My son takes lessons there and I plan to join him soon. Master Brown, Mr. Master Brown, and the…read moreother instructors are all highly skilled and knowledgeable about Taekwondo but also very patient and willing to work with students as much as they need to in order to help them progress in the sport. I don't think I would ever want to have my son go anywhere else to learn Taekwondo or any other martial arts, even though other schools are a little closer to us.

From the owner: Come join our community of martial artists and get a good workout, build self-confidence, and learn…read moreself-discipline at one of Portland's premier studios. Our philosophy is to build a strong mind and body. Taekwon-do is an aerobic exercise utilizing kicks, punches, and blocks to ensure coordination, strength, and balance. We welcome men, women, children and encourage families to join together. For more Kim's Taekwon Do locations visit our website.

This gym is a great place for girls to build confidence and strength! Sarah, the coaches, classes,…read morecamps, activities and students helped my 11 year old daughter build her confidence and strength. She was a shy and soft spoken person and became a person who is more confident and seemed to break out of her shell. She even had opportunities to help and teach others in her Ninja Girls classes Thank you G.I.R.L.S gym!

I came to this gym never having tried kick boxing and not being in great shape. I have never…read moreenjoyed working out, and this was the first place where I did. I felt incredibly welcomed and not at all embarrassed. The classes are extremely accommodating for all skill levels and the instructors could not be kinder or more encouraging. They foster such a wonderful atmosphere of learning and belonging while also providing an incredible workout. I'm so sad I moved away and can't attend anymore; every other class I've tried has been 95% workout/cardio and 5% actual kickboxing, but GIRLS Gym truly got into the fundamentals and know how while also providing an awesome work out! I will forever remember the incredible girls I met here and what they taught me.

They aren't kidding when they say things like "ego free" or friendly. Definitely want to sign up…read morewith them. Went with my teenage daughter and she was into it too. I'm glad they exist!

I highly recommend Lightning Hand Academy because they teach techniques that can be used for…read morepractical, real world self defense, it's a great workout, and the school has very good, supportive community feel. Full disclosure - I studied with Lightning Hand regularly from early 2016 until August 2017. In July 2017 I met someone in Washington, dated long distance, then moved so I wasn't able to make time for martial arts. I thought I had written a review for LHA 4 years ago and just found that I had not, so I figured late better than never! I was primarily interested in practical self defense and a good workout. I was afraid of making the mistake of "studying the wrong martial art". The Wing Chun approach seemed practical to me - techniques are all standing up, emphasis is on close range & punching technique, early techniques are very simple which makes them faster to cement into muscle memory. Wing Chun doesn't do high kicks, which are flashy but high risk and in my opinion unlikely to be used in a real life self defense situation (by the time you know someone intends to actually attack you, not just posturing, they are inside kicking distance). LHA's class approach creates a good training loop in my opinion - warm up, discuss ideas and theory, practice smaller skill subsets - agility or striking drills, then integrate smaller skills into practical fighting application by sparring, repeat. Enough variety in techniques and drills to keep you from getting bored, but also comes back to basics frequently to make sure they are solid in your muscle memory. There can be BS (or fear of BS) around martial arts, but I felt LHA was a very low BS environment. All humans have egos, so Ray would regularly talk to the benefits of overcoming your ego, because it gets in the way of learning. Students are expected to teach each other by being good training partners, and held to this expectation. I was once corrected by Ray in I thought a very skillful manner. I was doing a drill with someone that is supposed to be about sensing and technique, but I was using muscle to overpower my partner. Neither of us were learning what we were supposed to be. Ray came over and swapped my partner out, and did the same exercise with me. He was pushing me all over, but I could feel that he was using better posture and technique, not muscle force. I was tiring quickly and he was barely exerting effort. He asked if I still feel strong. This was pointed enough that I understood his meaning clearly - knock it off! But also conveyed one to one so I was not embarrassed in front of the class. I got really clear from this teaching moment that I was responsible for helping others learn and resolved to be a better training partner. COVID has made a lot of things difficult, but I believe LHA is still operating, doing remote training. There is a lot in Wing Chun you can learn practicing solo with minimal equipment - forms teach correct movements, you can practice striking with a wall bag full of rice that will cost less than $30. The best training experience will still need another person, but maybe you can recruit a friend or significant other to train with you? If you're feeling cooped up and would like to try learning a new skill, there is no time like the present!

It's a wonderful with school with awesome instructors. I always have fun learning and training…read morethere

Good instruction. Great people. Omar knows his Jiu Jitsu and it shows in his upper belts.read more

I have no experience with other martial arts establishments to make a comparison and am fairly new…read moreto this kind of practice but for many years I was a respected educator in academia and can honestly say Coach Bryan's professionalism as an educator, motivator and mentor is outstanding. Coach Bryan has been extremely respectful, welcoming and focused on individual needs of his students...within reason. His drills are always followed by motivation and application. When running drills he walks the room to ensure every student is able to perform the technique to the best of their experience and fitness level. If needed runs the drill with you personally. He expects you to put in the work and is not afraid to be frank when you are not mindful. This is of great importance as you are paying for his service as are others around you. Why waste your money and other's time? His gym is always spotless and never odorous... I have a bit of OCD so that is a great compliment. He is strict on mat cleanliness. He took me in old, bad vision and poor physical condition and is keeping me motivated, healthy and happy... my doctor loves him for that as does my wife. I always look forward to class and never regret any money spent ... even on a fixed budget totally worth it. Thanks Coach Brayn for being there.

The lead teacher should never be left unsupervised around children. He's verbally abusive, he…read morebelittles the children. He traumatized my grandson who is now in therapy. I live every day with guilt because I made the mistake of exposing him to that monster.

As a student, I am thrilled to recommend this school and its staff. I have trained at several…read moreschools over the years and this one stands out for several reasons: 1. It is very welcoming and supportive; the community is strong and friendly. Some schools are very businesslike, or don't encourage students to be friends outside of class; this one is the opposite! 2. The style is very eclectic. You will learn to punch and kick, but you'll also learn to use weapons and to move in several different distinct ways. This style of martial arts has a lot to learn and challenges my mind and body every class. 3. Speaking of challenge, this class is a full body workout. I never step off the mat without getting really sweaty. The teachers make time to encourage you to drink water frequently during class. 4. This school and community are extremely inclusive. There are at least any many women and trans students as men; frequently men are in a drastic minority. There is no "bro"/macho culture here as there is in many other schools. While it is somewhat expensive for the number of classes (2-3/week at least as a beginning adult student) you get access to compared to some other schools, the pricing is not a secret (it is shown on the website and the staff will be happy to talk with you about it), I feel it is worthwhile based on about 10 years of training in other schools (even ones that cost less and had 10 classes a week).

I have trained at One With Heart since 2019 and the community and the excellent teaching keep me…read morecoming back! I love the workout I get and even if I've had a bad day, I always feel better after class. The school was also a great source of stability and community for me during the pandemic, and I will always appreciate the strength I gained from my teachers and classmates during that time. Highly recommend checking out an intro!

I've been training jiujitsu almost 15 years, and I've never found a school that's better than…read moreUnicorn at providing high-quality instruction while ALSO welcome everyone on the mat. Hillary and Brian aren't just excellent at teaching and grappling, but also at cultivating a truly inclusive environment. I used to live in Portland, and now own my own school elsewhere. My mom still loves in Salem, and so I always train at Unicorn whenever I'm in the Portland area. I've recommended more than a dozen of my students train there as well. They've all had a great experience. Whether you're brand new or a veteran black belt, and no matter what other background you bring to the table, you should check Unicorn out. I'll bet you love it.

I dropped in here while in Portland…read more Amazing instructors and owners. They care about their students and make everyone feel welcome, even an Irish Bostonian that lives in Eastern Oregon. Brian was teaching when I went. Very informative while showing BJJ moves, clean space to "roll" (spar) and I can not express how welcoming this group is. They are part of a veteran's group, show no hesitation towards women and show nothing but love for the LBGTQ community. That's how sports and instruction is supposed to be. Try something new. Go in here and give it a shot. This place is soooooo worth it.

I have been studying martial arts off and on for almost 3 decades (breaks in between so definitely…read moreno master or anything - definitely not Steven Segal or Daniel-san). for almost 3 years, I have been focusing on judo...great martial art, amazing skill, and mindset. Very practical. After relocating to the Portland area, I was looking for a dojo that was of quality and the schedule fit mine. I contacted two dojos, one of them being Shudokan Judo Dojo. Blane sensei returned my message within 24 hours (the other dojo never got back to me...poo). After attending a session and liked what I saw, I decided to try this out. Positives: - very nice people, which is great because no one wants to work out with a "macho" meathead or someone who is careless, inconsiderate, or too aggressive. - clean environment, nice mats. - relaxed atmosphere (which does not mean easy practices or slacking on etiquette and respect) - meaning not being stressed to perform or be perfect, everyone is very patient and helpful. - most importantly, the sensei (along with the others) really focus on form and balance, not only on big throws, ippons, belt promotions, and tournaments. Which this is great - allows me to slow down and focus (I am doing judo for self-improvement, not about the belt or tournaments). - Blane sensei is really nice, respectful, and pretty funny at times. - super affordable. Challenges: - the place is a little small, but can still have three pairs of randori at the same time. - would like to see more students. - me getting better at judo. So, overall, the "Challenges" are minor and do not detract from the quality, learning, and overall experience of this dojo. Anyone interested in learning judo should check this place out!

Full disclosure: I've known and practiced with the guys running this place for years. With that…read moresaid I think you'll find it a welcoming environment. All of the longtime members have been involved in the Portland judo scene for years or decades. Good instruction, affordable, good workout. Come check it out!

Wally Jones has created something genuinely special at Southwest Portland Martial Arts and CrossFit…read moreHillsdale. I've known him for only a few years, but in that time I've come to appreciate how unique his leadership, attitude, and teaching style are. Before joining, I'd heard plenty of stereotypes about CrossFit. That it was overly intense, competitive, and full of ego-driven athletes trying to out-lift each other. Wally's gym couldn't be more different. From day one, he made it clear that this is a space built on collaboration, respect, and personal growth. Wally fosters an atmosphere where you're encouraged to go at your own pace, focus on form and technique, and celebrate progress -- not perfection. He emphasizes lower weights and correct movement over brute strength, and that simple philosophy keeps people safe, builds confidence, and creates a lasting love of training. Wally's coaching style is constructive, humorous, and deeply human. He gives feedback that makes you better without ever making you feel small. He's the kind of coach who'll crack a joke mid-workout to keep spirits high but also knows exactly how to tweak your form so you get it right the next time. Even on days I don't feel like working out, his energy and encouragement make it worth showing up. What's equally impressive is how Wally treats people. He's accepting, thoughtful, and leads by example in the way he treats every person who walks through the door. Whether it's handling an awkward situation with grace, like gently escorting a confused stranger who wandered into class... or picking up garbage left in the parking lot just because it's the right thing to do, he embodies integrity in small, everyday actions. Wally's not trying to be anyone other than himself. What you see is who he is. No performance, no pretension, just genuine kindness and a sharp sense of humor. That honesty creates a community where people of all backgrounds feel welcome. If you've ever been hesitant to try CrossFit because you thought it might be intimidating, Wally's gym will change your mind completely. It's a place where effort is celebrated, individuality is respected, and laughter is part of the workout. Simply put, Wally Jones has built one of the most welcoming and grounded fitness communities you'll ever find.

My 6 year old has taken a few classes here and loved it. The teachers were great. The other…read morestudents were great. We are really lucky to have them here in our neighborhood. This place is way better than a bank occupying the space. (BofA used to be there)