Northern Tiger Kenpo

Did you know that most successful high level executives have one thing in common? Military experience. Do you know the second most common characteristic? Martial arts background. Sifu Nash has both.
I started studying with Sifu Nash about three months ago to increase my resilience, endurance, focus and confidence. Working with him and his blackbelts was the best decision I’ve made in a long time.
He starts you off slow and tailors the lesson to your strengths and weaknesses and builds from there. He’ll take you wherever and as far as you’d like to go.
Nash is ultra observant, which makes him very good coach. He will pinpoint your biggest errors and help correct them in a clear, succinct and understandable way, while never overloading you with too much information. Having worked with so many different types of people over his long career in martial arts, he knows exactly what he is doing, which is very apparent while working with him.
Perhaps the biggest thing you’ll notice is that within the first month or two, your body starts to change (in a good way) and your confidence and focus improves along with it.
When walking down some of the sketchier streets in SF, I’m now confident I could fend off (or more accurately seriously injure) an attacker, even after studying with Nash for only 3 months. This confidence you feel while walking around is worth far more than the price of admission.
The other thing I love about this place, is that it’s a no-​bullshit dojo. You can’t pay for belts, Nash isn’t trying to get rich off of overcharging a bunch of kids… a McDojo I believe they are called.
Northern Tiger Kenpo is the real deal, and you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone as passionate about both Kenpo and teaching than Nash. He shares everything he knows and cares about all of his students, expertly pushing them to be all they can be.
Like anything worthwhile in life, you need to put in the time and effort. After only a few months of study, it will start to pay off in droves.

Both of my kids study with Sifu John Nash and they adore him. and the dojo He teaches his class to the individual child, so no matter what level of skill or ability, your child will learn. Often one or two brown or black belts hang around and, if someone needs help, he enlists the help of the upper belts to work one-​on-​one with the student. In fact, there was a time when my son was the only kid in the class and Sifu Nash still taught the class. As long as my son was willing to learn, he was willing to teach!
He speaks to your child as a person, with respect. His praise is meaningful and his criticism genuine and without judgment, so the kids respect him without being afraid of losing his respect for not being perfect. His expectations are simply that each child try his or her best, and he is confident that with that effort they will learn. Your monthly tuition gives you the ability to show up whenever your skill level class is offered. Every day, once a week, or something in between.
There are no gimmicks at this school, like at other dojos. So if you’re looking to adorn your uniform with patches for friendship, balance, and teamwork, stop reading. But if you want your child to actually learn friendship, balance, and teamwork, this is the place for you. It is a friendly, informal environment where kids and adults feel respected, motivated, and comfortable to be themselves.

I studied at this school for several years, and I have never loved anything so much! When I started, I was one of very few females at the school. The population has since evolved and grown. I only stopped going because I work so much now.
The classes are challenging and will push you to your limits. New students are given the opportunity for private lessons and can work one-​on-​one with John Nash or other upper-​belts. The school accommodates all skill levels for both children and adults, male and female. What some people need to realize is this: repetition is the key to memory. The more you do something, the easier it is to remember. When your body does it, this is called muscle-​memory.
Whether you want to lose weight, get stronger, learn how to defend yourself, or simply make new friends, this is the place for you. If you like a challenge, you will love the class. I am stronger, happier, and more confident because of this place and made life-​long friends.
I highly recommend this school if you’re serious about it. Your success is only limited by your drive to succeed.

I am a student at Northern Tiger Kenpo, I have been studying with the teacher here for a little over five years. It is one of the best places a person could go to for some well rounded, practical, and amazing training.
The school has everything a school could need in terms of equipment,
1:weight sets,
2:hand weights,
3:Wavemaster Bags
4:heavy hanging bags
5:sandbags
6:wing chun dummies
7:safety gear and equipment
8:a gong to start the class, and a bell to stop the match
the list goes on.
like all things to learn, John Nash’s teaching style needs to be given time, practice, and patience before one can get the scope of what you are learning. But once you can conceive all the details put into learning the martial art of Kenpo from this school, other places can seem incomparable when stood against Northern Tiger.
The school is one that can offer training in competitive sport karate, as well as self defense. Wether its for out on the street against an assailant, or in the ring during that final round, Northern Tiger Kenpo not only trains competitors, but WINNERS as well. In november of 2010, Northern Tiger took two first place trophies in black belt Sparring for teens and adults in a heated tournement. And even the year before that, it took both first place AND grand Champion for the first time in Kata.
NTK trains people form all age ranges. We have students from age 8 to over 50 training with us. They are stronger, and faster, tougher, and more crisp and precise than you can imagine.
A review alone is not enough. COME ON BY AND TAKE A LOOK!

This is more than a school — it’s a family. I’ve known John, the head coach, for several years now and I have been very impressed with his knowledge of the martial arts and the way that he brings everyone in the school together. He is respectful of the many different styles that are taught in his school and keeps the facility in great shape! I would definitely recommend the school!

This is a great studio with excellent instructors. Bring a willingness to learn and a sense of humor and you’ll be delighted! As a woman, I am very comfortable in the school and with the teachers. They are both encouraging and respectful and this makes it a great learning environment. Thank you!

After I began training here, my body changed in so many ways. Not only did I begin to lose weight and build muscle, but I felt more confident in myself.
I trained here for three years before joining the military, and I felt my training here put me ahead of everyone. At least the females lol.
This dojo offers several different classes from self defense to sparring. The instructor offers one on one sessions for those who need/​want them. Seminars are held here every few months that will help you as you study here.
I never felt intimidated as a female student training here, but there were also several other females training there as well, I don’t know if they are still there. I felt uncomfortable around one student and informed the instructor who handled it quickly, never again did I have a problem with that student.

I’ve studied at this school for 2+ years and it’s the best experience you could ever have at any martial arts school. When you train there your not just a student, you end up becoming part of a family. Although i do not train there any more (due to a hectic schedule) i drop by once in a while just to say hello to Sifu Nash. (not to mention that halloween bash he throws every year!)
The structure of the class is great. No matter how slow or fast you are at learning, you will always be working with someone at your level (unless you want more, haha). What’s also really great is that not only does he teach adults, but he teaches kids as well. It’s great discipline for them! Especially in the beginning of the class where the kids meditate, it calms them down a bit, which is alway good. (:
Even though i haven’t trained for a couple of years, i still have that defensive instinct and always seem to protect myself! And on top of that, i developed a great balance. I haven’t tripped in years! (Sifu Nash always joked about how he hasn’t tripped in many, many years, all because of training in martial arts)
Being a female student i was slightly nervous at first, but it ended up being the best self defense i’ve learned. Recently i’ve taken martial arts classes at my college and i felt like i was being taken advantage of by the male students. I’ve never once felt like that at this school.
So if your looking to join a martial arts school, check it out and see if it fits you pretty well. I know it did for me!

I returned to Kenpo Karate after 20 years spent having and raising children and studied here with John Nash. I was searching for, and found, a good teacher for my then-​early-​teen kids. John Nash is an excellent karate master — disciplined, focused and professional and although the classes are hard because of the focus on traditional karate skills nonetheless they’re rewarding and fun. This is an excellent school; the students learn real respect for themselves, the other students, the teacher and the art. Highly recommended.

I’ve studied at this school for more than 11 years, and throughout all 11+ years, everyones been welcomed to be a part of the class. The way each class has been run enabled both beginners and long time students to learn at a manageable but upbeat pace. The students who usually make up the class are sociable, so you’ll have buddy or two with you no matter which group workout you choose to attend.
The school has undergone changes that has now enabled more workout sets and capabilities for those who want a solid workout for both their upper body, lower body as well as core workouts. Just in time for the holidays!
Whether your in just for a weekly workout or joining for a long term cardio workout and self defense. This is one of the top places to be in the city.

I send my 11 year old son to the school and he loves it. Sifu John really knows how to get the kids working while keeping the class fun. There is one daily kids class at 5pm, so you have to be able to meet the schedule. The class runs every weekday though and Saturdays too, so if you miss some days, you can go others and not feel like you’re missing the program. Kids of different belt levels train together and Sifu John is able to keep everyone engaged.
I would strongly recommend the school and wish I had signed up my son a year or two earlier.

Sifu John Nash is a great teacher and a good guy as well. He teaches at all levels from black belt to total newbies. He runs a first class gym and other martial artist instructors use his gym for their brand of martial arts because the equipment is great and its so roomy.
Sifu Nash really cares about his students and is always paying attention to their development. I always feel like I am getting personal attention despite how many students are in class that day. What I love about the class is that you can just show up when you can. I wish I could go every day but I can’t. With his classes, it doesn’t matter. A few days out of the week he focuses on honing on your katas/​defending against attacks. Two days out of the week, we get to do full contact sparring which is great since you can spar with both beginners and black belts.
Also the gym seems to be really popular for kids as their class ends right before the adult classes. They all seem to be having a good time and Sifu Nash is focusing on helping them learn discipline and confidence.
I always walk out of Sifu’s class dripping in sweat and it feels great. I highly recommend his classes.

Great dojo. Great owner. Feels homey and good.

I trained with sifu Nash all spring and summer, unfortunately i dotn have the time or money to keep going because i have school. He is a great teacher and mentor, he was there for me when i had trouble learning in the class and when i had personal problems. He is also a great teacher to young kids, he not only teaches them self defense but also to show respect to people and to set a good example to their peers.
His black belts in the class are also very good teachers and are very humble (not cocky or intimidating even though they are excellent martial artists)
NTK isn’t a generic martial arts school. Here you learn a real martial art that took decades to create. Skeptics might self otherwise but everyone who has came in for a lesson changed their mind. Sifu Nash is very humble but also very experienced (two 5^th degree black belts) he does not promote kids according to skill but improvement; nonathletic kids can upgrade according to their progress, and athletic kids dont automatically get promoted because of their natural ability, so by the time they are black belts they will be 10 times better.
This place isn’t just a kids club. I came in with a bit of boxing experience and he made me better, after 5 months i was ready for a sparring tournament. The learning here is endless, just helping him with the kids class i learned how to mentor.
One of my sparring buddies from here actually used his training in real life. He heard a screaming down the hall from his apartment and he reacted quickly, the women who screamed had just been stabbed by a screwdriver and was bleeding, my buddy told his wife to call the cops and he also spotted the guy who did it. The guy tried to stab him but he disarmed the man and restrained him to the floor until the cops came.
I recommend this school for anyone, kids adults women men ANYONE! If you like Boxing, sifu will improve your strength speed and technique (he also fought golden gloves in his day)
I went into a few MMA gyms recently and the instructors offered to train me for cheap because they saw more than just potential in my form (learned from sifu)
TAKE THIS CLASS YOU WONT REGRET IT!

I work right next door to Sifu John Nash. He is a great guy. Always down to help people and have a great place to practice martial Arts. I will post up some pictures soon.
I always see kids learn martial arts and having a great time. Plenty of space. I worked out here a few times and he has plenty of punching bags and weights. I got a copy of his Class schedule.
Adult Kata/​Sparring Class
Black belt/​Advance Class
Little Dragons
Kids Class
Combact Crash
Give him a call with any questions, he is happy to help you out.