San Rafael Martial Arts

San Rafael Martial Arts offers Kung Fu, Yang Style Tai Chi, and self defense, including traditional hand forms, weapon forms, and self defense applications of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. Classes include Cubs Kung Fu, Tigers Kung Fu, Teens Kung Fu, and Adult Kung Fu, as well as Yang Style Tai Chi forms and martial applications of Tai Chi. Instruction includes deep and vast strikes, joint locks, pressure points, and both hand and weapons forms.

• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Class options Monday–Saturday in the afternoon and evening, with additional morning options on Saturdays

San Rafael Martial Arts was founded in 2011 by Sifu Terrance Thornton, who is sharing over 35 years of martial arts experience with Marin County. He began training in Choy Li Fut Kung Fu and Yang Style Tai Chi at Doc-Fai Wong Martial Arts Center, founded by Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong in 1968, and he has learned from Tai Sifu Jason Wong, the Chief Instructor of that center. Choy Li Fut Kung Fu is described as an 188+ year old art.

The stated mission of San Rafael Martial Arts is to ensure students achieve their goals, with a commitment to recognizing and achieving fitness, self-defense, flexibility, and personal goals, and to provide a clean, safe and comfortable atmosphere to make learning enjoyable and possible. One parent, Erika D., reports that her son has been attending for a year and that she has watched him grow in confidence and character since he started taking kung fu with Sifu Terrance.

San Rafael Martial Arts has been a contributor to the SF-Marin Food Bank for over 10 years, is a member of the Business Improvement District (BID) since 2012 and serves on its Board of Directors, and is a member of San Rafael Clean, where it commits to keeping its school front and back clean of debris and graffiti and keeping the street gutters clean. The school notes that it prides itself on giving back to the community through training, community work, and donations. It has been featured in Pacific Sun as the Best Martial Arts School in Marin County and has been voted Best Martial Arts Academy in the Independent Journal's Readers Choice Award.

Last updated June 15, 2026.