Unlock Your Full Potential Through Martial Arts

Train at Portland’s top martial arts school! Join us for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, kids programs, and strength training. Claim your trial today.

Martial Arts School Portland | BJJ, Muay Thai, & Fitness

Select a Program

Kids Martial Arts

Teaching Kids Maritial Arts and Lifeskills to help them grow and become whatever they want to be in life. Real applicable Self Defense skills AND tons of fun!

Muay Thai Kickboxing

Delve into the “art of eight limbs” with Muay Thai! Master your movement and awarenesss, getting an intense kickboxing workout while connecting with new friends in a whole new way.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and No- Gi

Get into great shape and harness the special abilities of YOUR individual body, with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! Dicover the power of truly effective martial arts.

Mixed Martial Arts

Making your dreams come true starts with one step. Become unstoppable. Unbreakable. Go all the way by combining wrestling, Boxing, BJJ, Muay Thai, and cagework.

Strength and Conditioning

Challenge yourself in a whole new kind of workout. Functional Fitness Training has your muscles working in every way they were intended to be used. Ready to be in the best shape of your life?

Competition

Although it’s not necessary or required, testing your skills and learning how to understand and control your ego plays a massive role in becoming a better martial artist. Talk to us about your goals to compete and we will get you set on the right path.

Welcome
to Mata Leao

Welcome to Mata Leao Combat Sports—a top-rated martial arts school in Portland offering expert training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, strength and conditioning, and kids martial arts. Whether your goal is to get fit, learn how to defend yourself, or help your child grow in confidence and discipline, you’ll find the guidance and support you need here.

Our expert instructors are here to learn your goals, and help you achieve them in a fun, exciting, and welcoming environment. Take a minute to learn more about our facility, programs, and community through our website, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Why Choose Mata Leao Combat Sports?

At Mata Leao, we believe martial arts should empower you—physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a trusted Portland martial arts academy, our experienced instructors take the time to understand your goals and help you grow in a welcoming, high-energy environment.

What You’ll Find Here:

● ✅ Personalized coaching and structured programs

● ✅ A clean, modern facility with a strong community feel

● ✅ Martial arts classes for kids, teens, and adults

Martial Arts For Every Body

No matter what age you are, what level of fitness you have achieved, or how much you know about the vast world of Martial Arts, you have a place at Mata Leao. While BJJ and Muay Thai can be physically demanding, it offers incredible benefits for individuals of all walks of life. Whether you’re in your 20s, 40s, or even 70s, or looking to get your child enrolled, it’s never too early, or too late to start training.

Our Motto is “1% better every day.” Imagine how proud you will be of your abilities in one year, if you get started RIGHT NOW! At Mata Leao we are dedicated to progress and inclusivity. Our promise is to meet you where you’re at and give you the best quality instruction Portland has to offer.

Our Coaches and Community

World Class Instruction and World Class Friendships

You’ll often hear people say that experienced martial artists, even if they look intimidating, are the nicest and most humble human beings on earth. There is so much truth to that. Through martial arts you learn to respect eachother and yourself. Through the incredible and almost instantaneous transformation of training martial arts, you’ll find your mind at greater ease, your insecurities and discomfort dissipating, and conneitng with others is made so easy when you are connecting through the beautiful dance of muay thai and jiu jitsu. Get ready to make lifelong friendships and bonds as strong as steel. Here at Mata Leao we are truly family.

Adult Martial Arts & Combat Sports

Train Hard. Get Strong. Learn Real Skills.

Whether you want to compete, learn self-defense, or take your fitness to the next level, we offer top-tier instruction in:

● Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Learn how to control, submit, and protect yourself using leverage and technique.

● Muay Thai Classes – Master the art of striking with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees in a high-intensity workout.

● Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) – Combine grappling and striking to become a complete martial artist.

Training in martial arts builds strength, endurance, balance, confidence, and mental toughness. It’s more than just exercise—it’s a way to transform your body and mindset.

👉 [View Our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Program]

👉 [View Our Muay Thai Classes]

Kids Martial Arts

Build Character, Confidence & Life Skills

Our kids martial arts classes go beyond the mats. We help children develop discipline, focus, coordination, and leadership—while building friendships and having fun. Through positive reinforcement, your child will gain the tools they need to succeed in and out of the dojo.

👉 [View Our Kids Martial Arts Program]

Functional Strength and Conditioning

Build Functional Strength. Train Like an Athlete.

Our Strength and Conditioning program is designed to improve your performance on and off the mats. Whether you’re a martial artist or just want to get stronger and fitter, this program delivers results through focused, functional workouts.

You’ll train using kettlebells, barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls, and bodyweight movements to build strength, boost endurance, and improve mobility. It’s the perfect complement to BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA—or a standalone fitness journey.

Benefits of Our Strength & Conditioning Classes:

● Build lean muscle and improve power

● Enhance speed, coordination, and athleticism

● Burn fat with circuit-style workouts

● Prevent injuries with smart, structured training

This is strength training in Portland made simple, safe, and seriously effective—no matter your starting point.

👉 [View Our Strength & Conditioning Program]

What our Students Have to Say...

Best gym i have ever trained at. I'm an experienced wrestler and the bjj classes are some of the most insightful I have ever taken. Plenty of beginner and experienced adults and kids classes for both self defense and competition. Everyone is very kind and supportive of whoever and wherever you are in life. Definitely will be a long time member.

It has been a great experience to train at Mata Leao. Definitely been a family oriented Academy…I really appreciate the opportunity to train there and feel at home. We live in a challenging environment, and they provide the support that is needed to withstand the everyday challenges that life has to offer.

Our family has had a great experience with Mata Leao. Omar’s experience and qualifications are so high that you know you’re learning from the best. He is also incredibly kind and patient with kids, and puts the emphasis on having fun!

I've never been to a martial arts gym before, so I was a bit worried to start 6 months ago, but Mata Leao has the best coaches and training partners who help beginners and encourage them. If youre wanting to get into bjj, muay thai, etc then this is the best place to go! Im much stronger now and more confident in my own capabilities because of this gym. Thank you to our coaches for having patience with us!

My 6 year old daughter started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Mata Leao one year ago at the age of 5.

She loves the physical challenge of the classes and mini sparring sessions. She also enjoys the fun games played in each kids class that also improve her martial arts skills and overall sports agility.

As parents we love that Jiu Jitsu is very active so our daughter can get her energy out at the end of the school day. We also like that each class is taught by a high level martial artist with years of experience....(cont)...

The best result for kids is the confidence that Mata Leao martial arts programs build. They have a great focus on de-escalation of conflict wherever the kid may encounter it, on a school playground with a bully or at home with a sibling.

Any kid at any age 5 to 18 would benefit from martial arts training at Mata Leao.

I moved to Portland about a year and a half ago and knew no one, was super insecure and scared of my surroundings. I had a really rough start to my life here in Portland.
Mata leao has shown me love on many scales. They are a family to me. Not only have they shown me how to care for my friends and family but they have taught me some valuable self defense as well. My confidence is way up, I feel like a new version of myself and I've made friendships I will never lose. Professor Omar is wildly knowledgeable, a fantastic teacher and a great new friend. You will learn so much in such a short amount of time, I couldn't recommend Mata Leao anymore if I tried. I thank Omar and Haleigh so much for everything they have done for me. This place is fantastic.

No matter what age or level mata leao is the place to come and learn jiu-jitsu. Professor omar teaches slow and very technical. From my experience as a beginner in jiu-jitsu, coming in consistently; I've built confidence and skill just enough to step into the cage for the first time. I still have long ways to go in terms of mma but the progression speaks for itself. If you want to learn just self defense or want to step into the cage or compete don't hesitate to come learn from proffesor omar at mata leao, they have a great team and are welcoming to all levels.