I miss this place so much and I really miss Sensei Todd and all the other helpers. It was really a great experience there and I don’t think I will go back but I really loved it there and miss all the fun activities they had and learning new things.Edit: It is closed, I am so sorry to any people who may have worked there because you were amazing. I feel very bad that this place never reached its full potential in terms of business because of reasons I would rather not say. If it had reached it’s full potential it would probably have multiple locations around the Bay Area and still be open.

The best dojo in Bay Area!!! My son has been training here for the last 4 years and we are beyond pleased with his progress, not just in martial arts, but discipline, respect, self control, maturity. Sensei Todd and his instructors are awesome!!! We highly recommend this dojo!

I have been bringing my three very different grandchildren to this first class Dojo for 3 years now. They each love coming here and I love watching them become even stronger (mind and body) respectful and positive little humans.Sensi Todd (a 6th degree blackbelt) and the other teachers do an amazing job with each of them and all their classmates or as we call them their Karate family. That is what it feels like - a family.Besides the teachers really taking the time with students teaching technique as well as lessons in character building, all the students with higher belts regularly ask if they can help any of the children with lower belts before or after class and spend time showing them moves the lower belts have questions on. Some of these higher level belts also help during class to make sure every student is getting a lot of attention. I think this is wonderful as this continues to build character all though the training of these wonderful kids. They really are like karate brothers and sisters in this Dojo.I prefer to stay and watch my grandkids and the others, but many parents may not have this opportunity and instead get their other business done or just get a much needed break for themselves during class or the special activity nights offered - such as gladiator night or movie night.They also have holiday parties for everyone to visit with each other. ISDI is also affordable and easy to attend class as with one price your child can attend classes 1 to 6 days a week its your choice!My Highest recommendation!

I have been training in Shaolin Kempo and Shotokan Karate at this dojo for over 4 years. It is great for exercise, learning discipline and respect, and self-defense. It tests and improves your ability to listen and raises your self-confidence. I highly recommend it to anyone between the ages 4 through 60. It also has fun group activities and has events such as the Kickathon, where students do different kicks for 1 hour. The cost is $15 per person and all the money raised goes to St. Judes Childrens Hospital, a hospital for children with cancer.The dojo has Movie Nights, where students vote for a movie to watch, then play games and eat pizza, and finally watch the movie. It also has Gladiator Nights, where students get divided into teams and battle in ways including laser tag, sumo wrestling, and games on an Xbox or Wii.It has a tournament every May against another Best dojo in San Francisco. The tournament is for all ranks and has sparring, weapons forms, forms, and team sparring. All students win either a medal or a trophy, depending on what place they got in their section of the tournament. In conclusion, this dojo is a great place to train.

International Self Defense Institute is a dojo unlike many. I have trained there for over 8 years. Sensei Todd Jones passion for martial arts shows through in both his mastery Karate and in his dedication to teaching. He teaches through example, and inspires through skill. When I was starting out, the first kick he taught us was the front instep kick and to this day I can still remember my awe when he performed the kick with so much explosivenss and control. That night I went home and began practicing. Suffice to say, I am still inspired to train even though I am off to college.ISDI is also very special because of the many female black belt instructors. Starting out, I was definitely intimidated of training in Karate, but the instructors took the time to talk to me and make me feel more at ease and eager to train. They too are phenomenal teachers that train at the same level as sensei. I once saw Angela perform a shoulder take down on an adult student twice her size with no problem because good technique. The quality of training is consistently high irrespective of whose teaching because all of the instructors are great.On a more personal note, I have become a better person as a result of training at ISDI. Through training exercises and classes, I learned to push my limits. Through teaching, I became a better public speaker. Most importantly at this dojo no rank is given, only earned. So after each test, each rank you go away with a sense of accomplishment and confidence with the skills to back it up.

Very good discipline