bringing your own gloves. If you wanna jumpstart your weight-loss or just to change up your workout routines, i highly recommend boxing. And if you just wanna punch people and stuff this will also be fun for you. Karate- I personally did tae kwon do at Lawler's but as far as I can see from the classes this school is great for kids or anyone to learn karate. The teachers are very nice and you can tell that this is their passion just by watching them teach. I believe they compete a lot so that can be great for you or your child. The End

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    Manuel's Renshinkan Karate
    Manuel's Renshinkan Karate
    Manuel's Renshinkan Karate

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    San Francisco Jujutsu Kodenkai

    San Francisco Jujutsu Kodenkai

    5.0
    (1 review)
    2.8 mi

    I attended a 4 hour Women's self-defense class with Danilo. I did not have any prior experience…read morewith martial arts or self-defense. It was a really useful class that I think every women should take! It's a mix between hands-on practice and little tips on how to deal with different types of attacks. Despite the rather scary subject, my friend and I had a lot of fun that afternoon and walked away much more confident. The facilities were clean and the class sizes are small. Definitely recommend without hesitation!

    From the owner: Traditional Martial Arts & Self Defense For Women…read more DAN ZAN RYU is a style of Japanese Jujutsu that also incorporates Hawaiian Lua, Chinese Kung Fu, and Filipino Escrima. A comprehensive system of self defense, self development, and healing, it was developed and first taught to Americans in Hawaii in the 1920s by Professor Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki, a Japanese Jujutsu Master. The San Francisco Jujutsu Kodenkai (SFJK) continues this tradition and provides training in Dan Zan Ryu Jujutsu up to 2nd degree black belt. All classes are taught by Sensei Laura Shannon-Madeja (2nd degree black belt), and Sensei Danilo Shannon-Madeja (3rd degree black belt). Classes are held at Excelsior Yoga. KUPALE: Self Defense For Women ​is a four hour clinic which teaches women the knowledge and skills necessary to survive and escape an attack. The course includes how to take falls safely, defensive positions, escapes, counter-attacks, improvised weapons, awareness, and strategy. The alarming statistics are that one in four women in the United States gets assaulted. KUPALE was created to meet the need for women to be able to protect themselves.

    Universal Martial Arts Academy - martialarts - Updated July 2026

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