Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Grappling, positional control, and submissions taught from the ground up. Our fundamentals track assumes you have never touched a mat.
Best for: problem-solvers who want a lifelong skill.
Portland, OR · Established 2009 · All Levels Welcome
Disciplineis built,not born.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing in Southeast Portland. No contracts, no egos on the mat — just structured training that meets you where you are.
- 0+
- Active Students
- 0
- Black Belts Produced
- Daily
- Beginner Class Every Day
What We Train
Four Disciplines. One Standard.
Muay Thai
The art of eight limbs: punches, elbows, knees, and kicks, with clinch work every session. Conditioning is built into the class, not bolted on.
Best for: anyone who wants to get in shape and actually learn to strike.
Boxing
Footwork, head movement, and combinations drilled until they become reflex. Sparring is optional and always supervised.
Best for: sharp technical training with the lowest barrier to entry.
Kids Program
Ages 5–14, split into two age groups. Focus on discipline, anti-bullying skills, and confidence — not competition.
Best for: parents who want structure without pressure.
The Path
What Progress Actually Looks Like
Nobody earns a black belt in two years, and any gym that tells you otherwise is selling something. Here is the honest timeline our students follow — roughly seven years of consistent training, with real milestones along the way.
White
Day one
Blue
~12 mo
Purple
~30 mo
Brown
~54 mo
Black
~84 mo
Timelines are typical, not promised. Consistency beats talent — we have watched it happen for fifteen years.
Weekly Schedule
Find Your Mat Time
TimeClassInstructorLevel
6:00 AMBJJ Fundamentals
BJJ FundamentalsCoach ReyesFundamentals
12:00 PMBoxing Technique
Boxing TechniqueCoach DuvalAll Levels
5:00 PMKids BJJ (5–9)
Kids BJJ (5–9)Coach MarshAll Levels
6:15 PMMuay Thai
Muay ThaiCoach SuwanAll Levels
7:30 PMBJJ Advanced + Open Mat
BJJ Advanced + Open MatCoach ReyesAdvanced
Who You Learn From
The Coaches
Marco Reyes
Head Coach · BJJ Black Belt, 3rd Degree
Marco has trained for twenty-two years and has coached at Ironwood since it opened. He is known for breaking complex positions into steps a first-week student can follow.
- IBJJF Certified
- Master Cycle Instructor
- 200+ competition corners
Suwan Prasert
Muay Thai Coach
Suwan fought professionally in Bangkok for nine years before moving to Portland. His classes are demanding, precise, and surprisingly welcoming to beginners.
- 47 professional bouts
- WMC Certified Trainer
- Kru-level lineage
Alicia Duval
Boxing Coach
A former national amateur medalist, Alicia coaches footwork and defense before anything else. Her fundamentals class fills up every week for a reason.
- USA Boxing Certified
- 3x Regional Champion
- Youth Coach of the Year 2022
Start Here
Never Trained Before? Start Here.
What do I wear?
Shorts and a t-shirt for your first class. No gi or gloves needed — we lend everything you need until you decide to stay.
What happens in class one?
A coach meets you ten minutes early, walks you through the room, and pairs you with an experienced student. You will drill, not spar.
Do I need to be fit first?
No. This is the single most common reason people delay starting, and it is backwards. You get in shape by training, not before it.
Will I get hurt?
Every class is supervised, sparring is optional, and tapping early is taught on day one as a skill, not a weakness.
Membership
Simple Pricing, No Contracts
Single Discipline
$129
per month, billed monthly
- Unlimited classes in one discipline
- Open mat access
- Free loaner gear
- Two guest passes per year
- Cancel any time
Most Popular
Unlimited
$169
per month, billed monthly
- Every class, every discipline
- Open mat and sparring nights
- Free gi on your third month
- Four guest passes per year
- Seminar discounts
Family
$249
per month, billed monthly
- Two adults plus all children under 15
- Unlimited across all programs
- Free loaner gear for everyone
- Priority kids camp registration
- Cancel any time
No contracts. Cancel any time with 30 days notice. First class is always free.
I walked in at 41 years old, overweight and completely intimidated. Eighteen months later I have a blue belt and I have not missed a week. Nobody here ever made me feel like I did not belong.
Daniel K.
BJJ · 18 months
My son was getting pushed around at school. He does not talk about it anymore — not because he fights back, but because he stopped being afraid. That is what this place did.
Rebecca M.
Parent · Kids Program
I came from a gym where sparring on day one was normal. Ironwood spent six weeks teaching me to defend myself before anyone threw a punch at me. Night and day.
Tomas V.
Muay Thai · 2 years
Your First Class Is Free. The Rest Is Up to You.
Drop in any day of the week. Bring shorts and a t-shirt — we handle the rest.