• Address:1812 NE 43rd Ave, Portland, OR 97213
  • Phone:(503) 230-7924
  • Website:
  • Rating:4.0
  • Hours:
Mon 08:00 am - 09:30 pm
Tue 08:00 am - 09:30 pm
Wed 08:00 am - 09:30 pm
Thu 08:00 am - 09:30 pm
Fri 08:00 am - 09:30 pm
Sat 08:00 am - 03:30 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 04:30 pm
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Reviews

Rated 4.0/5 based on 26 customer reviews.
January 31, 2020 13:09

Such an amazing gym! Everyone is super helpful and welcoming. I was travelling for business and wanted to continue my training so I emailed ahead and they were super facilitating. I will 100% return the next time I'm in town. I can't recommend this place enough.

January 27, 2020 13:10

I have a friend who trains here and invited me to come check it out, so I dropped in for one of the fundamentals classes a few weeks ago. I'm very new to the sport, and didn't know what to expect from a different gym. Everyone was so friendly from the moment I walked in the door, and the gym has a very welcoming atmosphere. The class was great, the instruction was concise but thorough, and I feel like I benefitted a lot even from just the one class. I also appreciated the number of women in the class, and the availability of a women's changing area. If I lived in Portland I would certainly want to train here regularly. As it is, I'm hoping that I can drop in again in the future and learn more from the great people they have teaching and rolling here. Thank you Straight Blast for letting me come check the gym out!

December 8, 2019 18:58

I have know the owners and coaches of this establishment for over 25 years. The training received and expertise of the staff is top notch and hard to find anywhere else. This a reputable school with awesome people and a tremendous tribe. You will find amazing people invested in you and your goals.

August 1, 2018 12:54

Dropped in to train here while on tour, everyone was nice, courteous and the facility was great! Amanda taught the morning class and was very welcoming, Id definitely stop by again.

August 1, 2018 12:54

Dropped in to train here while on tour, everyone was nice, courteous and the facility was great! Amanda taught the morning class and was very welcoming, Id definitely stop by again.

July 4, 2018 01:04

We were lucky to be stopping by SBG Portland on the weekend when there was a Chris Hauter seminar on. Two days with Chris Hauter & Jack Taufer...followed by a Tuesday evening class with Coach Cane Prevost. A brilliant experience all round. Thank you SBG for making us feel at home!

July 4, 2018 01:04

We were lucky to be stopping by SBG Portland on the weekend when there was a Chris Hauter seminar on. Two days with Chris Hauter & Jack Taufer...followed by a Tuesday evening class with Coach Cane Prevost. A brilliant experience all round. Thank you SBG for making us feel at home!

June 26, 2018 11:38

I had an intro session with Justin which was absolutely great, I'm a complete beginner so it was nice to hear they have a graduated program that helps you progress without having to get continuously pummeled for 3 months. If you wanna get into MMA this is a great place to start

June 26, 2018 11:38

I had an intro session with Justin which was absolutely great, I'm a complete beginner so it was nice to hear they have a graduated program that helps you progress without having to get continuously pummeled for 3 months. If you wanna get into MMA this is a great place to start

June 5, 2018 11:28

I have no idea how good the actual training is, because I've never been able to navigate the financial hoops you have to jump through to find out how much it actually costs to train here. Notice that they do not--and in my experience, will not--tell you how much your classes will actually cost on their website or on the phone--you HAVE to make an appointment first. Why not just tell us how much joining this gym will cost right up front? Yes I know there may be a range of options--just TELL us what those options are up front. Going to find a gym that is more open about how much I'm going to have to pay to join right off the bat.

June 5, 2018 11:28

I have no idea how good the actual training is, because I've never been able to navigate the financial hoops you have to jump through to find out how much it actually costs to train here. Notice that they do not--and in my experience, will not--tell you how much your classes will actually cost on their website or on the phone--you HAVE to make an appointment first. Why not just tell us how much joining this gym will cost right up front? Yes I know there may be a range of options--just TELL us what those options are up front. Going to find a gym that is more open about how much I'm going to have to pay to join right off the bat.

May 22, 2018 05:53

Nice gym for beginners i learned alot in the short time i expeirenced the gym nice people good coaches very understanding i had to leave early due to not as much time on my hands as id like but ill be back in the future i recommend checking them out

May 11, 2018 15:52

Great gym with plenty of room, access to free weights. All the coaches are personable and approachable. The classes have an emphasis on training smart and discourage " meat head" behavior. It's a very welcoming atmosphere and has plenty of storage for belonging

May 11, 2018 15:52

Great gym with plenty of room, access to free weights. All the coaches are personable and approachable. The classes have an emphasis on training smart and discourage " meat head" behavior. It's a very welcoming atmosphere and has plenty of storage for belonging

March 18, 2018 14:09

I have no idea how good the actual training is, because I've never been able to navigate the financial hoops you have to jump through to find out how much it actually costs to train here. Notice that they do not--and in my experience, will not--tell you how much your classes are actually cost on their website or on the phone--you have to make an appointment first. Why not just tell us how much joining this gym will cost right up front? Yes I know there may be a range of options--just TELL us what those options are up front. Going to find a gym that is more open about how much I'm going to have to pay to join right off the bat.

January 19, 2018 16:26

After reading reviews from a spand of 7 years, I now feel inclined to leave my own review despite not knowing 100% how I feel.
What I can say,
~What the school lacks just like many Western Martial Arts Schools, they have cut out all the spirtual aspects of the culture..the practice of Thai Chi would be laughed at here. Any type of "faith based thinking" is frowned upon here, just Imagine Sifu Bruce Lee before fighting Wong Jack Man, they won't teach you how to fight from your soul! They seem to be more focused on mastering techniques for sport and money, exactly what Wong Jack Man warned about giving Kung Fu to the world.
~The slogan stands true, One Tribe One Vibe, when you become an active member of SBG you will definitely feel like family, the members are inarguably amazing! However I sometimes feel like maybe it holds too true, like their rule "either your SBG or your not", I don't want to feel like I'm blindly following the leader of a cult, one that may or may not care more about brand recognition than the people. I feel as if maybe Many Tribes One Nation is a better fit for me, but I can't deny that SBG will always feel like family to me, after just 6 months of being there.
~They focus on fundamentals and do a great job of it, because that is the equivalent of building a solid foundation to a house. They also teach that it is because the simplest solution is the most efficient one. They definitely know what they are doing, I however would recommend that they remember different people learn best differently, so if a student isn't progressing don't just watch the student not progress, but instead figure how you as the instrctor can get it to stick for that person. It isn't considered extra attention or favoritism if a student needs extra attention to understand something.
~Matt Thornton is not super extroverted but is a nice guy who has no problem saying hello if you say hello first. He does make his presence known occasionally but honestly he is the owner & founder, not the manager & current head coach, so to expect a basically retired man to take too much deserved time from his family is selfish. He has seminars often enough that anyone in the community can spend time with him and even have a chance to be on camera, for a decent price. Do you expect to talk to the owner of your job every day?
~It sounds like Zach Thornton, the current manager & head coach has come a long way in 7 years. No he is not perfect, but he is human just like me & you, therefore he is entitled to make mistakes just like you & I. This is not coming from a fan boy either, I was actually told I can't train their anymore by Zach so I could easily be saying things like he kicked me out because the last few months I was barely making the payments as a houseless man. However being the mature & wise young man I am, what I'm instead saying is that Zach told me "in good conscience I can't let you train here anymore, maybe in another year", he then later told me on Facebook I needed to repriortize my goals and he was right. He then refunded me the last month's payment and cancelled any future payments. I am on year 3 of getting my Bachelor's in Psychology, and as an inspiring life coach I can honestly say that Zach is a great coach in more than one degree. Again, he is however human and has room for growth just as all of us do, and that doesn't change until you die. As a man that is under the age of 30 and managing a worldwide franchise that is almost as old as he is, I would say he is doing an excellent job thus far.
~They frequently host events & fundraisers to help the community, like the ChokeOutCancer campaign and the Oregon Food Bank drive. They are even starting to lean towards giving occasional free lessons to give back while demonstrating their legitimacy. YouTube Channel & Seminars.
~If you want to compete in MMA then SBG is one of the best, they definitely have the best Tribe support and it shows at Rumble at The Roseland, which is why FCFF gave SBGi the 2017 award of Best Crowd Following.

January 19, 2018 16:26

After reading reviews from a spand of 7 years, I now feel inclined to leave my own review despite not knowing 100% how I feel.
What I can say,
~What the school lacks just like many Western Martial Arts Schools, they have cut out all the spirtual aspects of the culture..the practice of Thai Chi would be laughed at here. Any type of "faith based thinking" is frowned upon here, just Imagine Sifu Bruce Lee before fighting Wong Jack Man, they won't teach you how to fight from your soul! They seem to be more focused on mastering techniques for sport and money, exactly what Wong Jack Man warned about giving Kung Fu to the world.
~The slogan stands true, One Tribe One Vibe, when you become an active member of SBG you will definitely feel like family, the members are inarguably amazing! However I sometimes feel like maybe it holds too true, like their rule "either your SBG or your not", I don't want to feel like I'm blindly following the leader of a cult, one that may or may not care more about brand recognition than the people. I feel as if maybe Many Tribes One Nation is a better fit for me, but I can't deny that SBG will always feel like family to me, after just 6 months of being there.
~They focus on fundamentals and do a great job of it, because that is the equivalent of building a solid foundation to a house. They also teach that it is because the simplest solution is the most efficient one. They definitely know what they are doing, I however would recommend that they remember different people learn best differently, so if a student isn't progressing don't just watch the student not progress, but instead figure how you as the instrctor can get it to stick for that person. It isn't considered extra attention or favoritism if a student needs extra attention to understand something.
~Matt Thornton is not super extroverted but is a nice guy who has no problem saying hello if you say hello first. He does make his presence known occasionally but honestly he is the owner & founder, not the manager & current head coach, so to expect a basically retired man to take too much deserved time from his family is selfish. He has seminars often enough that anyone in the community can spend time with him and even have a chance to be on camera, for a decent price. Do you expect to talk to the owner of your job every day?
~It sounds like Zach Thornton, the current manager & head coach has come a long way in 7 years. No he is not perfect, but he is human just like me & you, therefore he is entitled to make mistakes just like you & I. This is not coming from a fan boy either, I was actually told I can't train their anymore by Zach so I could easily be saying things like he kicked me out because the last few months I was barely making the payments as a houseless man. However being the mature & wise young man I am, what I'm instead saying is that Zach told me "in good conscience I can't let you train here anymore, maybe in another year", he then later told me on Facebook I needed to repriortize my goals and he was right. He then refunded me the last month's payment and cancelled any future payments. I am on year 3 of getting my Bachelor's in Psychology, and as an inspiring life coach I can honestly say that Zach is a great coach in more than one degree. Again, he is however human and has room for growth just as all of us do, and that doesn't change until you die. As a man that is under the age of 30 and managing a worldwide franchise that is almost as old as he is, I would say he is doing an excellent job thus far.
~They frequently host events & fundraisers to help the community, like the ChokeOutCancer campaign and the Oregon Food Bank drive. They are even starting to lean towards giving occasional free lessons to give back while demonstrating their legitimacy. YouTube Channel & Seminars.
~If you want to compete in MMA then SBG is one of the best, they definitely have the best Tribe support and it shows at Rumble at The Roseland, which is why FCFF gave SBGi the 2017 award of Best Crowd Following.

October 30, 2017 22:55

I can't tell you if this place has merit for its actual program. Their management and policies are a farse. I signed my daughter and myself up for a year. Approximately $1,300. Only because I also signed a contract that stated that I could cancel and receive my money back should I move outside of their vicinity and with proof. My job, unplanned,moved my position over 50 miles away to another office. I provided a copy of my new lease, a bank statement with my new address, and a handwritten letter stating my circumstances. Oh, and we never did make it to a single class. I literally spent about $1,300 for nothing. They have refused to refund me. This has been going on since 4/17. Don't go. Seriously. That's such an unethical, disingenuous, illspirited approach to people and your reputation.

October 24, 2017 04:12

Very comfortable environment. I never feel intimidated or judged. The coaches are fantastic at what they do! I've been going for about three months and have zero desire to stop any time soon!

October 24, 2017 04:12

I signed up for a free trial of classes a few years back. After the initial tour, quick training overview, small workout and gimmickie sales pitch I decided to go along with the free trial despite the red flags going off in my head about them insisting I give them a credit card. When I went, the "free trial" happened only after i was willing to fork out my credit card, I don't know why its required for a "free" month of classes, but whatever it was appealing, and the only two classes I was able to attend were great. I wouldn't say a friendly environment, but very informal and a good work out. I was unable to continue classes there eventually and asked via e-mail to cancel my "membership". The reason shouldn't matter, I asked for it to be done, and they didn't do it..now I owe over $2,500 for a gym I barely stepped foot in. Bottom line, they want your money, they can afford to brush some of us aside as they are a popular gym it seems. I wouldn't recommend SBGI Portlnad to anyone, find a gym where the owner cares about your progress not your wallet and the rest falls into place.

October 24, 2017 04:12

SBGi has friendly coaches and members who are all very accessible and knowledgeable. The classes for both children and adults are thought out and paced carefully to adjust and teach in a manner that really encourages exploration and learning. The schedule can accommodate most any parent or working professional. There's a great diversity of people and community/family feel to the gym that is warm and inviting. It's a place where you learn, work, and earn your stripes through trial and error in an environment where it's safe to learn through your mistakes and ask questions.
The children's classes are well thought out and planned with time to learn and play games. My daughter has fun but she also learns a lot that she is happy to recount and show me at home after class time. It's also a boon for her that her head coach is female and is a great role model for her and the other kids in class.
It's been one of the best decisions for my daughter and I to take classes here!

October 24, 2017 04:12

Very Impressed by the professional staff and friendly Vibe at this gym. It is a place I feel I can really grow as a Martial artist and have the chance to get world class instruction in a safe, professional environment. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be apart of this Awesome place.

October 24, 2017 04:12

Love this place!
I'm very new to Martial arts of any kind. At the time I was so scared and overwhelmed by all of the choices. I had my orientation with Zach, who helped me decide where to start. Zach was extremely personable, and knowledgeable. Coach Amanda has also been amazing what an inspiration!
I can't say enough about the atmosphere. Such a vast group of people all striving to thrive not only physically but emotionally, spiritually and mentally. All helping lift each other up.

August 11, 2017 04:37

Very comfortable environment. I never feel intimidated or judged. The coaches are fantastic at what they do! I've been going for about three months and have zero desire to stop any time soon!

June 20, 2016 13:41

Love this place!
I'm very new to Martial arts of any kind. At the time I was so scared and overwhelmed by all of the choices. I had my orientation with Zach, who helped me decide where to start. Zach was extremely personable, and knowledgeable. Coach Amanda has also been amazing what an inspiration!
I can't say enough about the atmosphere. Such a vast group of people all striving to thrive not only physically but emotionally, spiritually and mentally. All helping lift each other up.

April 29, 2016 04:05

Very Impressed by the professional staff and friendly Vibe at this gym. It is a place I feel I can really grow as a Martial artist and have the chance to get world class instruction in a safe, professional environment. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be apart of this Awesome place.

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