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Northwest Fighting Arts

4.5 ★★★★★ 303 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Portland, Oregon

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons Fight team

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule nwfighting.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 503-235-3435

Hours

Monday 11 am–9 pm
Tuesday 11 am–9 pm
Wednesday 12:30–9 pm
Thursday 11 am–9:30 pm
Friday 11 am–2 pm
Saturday 10 am–3 pm
Sunday 9 am–5 pm

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Muay thai classes on the schedule at Northwest Fighting Arts, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 4 mentions

“Perfect for beginners and experienced fighters alike.”

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🧒 Kids Muay Thai 4 mentions

“Even on my son’s uneasy days the coaches are so patient with him & and great at communicating with me good plans so enhance his success in the program!”

All gyms that run kids muay thai →

👤 Private Lessons 2 mentions

“I was nervous at first sending my 5 year old neurodivergent son here but the 1 on 1 they give before class really reassured me that he’d be okay.”

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🏆 Fight Team

“Perfect for beginners and experienced fighters alike.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense

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Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Northwest Fighting Arts — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, boxing, or MMA alongside muay thai, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 303 Google reviews — in their own words.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 11 mentions

“They create an environment that feels welcoming and supportive, no matter your experience level.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 11 mentions

“They create an environment that feels welcoming and supportive, no matter your experience level.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 7 mentions

“They will coach you during drills so that you have feedback in the moment and you can be confident that you are focusing on your technique correctly.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 4 mentions

“You’ll get a great workout and instruction from all the coaches here”

🥊 legit sparring & fight team 9 mentions

“A good friend recommended Tai Chi classes at Northwest Fighting Arts and I started going to class and practicing regularly about 4 weeks ago.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 8 mentions

“They will coach you during drills so that you have feedback in the moment and you can be confident that you are focusing on your technique correctly.”

From the reviews

I have had nothing but great experiences here at NWFA! The instructors are great and will answer questions before, during, and after class. They will coach you during drills so that you have feedback in the moment and you can be confident that you are focusing on your technique correctly.

★★★★★ — Octavio, Nov 2025

I have been attending NW Fighting Ars for the past three months, and I can truly say it has been a beautiful, grounding experience. The qigong and tai chi classes are fun and interactive. Each session leaves me calmer, more centered, and more connected to my body.

★★★★★ — Yana, Nov 2025

We have had the best training experience we could hope for with Coach Stephen Burtt. Coach Stephen is not only a Muay Thai master but also teaches with joy and patience. My six year old son has had the kind of the positive experience he will keep his entire life. Great school!

★★★★★ — Jeff, Sep 2023

The coaches, varies training areas and overall feel of the gym is amazing. Everyone is welcoming, understanding and supportive as you go through your own marital journey. I'm grateful for the brief time I spent here training and next time I find myself living in portland this will always be my go to training gym.

★★★★★ — David, Oct 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 303 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at Northwest Fighting Arts

Northwest Fighting Arts comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at Northwest Fighting Arts

Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Muay thai is a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Northwest Fighting Arts

1200 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR97214

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.