Southwest Portland Martial Arts and CrossFit Hillsdale 6309 Southwest Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97239

"Wally and Lara use their background as educators to create an awesome and engaging learning environment for kids. It’s way more than just martial arts here - there’s lessons on social-emotional well-being, caring for your body and your mind and respect for self and other."

"Updated 9/3/23 - I've been going to BJJ classes for 3+ years now and I can't recommend this gym highly enough. And now in one big convenient space.There are so many options for classes. I love the yoga class as well. Come try a free week! 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."

"My daughter has been taking lessons for nearly a year and we LOVE Southwest Portland Martial Arts! The classes are a great value and my daughter's confidence has noticeably improved. She especially enjoyed the movement camp this summer and the hip-hop classes in the spring. Lara and Wally are great at working with kids and we plan to be enrolled for years to come!"

"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."

"We have been taking classes off and on with this gym for years. They are high quality people and truly care about the community. We have been so impressed during Could, the safety precautions that have been put in place. The communication from the gym is wonderful. We definitely feel safe with our kids there. There is continuous cleaning after each class. Facemasks are required and everything is socially distanced. Temps are taken before class and hand sanitizer is given freely. To top it off Lara is an amazing teacher who knows children and really personalizes the experience for all kids. She works with your child not against them. She is understanding and well versed in special needs. We are extremely happy at SW PDX Martial Arts!"