About
Children's Martial Arts Programs offers Kids Martial Arts Classes that include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self-defense, mixed martial arts, and fitness. The kids’ classes rely primarily on the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and include training in self-defense and total-body fitness. The program focuses on physical fitness, mental development, and social skill building, including strength, balance, coordination, bully prevention strategies, communication, teamwork, and lifelong habits of physical activity, along with respect, discipline, dedication, commitment, focus, attention to detail, and self-confidence.
• Ages: 4–11 years old
• Schedule: 45 Day FREE Trial Offer
Children's Martial Arts Programs is part of Straight Blast Gym (SBG), which has been established since 1992 and has developed innovative programs for every-body with specialized children’s programs beginning at age 4. Classes are segmented by age group, offering classes for 4–7 year olds and 8–11 year olds, and children 12 and older are admitted into adult classes where they are paired with other children their size. SBG offers cutting edge self-defense, combat athletics, fitness, and personal growth to every type of human body, with adult classes offered for everyone from teenagers to senior citizens. The mission of SBG is stated as “SBG IS ABOUT Martial Arts BEST PRACTICES AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.”
The broader SBG organization includes leadership figures such as SBG founder Matt Thornton, SBG coaches John Kavanagh, John Frankl, and Karl Tanswell, and Lily Pagle, head of SBG NorCal. SBG is described as Portland’s first and best martial arts gym specializing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, mixed martial arts, self-defense, and kids martial arts, and is noted as Oregon’s most successful BJJ competition team. SBG headquarters was the state of Oregon’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Academy and home to the state’s first MMA champions, and SBG helped train early professional MMA fighters and UFC champions, including Randy Couture and Forrest Griffin. SBG is home to Europe’s most successful MMA coach, John Kavanagh, has produced the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champions (Mundials) from Oregon, and its founder Matt Thornton was the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in the state of Oregon.
The SBG family has over 50 thriving locations around the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and joining this gym is described as becoming part of the SBG family with passion, excitement, and team spirit. One parent, Chelsea P., describes the atmosphere as a vast group of people striving to thrive physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, all helping lift each other up. Another member, Patrick D., states that SBG is as encouraging as it is challenging, with instructors who make sure students learn proper technique and a community that is not ego-driven. A third member, Tim F., describes SBG as an awesome gym with great coaches who know their jiu-jitsu and how to teach each individual, with a real social atmosphere and no better gym in Portland for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Mixed Martial Arts.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
• Ages: 4–11 years old
• Schedule: 45 Day FREE Trial Offer
Children's Martial Arts Programs is part of Straight Blast Gym (SBG), which has been established since 1992 and has developed innovative programs for every-body with specialized children’s programs beginning at age 4. Classes are segmented by age group, offering classes for 4–7 year olds and 8–11 year olds, and children 12 and older are admitted into adult classes where they are paired with other children their size. SBG offers cutting edge self-defense, combat athletics, fitness, and personal growth to every type of human body, with adult classes offered for everyone from teenagers to senior citizens. The mission of SBG is stated as “SBG IS ABOUT Martial Arts BEST PRACTICES AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.”
The broader SBG organization includes leadership figures such as SBG founder Matt Thornton, SBG coaches John Kavanagh, John Frankl, and Karl Tanswell, and Lily Pagle, head of SBG NorCal. SBG is described as Portland’s first and best martial arts gym specializing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, mixed martial arts, self-defense, and kids martial arts, and is noted as Oregon’s most successful BJJ competition team. SBG headquarters was the state of Oregon’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Academy and home to the state’s first MMA champions, and SBG helped train early professional MMA fighters and UFC champions, including Randy Couture and Forrest Griffin. SBG is home to Europe’s most successful MMA coach, John Kavanagh, has produced the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champions (Mundials) from Oregon, and its founder Matt Thornton was the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in the state of Oregon.
The SBG family has over 50 thriving locations around the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and joining this gym is described as becoming part of the SBG family with passion, excitement, and team spirit. One parent, Chelsea P., describes the atmosphere as a vast group of people striving to thrive physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, all helping lift each other up. Another member, Patrick D., states that SBG is as encouraging as it is challenging, with instructors who make sure students learn proper technique and a community that is not ego-driven. A third member, Tim F., describes SBG as an awesome gym with great coaches who know their jiu-jitsu and how to teach each individual, with a real social atmosphere and no better gym in Portland for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Mixed Martial Arts.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
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