Dutch Kickboxing
in San Francisco
Real striking. Beginner-friendly classes. Built for skill, conditioning, and practical application.
Learn clean combinations, powerful low kicks, and the conditioning to apply them under pressure—in a structured, beginner-friendly environment.
Kickboxing Classes in San Francisco
Looking for kickboxing classes in San Francisco that go beyond just a workout?
At Forge, our Dutch kickboxing program teaches real striking—boxing combinations, low kicks, footwork, and conditioning—in a structured, beginner-friendly environment.
These classes are designed for everyday people who want to build skill, not just break a sweat. You’ll learn how to move, strike, and stay composed under pressure, with coaching that emphasizes clean technique and steady progression.
While our approach connects to a broader self-defense system, this class stands on its own as a complete, effective striking discipline.
What Is Dutch Kickboxing?
Dutch kickboxing is one of the most effective striking styles taught in kickboxing gyms today—and a core part of our kickboxing classes in San Francisco.
It’s a pressure-tested striking system built on tight boxing combinations, low kicks, and relentless conditioning. It developed in the Netherlands through the integration of Western boxing and Muay Thai-style kicks and knees, with a uniquely Dutch emphasis on high-volume combinations, forward pressure, and stamina.
In practice, Dutch kickboxing focuses on:
Tight boxing combinations paired with low kicks
High-repetition drilling to build timing and consistency
Pad work and partner training, often under fatigue
Maintaining pressure and composure as intensity increases
At Forge, we teach Dutch kickboxing as a practical striking system you can actually use—whether your goal is skill development, conditioning, or building real confidence in your movement and striking.
Why Dutch Kickboxing at Forge?
At Forge, Dutch kickboxing is taught as a complete striking system—not just cardio training or sport-only sparring. You’ll build real combinations, pressure, timing, and conditioning in a way that translates directly to pad work, partner drills, and controlled intensity rounds.
This is kickboxing designed for skill development. You’ll learn how to strike cleanly, manage distance, and stay composed as intensity increases—without needing to become a professional fighter.
It also connects to a broader self-defense system—but it starts with striking done well.
Real-world situations don’t stay in one lane. Striking can turn into clinching. Distance can collapse quickly. At Forge, Dutch kickboxing is trained as a functional striking layer—designed to work alongside grappling, movement, and decision-making under pressure.
This approach helps you:
Strike with structure, balance, and control
Manage pressure and fatigue when exchanges get messy
Understand how distance and timing affect real outcomes
Stay effective without relying on perfect conditions
We’re not here to produce professional athletes. We’re here to help everyday people build real capability—through training that’s challenging, thoughtful, and grounded in how striking actually works.
Meet Your Coach: Xavier Macay
Xavier Macay brings more than two decades of striking experience to the mat.
He fought professionally in MMA (5 bouts, 2–2–1 record) and competed in approximately 35 amateur and semi-pro Muay Thai, kickboxing, and boxing fights—both locally and overseas. He also holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a formado (graduate) in Capoeira, giving him a broad, functional perspective across striking, grappling, and movement.
Xavier teaches Dutch Kickboxing with a clear understanding of where sport ends and self-defense begins—and how to bridge that gap responsibly. He’s fluent in high-level combinations, pressure, and conditioning, but also focuses on helping students understand why techniques work, where they apply, and when they don’t.
Students learn:
How striking changes at close range
What breaks down under stress
How clinch, balance, and grappling affect striking decisions
How to stay effective without unnecessary risk
His coaching style is calm, technical, and insight-driven—focused on building durable skill, not performative toughness. Whether you’re brand new or highly experienced, Xavier meets you where you are and helps you understand the bigger picture.
At Forge, Xavier teaches Dutch Kickboxing not as an end goal—but as a transferable skill set that supports real-world self-defense and long-term capability.
Lineage & Influence
Xavier’s Dutch Kickboxing approach has been shaped in part through his connection to Ilonka Elmont, a world-class Dutch kickboxer and respected coach.
Ilonka Elmont is closely associated with the Dutch kickboxing tradition influenced by Lucien Carbin, a widely recognized figure in the Netherlands’ striking culture and a contributor to its pressure-based training methodology.
This lineage provides a clear technical framework rooted in disciplined boxing, combination-based striking, and performance under pressure.
At Forge, that tradition informs how we train—while our mission defines why: building capable, adaptable people through serious training, not professional fighters.
Who This Class Is For
These kickboxing classes are built for everyday people in San Francisco who want to learn real striking skills—not just get a workout.
This program is a good fit if you:
Are new to kickboxing and want to build a strong foundation
Want structured, beginner-friendly classes without ego or pressure
Care about developing real skill—timing, combinations, movement—not just burning calories
Already train Krav Maga or other martial arts and want to improve your striking
Want to train seriously, but don’t want to compete or become a professional fighter
You don’t need prior experience—just consistency, humility, and a willingness to work.
New to Kickboxing?
If you’re looking for beginner kickboxing classes in San Francisco, this is a great place to start.
Dutch kickboxing at Forge is beginner-friendly and open to all levels. You’ll learn the fundamentals step by step, with clear instruction, structured drills, and coaching that meets you where you are.
New students can start with two trial classes for $30 total.
A great way to begin is by combining Dutch Kickboxing with Intro to Krav Maga (P1)—giving you both striking fundamentals and a broader self-defense foundation.
Class Structure & Expectations
Each class is structured to help you build skill, conditioning, and confidence over time. You can expect:
Boxing and kickboxing warm-ups
Pad work and partner drills
Combination development
Controlled intensity rounds
Conditioning that supports striking—not punishment
Required gear (don’t worry, we have loaners you can borrow)
Boxing gloves (14–16 oz recommended)
Shin guards
Mouthpiece (optional)
Forge provides a safe, structured environment with experienced coaches and clear expectations.
Part of a complete self-defense system
Dutch Kickboxing builds the striking foundation that supports everything else we do at Forge — including Krav Maga, clinch work, and grappling fundamentals. If you want real self-defense, you need the ability to move, hit with control, and stay composed under pressure.
Why Train at Forge Krav Maga?
Forge is San Francisco’s only self-defense school offering Krav Maga, Dutch Kickboxing, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—trained as one integrated system for real-world situations.
What sets Forge apart:
Experienced, certified instructors
A pressure-tested, real-world focus
An inclusive, ego-free training culture
Flexible scheduling, 7 days a week
Training designed for real life—not sport rule sets or competition timelines
Dutch Kickboxing here isn’t a side class—it’s a core skill set, taught with intention.
Try a Class Today!
Curious if Dutch Kickboxing at Forge is right for you?
We offer two trial classes for $30—no long-term commitment, no pressure.
Come train with people like you. Forge real world skills with practical application.