Southwest Portland Martial Arts

We love SW Portland Martial Arts. My son started when he was 4 in the height of covid, because he needed to get his energy out and I felt that SW PDX Martial Arts was taking all covid precautions seriously. They gave us a free first session to see if it was a good fit, which was fabulous. I love that it’s run by people who are invested in the community and understand children and their movement needs and most importantly their development. I highly recommend trying this martial arts practice out.

We are honored and grateful to be a part of the SWPDXMA community. Lara and Wally are exceptional professionals and care deeply about what they do and it shows in every aspect of their business. I have recommended SWPDXMA to every single one of my friends, especially those seeking the highest quality martial arts instruction and just an overall healthy and community-oriented environment for their children and their families.

Update: Two years on, we love SW Portland Martial Arts. Our kids have gained skills and confidence beyond anything I imagined when we started. They're learning what it means to work hard at something over time, and their belief in their ability to do so carries over into other aspects of their lives. Hats off to Lara and Wally for maintaining this awesome learning environment. Original review post: My kids recently started doing martial arts here. What sets this place apart is that Lara and Wally are really attentive and effective teachers who connect well with my two shy kids through intentional, thoughtfully structured lessons. In my experience with kids' activities, this is quite unusual. I can tell they put a lot of effort into maintaining a positive learning environment, and this effort is reflected in the details. I feel lucky that we have this place in the neighborhood.

Best neighborhood gym ever. Incredible instructors, nice supportive atmosphere. This is not a punch-in-the-air gym, you will engage with others to learn real world applied skills. They also offer traditional boxing classes, just drop in and join anytime.

I love SWPDX Martial Arts! It’s the friendliest gym in town. Owners, Lara and Wally are truly passionate about sharing their expertise in martial arts and CrossFit with everyone who walks into their gym. They offer a free week so you can try a variety of classes for both kids and adults.. When I walked in 7 months ago, hoping to gain some confidence and strength, I immediately felt that this was a safe place for me to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. My son also trains here in the kids program. I really admire the way Lara and Wally work with the children - teaching respect by showing respect. All the coaches I’ve trained with at SWPMA, Wally, April, Dave, Matt, and Quinn, are fantastic! They are detail oriented and emphasize safety for you and your training partner.

My son has been attending classes at SWPMA for a year now and I couldn't be happier with the patience and attention that they show my son. He's a timid kidhe's 5 years old...almost 6 now and both Lara and Wally have been wonderful coaxing him onto the floor and getting him to participate. It's been really special to watch him flourish and see his confidence grow through movement and participation. Thank you, Lara and Wally for your kindness and loving teaching manner with our children.

What a wonderful place, with the best people! I was super nervous about going since I’d never done any martial arts before and I didn’t have any idea what to expect or even what to wear. But everyone made me so welcome. I tried the free week and was instantly hooked. I never thought I’d do something like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but it’s so much fun and great exercise. Great pricing and many classes to choose from, as well. If you’re considering learning something new, definitely drop by to try this place out! Wally is fantastic and the other coaches as well. April’s women’s class on Saturday is also a favorite of mine and a great way to begin.