If you’re looking for a fun way to stay fit and learn self-defense that your gym membership can’t provide, you need to look into the best martial arts gyms in Portland!

These places can completely change your routine. Instead of using resistance bands, you’ll be grappling and kickboxing, offering a way to stay active while training your mind.

So, here are our top picks, which we handpicked based on class offerings, availability, and value for money! You don’t even have to be a professional fighter to get started, so read on!

1. Oregon Grappling Arts

Website:https://www.oregongrapplingarts.com/

Address: 2627 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

Contact: 503-217-4246 | [email protected] 

Hours:

• Monday & Wednesday 11:45 AM – 1:45 PM, 4:15 – 9:00 PM
• Tuesday 5:45  – 8:45 PM
• Thursday 11:45 AM – 1:45 PM, 4:15 – 8:45 PM
• Saturday 9:15 AM – 2:30 PM
• Sunday 9:15 AM – 4:15 PM

Oregon Grappling Arts stands out because every single class is led by a black belt with an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) No Gi World Championship title. So, you’re always learning from highly accomplished competitors in this studio.

Aside from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you can learn grappling here. Their programs include an incredible level of hands-on coaching, both given to beginners and seasoned competitors. 

The facility also feels super inclusive, offering classes for kids and adults of all skill levels. There are even dedicated open mat sessions for female grapplers.

Just keep in mind that the gym is closed on Fridays, so you can’t get any end-of-the-week training done here at all. And sadly, some of their kids’ classes get fully booked immediately.

Customer Reviews

Supportive vibe from day one 

I had the privilege of training with Coach Hanna and her class today. Even though I’m very new to Jiu-Jitsu, Coach Hanna and the other students took the time to really help me understand techniques and made me feel welcome from the start. I got a great workout in while also learning a lot of useful details and fundamentals that I’ll definitely be taking back with me to continue improving. The atmosphere was supportive, encouraging, and great for beginners. 

• Alexis Smith, Google Review

Incredible instructors and a beautiful community 

Hannnah and Eddie are absolutely incredible instructors. They were so welcoming and supportive. I am a new student to there school and everyone was super nice which is rare when your a new student at a school.

Furthermore, there classes were very helpful. We drilled, did positional sparring and then open rolls. Advance and beginner classes were happening at the same time so if your new your lessons will be slightly more tailored for you.

Nonetheless, the community at Oregon Grappling Arts is just absolutely beautiful.

I recommend all women and men come to this school.

• Shahrose Khalid, Google Review

2. Flying Tortoise Kung Fu

Website:http://www.flyingtortoise.org/

Address: 4400 NE Glisan St

Contact: 503-880-5537 | [email protected] 

Hours:

• Monday 2:00 – 8:00 PM
• Tuesday 3:30 – 9:00 PM
• Wednesday-Thursday 5:30 – 8:30 PM
• Saturday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Sunday 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM 

Flying Tortoise Kung Fu is impressive for their rare, direct connection to top-tier Beijing masters. They’re the only school in the world lineaged in both Liang Bagua and Chen Bagua, so you can expect authentic teachings.

The founder even trains directly in Beijing to bring authentic standards to Portland, rather than a watered-down interpretation.

Their incredibly diverse curriculum covers everything from Taiji to Afro-Brazilian Capoeira. You can receive monthly full-contact sparring sessions that really put techniques to the test.

But full-contact sparring is strictly restricted for new students. You have to put in a solid six months of practice before joining those intense sessions.

Customer Reviews

Engaging classes with authentic roots 

I’ve been training here for over a year now and deeply enjoying it. Great instructors who take the arts extremely seriously while not taking themselves too seriously. The school has strong connections to masters in China and the benefits definitely come through to everyone. Classes are engaging physically and mentally; the community is fun, supportive, and welcoming; and I’m very glad to get to train here. 

•  Josh Flood, Google Review

Authentic, practical, and totally toxicity-free 

This is the best martial arts school in Oregon.  I’ve done martial arts for about 20 years and this place strikes a rare balance.  Everyone there is cool and it is not a toxic environment etc… They teach authentic Chinese and Brazilian martial arts with ties to masters practicing in those countries.  Also, people here can actually fight with them, the Kung Fu isn’t just kicking gymnastics and the capoeira isn’t just aerobic dance class.  It’s hard to find a place like this. 

• Ian Johnson, Google Review

3. North Portland Martial Arts and Movement

Website:http://npmaam.com/

Address: 728 North Alberta St

Contact: 971-312-4236 | [email protected] 

Hours: Contact for availability

North Portland Martial Arts and Movement structures their adult classes around the three pillars of combat, allowing you to learn different combat styles without juggling multiple memberships.

Here, you get to train striking, clinching, and ground fighting in one comprehensive session. Their programs also include a dedicated women’s kickboxing and self-defense class every Saturday morning.

The flat-rate unlimited membership is a huge win for anyone wanting to train often, which is flexible because there’s no need for long-term contracts.

But you should know that kids’ classes are strictly for children ages six and older. Sadly, you can’t sign up your toddler or preschooler here for any classes.

Customer Reviews

An amazing gym with a real family feel 

This is an amazing gym with a welcoming familial vibe. I train here about 3x a week and have experienced an array of positive impacts in my life already. Mo duk pai, the martial arts form taught here, integrates many different kinds of standing and grappling techniques and I always learn something new in class, on top of getting a great work out. The instructors are great people and excellent teachers too — highly recommended! 

• Alishan Gezgin, Google Review

A well-rounded style that brings out your best 

I’ve been studying martial arts with Sifu Sean Kelly and Michael Wall for 3 years now. Through them I’ve been introduced to our style, Mo Duk Pai, and all the great people and teachers in our system. These are the most amazing, trustworthy, toughest, and kind people I’ve ever met. They push you hard to be the best version of yourself possible. And yes, fighting is fun.

In Mo Duk Pai you learn standup fighting, kickboxing, elements of Muay Thai & Systema, BJJ,  point sparring,  “street” sparring, take downs, forms, qi gong. It’s all synthesized into a well-rounded and integrated whole. 

• Scott B, Google Review

4. TigerStyle Combat Sports

Website:http://www.tigersden.club/

Address: 5308 SE Foster Rd

Contact: 971-227-7616 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 4:00 – 9:00 PM | Saturday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM 

TigerStyle Combat Sports is a fighting gym that provides high-level, competition-tested instruction. The head coach actively leads both the MMA fight team and all Muay Thai competition teams, which is impressive, to say the least.

You get an amazing mix of grappling and striking sessions every single week. Their dedicated MMA practice perfectly blends stand-up and ground techniques for eager students.

Both adults and kids can even jump into Brazilian jiu jitsu and Muay Thai, welcoming children as young as five.

However, their standard Muay Thai kickboxing course is only available to adults and kids aged five to 12. Sadly, this limits their accessibility to teens wanting to try our martial arts. 

Customer Reviews

Fun atmosphere and straight-to-the-point training 

Been going to the Tigers Den for over 3 months. Coach Brian is knowledgeable and and straight to the point. Its a fun atmosphere for learning the martial and gain real training for beginners to advance. Private lessons are very hands on, one on one training that will give you all the fundamentals and advanced training you want. Great place to learn MMA and find other people of the same mind set. 

• Thomas Moreaux, Google Review

Taking mixed martial arts to a whole new level 

After many years of martial arts training I started training at Tiger’s Den.  Instantly I could see that Coach Bryan has a vast knowledge of Muay Thai, JJ, wrestling, boxing and Karate.  His ability to blend these styles in very practical ways blew me away.  He has opened up my mind and taken me to a new level of training.  I highly recommend this gym. 

• Trevor Tash, Google Review

5. Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu Portland

Website:http://renzogracieportland.com/

Address: 833 N Shaver St

Contact: 503-890-9395 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM | Saturday 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu Portland shines because their curriculum uniquely embraces a feet-to-floor philosophy. Here, you can expect classes that offer equal parts standup and groundwork while splitting training equally between Gi and No Gi.

They draw the best techniques from jiu-jitsu, judo, and wrestling into a single, cohesive approach.

New students won’t feel pressured as well, since their coaches start with a dedicated, four-week fundamentals course to learn safe falling and pinning.

Just know that their daily curriculum is entirely grappling-focused. While that’s helpful for some, you won’t find any kicking or punching during their sessions, so you definitely won’t see striking arts like Muay Thai or boxing here.

Customer Reviews

The best place to start BJJ (Plus, No Contracts!) 

I’ve been training at Renzo Gracie Portland for five years and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. Coach Aaron is an amazing practitioner and teacher of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with deep connections at the highest level of the game, and also a great guy.  This is the best place to start training thanks to a welcoming atmosphere, BJJ101 classes, and many large classes at a variety of times throughout the week.  Also, the last time I checked this was the only school in town where you don’t have to sign a contract to train

• Brad Salmon, Google Review

Stellar environment with fantastic attention to detail 

RGA PDX is a stellar learning environment for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Wrestling. It is however, an equally stellar environment of people, who both know how to express their craft and make friends in the process. I cannot recommend this school enough for those who want to take their Gi and NoGi game to the next level. The head instructor Aaron is fantastic in his attention to detail, and attention to the individual. Additionally, so is every other coach at this gym, with absolutely no exceptions. 

5 stars hands down. 

• Benjamin Sutz, Google Review