Krav Maga Institute

Tactica/​KMI is an incredible school — they are serious about teaching folks real, applicable self defense. I love taking the Krav classes, and the fitness classes like boxing, combat cardio, etc are awesome compliments to my Krav lessons. All the classes are an incredible workout — I lost 16 lbs in my first 5 weeks and have kept it off ever since! This gym in particular seems extremely welcoming of all people, which as a woman, isn’t always the way we’re made to feel in more «aggressive» combat gyms. And the percentage of women who attend is the highest of any martial art/​sport specific/​self defense series I’ve ever attended!
Women, children, everyone is treated with respect and patience and it really feels like a family. There are no egos, nothing to prove, everyone there is there to learn, to sweat, to fight, then to shake hands and be friends again… no strutting and posing here. And no people talking about how high their level is and how much better they are than everyone else. Even the super high level folks train in the entry level classes sometimes to brush back up on basics and every time they help you out, they’re patient and kind and encouraging. The instructors here are NEXT LEVEL awesome. They’ll push you hard to do all you can, but also are funny and very approachable and sweet. The perfect mix.

KMI would definitely be my gym of choice in SF. Great location, practical training and application. If you work around the area like I do it really would be in your benefit to check drop in for a few classes. The place is definitely clean and they have changing rooms and cubbies to store your things.

Wish I could give 10 stars! I am doing private training with Jeremy and it is absolutely worth it! Jeremy is the epiphany of a super nice guy, who can turn deadly if he’s under attack! I have learned so much practical and useful self-​defense skills in just 2 sessions, and will continue to keep training with Jeremy. The best form of defense is a Krav Maga offense!

I tried KMI twice and loved it. Fantastic workouts and taught effective techniques against potential real world threats. I have had two Instructors so far and they’ve both been great. My first trial class was with Jeremy on a random slow Saturday so it ended up being a one on one session. Without missing a beat, Jeremy remained enthusiastic, patient, and invested an hour of his time with me even though I was on a trial bases and may not have come back. This experience weighed positively on my decision to sign up for a multi-​month membership soon after.
The workouts have been intense. Like others have shared, the other participants are easy going and are there to train, not show off. I referred a buddy and we both exclaimed after a session that it was (literally) one kick butt session. I’ve had muscle soreness for a couple of days after each session but each time I want to go back for more. When you combine good Instructors with friendly participants in a nice environment, it’s a recipe for success.

I was a member of Krav Maga Training Center up the street for years. Thought I’d mix it up and try this place out. Night-​and-​day difference. Very organized classes, excellent instructors, very intense and challenging work outs, safe atmosphere, wonderful mix of supportive students. The extra $ is far worth it. Give it a go.. .

I’ve taken the P1 beginners classes and really enjoy it. KMI allows two trial classes at $ 15 each. Afterwards you can either purchase membership or buy a 10 class card. I went the card route.
The instructors who have taught me were knowledgeable, respectful and professional. The other participants seemed low key as well and helpful. The partners I’ve worked with have been generally supportive and have given me tips when needed. No one was really out there to show off, which is good. The last class I went to had 11 attendees. There were some women.
Facilities are somewhat small, but it suffices. They have hanging punching bags, pads, etc for practice.
Sometimes the class participants can get sweaty, so that’s something to watch for if you’re squeamish about that.
Although it is expensive, I feel that it’s important to have some self-​defense tactics in your back pocket should the need arise. Overall, I recommend KMI.

Great place to learn, pricey, but great. The trainers take their time with you, it’s a good workout, and everyone you fight with is super chill.

I spent my Sunday afternoon learning all about woman’s self defense with their striking clinic and workshop.
Deanna Perez, lead the class, and was amazing. There were 2 other instructors who facilitated our workshop of about 15 females. We paired up and practiced different scenarios like gunpoint in car, being cornered against a wall, someone grabbing your hand to lead you somewhere, etc. it was quiet a 3 hour workout and I was exhausted but im glad to have gained all that knowledge
It would have helped to have more individual attention. There were time that I felt my partner and I were just practicing on a whim, without really knowing if we’re doing it properly. At the same time, these technique take practice to perfect and they do recommend attending more sessions to practice and get comfortable.
I highly recommend everyone, female or male, participate in a self-​defense workshop/​class at least once. Knowledge is power. It’s very empowering to learn and know how to strike (hit) effectively using your whole body’s momentum, and also how to react at gun point — run or fight situations. It’s scary to think these things happen to good people, but they do and it’s important to learn how to protect yourself. It’s all in the name of preventive self-​care. :)
Thanks Deanna and the Krav Maga team for holding these workshops and empowering is ladies to defend ourselves. Girl power baby!

I really like this place. nothing fancy about ti just plain fitness — self defense lovers doing what the like most. Very friendly stuff.

If you are still debating whether to give it a try or not, think no more! I feel like even a person with zero experience in martial arts (as myself) will find these classes very doable, helpful, interesting and worthy a serious workout! Krav Maga Institute is a very welcoming place with friendly and experienced instructors!
Give it a shot I bet you won’t regret it!

This is truly a fantastic place!
I came here hating working out and now I am addicted going four to five days a week (sometimes taking two classes in a row) so be warned you will love it!
Jeremy and the other trainers are very good at what they do and they always keep things interesting. Not only do you learn techniques in the P1-​P5 classes to defend yourself but they mix in strength and endurance training to make sure you are in the best shape you can be. Within a few classes you will notice improvement and it only gets more fun with each class. Come prepared to sweat and make new friends. The KraV community is very friendly and never competitive. Everyone pushes each other to do their best but no one shows off!
A MUST try for anyone looking to get in shape and not realize they are doing it!

I started off my KMI training at their San Francisco facility located in Hayes Valley. Senior Instructor Jeremy Brown is takes a very simplistic and easy-​to-​understand approach to teaching Krav Maga techniques and concepts. Classes are geared towards recognizing danger, avoiding it if possible, dealing with it when necessary, and retreating before a dangerous situation escalates even further. Personal safety is stressed, both in-​class and on the street, as drills often incorporate scanning the immediate environment, awareness of potential threats, recognizing escape routes, and utilizing everyday objects for possible defensive use.
I particularly like the atmosphere at KMI. Everyone is very friendly and helpful, and camaraderie is very apparent here. Even on my first day here, all the students and instructors took the time to introduce themselves and ask me my name. I felt very relaxed and at ease here, and that definitely makes a difference when training. Trust is an important issue with me when it comes to training in Krav Maga, and I instantly felt I could trust everyone at KMI.
KMI San Francisco also offers several fitness classes to suit your needs: Combat Cardio, Boxing, Kettle bells, and FAST (Fighter Advanced Sensory Training). They also offer 2 trial classes at $ 15 each in case you are interested in trying at Krav Maga at KMI. I highly recommend giving KMI a try!

The KMI schools in the Bay Area are incredible. I am based in NYC but have family in the Bay so I visit the area 3 or 4 times a year and train as often as I can during my visits there. The team is led by Danny Zelig who is one of the most experienced instructors working today, he and his team are professional, supportive and provide the best self defense training available. There are three KMI schools in the Bay area alone and as a visiting member, you have access to all of them. If you are new in town and want to learn self defense, make friends or just get fit, then KMI is definitely for you.

Jeremy is amazing and everything you’d expect from an IKMF-​trained KM instructor: intelligent, funny, approachable, supportive and an excellent teacher. The classes are HARD (esp combat cardio, which is the only group fitness class I’ve ever actually enjoyed), and the community is awesome. All in all the friendliest people and most effective self defense/​fighting/​fitness combo in SF, I reckon. Worth every penny —
i LOVE this place!

A no nonsense Krav Maga, Israeli style. Crazy drills, super nice instructors and very pleasant people to spar with. Highly recommend.

I joined about a month ago. This is how it worked for me:
Week one: I wanted to die. I did a few Krav 1 classes, conditioning, and a bag class. I thought I was relatively fit. Nope. After your 75^th burpee and running around the block with a kettlebell a few times, you will realize that your standards of fitness have been shamefully low. My first week at Krav ended with me having to roll out of bed and crawl around the house. Coincidentally, the elevator at work was also broken that week, so it wasn’t unusual to find me on the third floor landing weeping because my office is on the 7^th floor. Don’t give up after week one! You will want to, but don’t do it!
Week 2 and 3: The pain subsided and I could finally laugh without crying. My burpees were more energetic, and I felt like I could do situps for days. My roundhouse could make Chuck Norris bow to my greatness.
Week 4: It’s Friday night and I’m at home. I went to class this evening and I’m staying home so I can marathon 3 classes tomorrow morning. I effing love this place.
I have a gym in my apartment building and I never go… KMSF is incredibly inconvenient for me. I live in Oakland but I work in San Francisco. After work every day I spend 30 minutes walking to KMSF and workout for about 2 hours. I spend 20 minutes walking to BART, spend 20 minutes on BART, and then I spend 10 minutes walking to my house. This is inconvenient as all hell, but I go. Everyday. Because I love it so much.
The gym itself is nothing glamorous. People smell in class because everyone works out so hard. It’s not pretentious. People are here to work out, not to people watch. In the actual Krav classes the instructors have been very helpful and have been quick to correct my form and technique. I don’t have enough good things to say. You should try it for yourself.

Been coming to KMI with my wife for almost 6 months and love it. I challenged myself to go to 3 classes a week at the beginning and now maintain 4 – 7 a week (kinda hooked)…
I’m the type that gets bored at the gym and need variety, the instructors here are great and keep the classes both interesting and challenging. I think it was a month before I repeated a drill. The philosophy really is simple: running is your rest from doing push-​ups, push-​ups are your rest from sit-​ups, sit-​ups are your rest from… you get the idea. Soon an hour has passed and you realize you never stopped moving.
The class sizes are amazing unlike other schools where the can be 1 instructor for 30 people, here the class size seems to hover around 8 – 15 people which offers plenty of interaction with the instructors. No previous experience is required; the instructors break the movements down and spend time focusing on doing the motion as efficiently as possible.
Beyond the instructors, you’ll find the people you’re training with friendly and supportive with a surprising lack of ego. The person with years of experience has no issue pairing with a novice and will help coach.
Five stars to KMI, since I can’t give 6…

I can’t say enough about how great KMI has been. I have been training with the owner Danny, and the Instructors at KMI for several years now. When I started training in Krav Maga I weighed 355 pounds and could not jog much less run or fight/​train for any length of time without being winded. Having been very fit in my late teens it was difficult to acknowledge my new limitations and work to over come them. The entire time the folks working and training at KMI provided a supportive and solid place to workout, grow, train, and get in shape. In the friendly «No Ego» zone of this Krav Maga studio I was constantly encouraged and never put down. A few years later I am 175 pounds and pretty damn fit. I have watched many students get fit, get confident, and become very capable of defending themselves along side me.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this studio to anyone looking for practical self defense, fitness, and self improvement.

I’ve been going to KMI since August and it’s amazing. As a small woman (I’m 5’2″) I was looking for a gym where my workout was an activity and not just using the elliptical and watching Law & Order. I choose KMI because the gym could serve double duty for fitness plus self defense.
I’ve learned so much and gotten so much stronger in the few months I’ve been going to KMI. I take Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Kettle Bells and my favorite Cardio Combat. I like how defined my muscles are getting and how I feel that I know a few moves if I find myself in a sticky situation.
Plus, I can do like 30 pushups now.

Was so happy to see this place open up close to where i live, really wanted to like the classes. I took a few of the Muay Thai classes when they first opened and i liked the space but i found the teacher (don’t remember his name. asian guy) totally unprofessional and inexperienced.
i have trained in a few martial arts places over the years so i have an idea of what to expect. The classes i attended was not well organized and i found it frustrating. The kid teaching the class was just that a kid (maybe 20 yrs old) and seemed to not really know how to run the class. I also found him to be really inappropriate and it made me uncomfortable and not want to go back.