Jon
TLDR: sign up for a BJJ class and stay forever!
I will start by saying that I’m overall impressed by the professionalism of the management and the community of Industrial Strength / Impact Jiu Jitsu. I couldn’t have asked a better place to get started on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I came to my first class and was warmly welcomed by Tony and experienced students wearing Gis. Since then, I have taken every class available, and even dabbled in kickboxing. Last but not least, the diverse community of people that come to this gym creates a learning, competitive and caring environment that keeps me coming back over and over again. I recommend you give them a call and hope to see you on the mat.
CAROL
I’ve been doing 1:1 personal strength training at the gym for over a year and I’m absolutely delighted. I’m over 70 and was a complete beginner. I can’t believe how strong I have gotten! My coach was very patient and very careful with me, but kept a constant pace forward. It really paid off on a recent vacation when I was able to bounce up stairs and keep up with the younger crowd. I’ll be sticking with this for the long term….
Erin
Industrial Strength has a welcoming atmosphere with stellar coaching. I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and kettlebells with them for over six years and have lost over fifty pounds and steadily become stronger and healthier than I’ve ever been. The jiu jitsu program has a solid women’s presence in almost every class and the instruction emphasizes the fundamentals, making it very welcoming for beginners. The entire gym is also kept very clean and safety is a priority.
Vickie
I love this gym. Here’s why:
Knowledgeable Trainers: Form and safety are emphasized both in strength training as well as Jiu Jitsu. Explanations are clear and questions encouraged. Small classes means they know me well enough to make sure I am being challenged while avoiding injury. I have gotten measurably stronger since I joined Industrial Strength and I credit it to the excellent training team.
Excellent Equipment: I feel spoiled by the quality and quantity of equipment at Industrial Strength. Everything is orderly and easy to find. The gym, bathrooms and shower are clean and all the little details accounted for (extra hair ties in the bathrooms).
Culture and Community: I love that during class, everyone cheers for each other. There’s a healthy sense of competition, but that is never overshadowed by the shared desire to see your teammates get better. And new members are welcomed with the same enthusiasm.
I can’t recommend Industrial Strength enough, and do often. I encourage you to check it out.
Don
I have had the privilege and benefit of working with Mira, Tony, and the Industrial Strength team since 2014. During that time I have known Mira & Tony as a mentors, coaches, and fellow kettlebell workout colleagues. Their team of coaches are excellent kettlebell instructors that are technical in their approach, fun, patient, and helps their clients become more proficient in their kettlebell skills. As a senior athlete (over 70 years old) and a Physical Therapist, I appreciate Industrial Strength’s attention to detail in keeping me safe while getting me stronger. I have zero hesitation in recommending Industrial Strength to anyone (regardless of age) seeking increased fitness and strength and wanting to enjoy that journey.
SARA
I have nothing but awesome things to say about my experience at Industrial Strength. As a female in BJJ, it can be tricky to find a welcoming and safe environment to train but this place does and then some! It has allowed me to grow my game and also provided me an opportunity to coach as well! And I absolutely love the kettlebell classes! Perfect combo for my training!!!!
We would like to give an extra special thank you to Sara for not only being an amazing part of our community here, but also a fantastic Jiu Jitsu instructor. Sara teaches our Saturday morning BJJ class which is one of the most popular classes we offer!
– Tony & Mira
Mike
I have been training with Tony, Mira, and Industrial Strength for many years. They have developed my strength, endurance, balance, flexibility and motor skill level to my capacity which I needed for my career as a police officer. They also got me to be a SFG I certified kettlebell instructor and doing 40kg Turkish get ups. I have been able to meet new standards in physical abilities in such things as defensive tactics skills, properly lifting people and other physical skill based requirements. I have also been able to transfer many of these skills to teaching others in related subjects to my profession. Industrial Strength has a team of great coaches that cares about their students and the community.
KARTHIK
RYAN
If you are looking for a supportive environment to challenge yourself and improve your strength and fitness, you will not be disappointed with Industrial Strength. Like many weightlifters I fell in love with the sport through CrossFit. As my desire to improve my weightlifting grew, I realized that I would need more focused coaching and tailored programming to ensure sustained progress. My coach at the time recommended a few weightlifting gyms around Portland, Industrial Strength being one of them, as a means for me to grow and push through my performance plateau. Industrial Strength has the prefect mix for me: a dedicated, highly-qualified coaching staff, a variety of classes and weightlifting disciplines, a welcoming and accepting membership, and well-maintained facilities/equipment. It is very much my ‘third place’. It is more than simply a training facility, it is a community of fantastic people and a source of great friendships. With the support of my coaches and teammates, I have been able to progress as a weightlifter and address the on-going mobility issues caused by old sports injuries. If you are on the fence about a new training facility, come to Industrial Strength, you will not be disappointed.
SMITH
I participate in the BJJ and kickboxing classes at Industrial Strength. Before Industrial strength I had no experience in martial arts. I started training because I watched the UFC and wanted to learn how to be able to defend myself.
MAXIMUS & MAVERICK
Maverick: My favorites parts about Jiu Jitsu are learning self-defense and takedowns. During classes I like learning new moves, having matches, and doing exercises to get stronger.
Maximus: My favorite parts of Jiu Jitsu class are doing matches, learning new moves, and the sprawls. My favorite Jiu Jitsu move is the armbar.
BARDIA
First impressions set the tone of a relationship. I was walking by on an errand when I noticed the sign for martial arts in front of Industrial Strength Gym. The picture above was two competitors sparring in no-gi Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and in the heart of St. Johns, Portland no less. I walked in and I was immediately greeted warmly and openly. I shared I have trained BJJ before and that set the tone with myself and Tony where he gave me an immediate tour, a breakdown of the schedule, pricing, and all the other incidentals. It immediately felt that I would be a part of a team that is there to train and support each other in the sport we love.
Some months into my training, I had to step away from training BJJ due to medical reasons. I could exercise, but I wasn’t able to participate in BJJ for some time. Tony made it very easy for me to transition to Industrial Strength’s Kettlebell training program so I could continue to exercise and remain strong until I return to the mats at a future date. Tony introduced me to coach who was teaching the On-Ramp program and I learned a lot of excellent exercises using kettlebells that I felt gave me near immediate results. I felt my body become stronger and more balanced, which translated to better BJJ performance later. What I thought was going to be a tough time not being able to train has become a blessing in being able to explore new skills and strengths that I can apply in other physical activities.
Since joining Industrial Strength I have become a big fan of the team and the program they’re putting together. An inclusive group looking to always support each other, build each other, develop our skills, and bring fun into everyday martial arts and fitness. I look forward to going to my class each day.
SAMANTHA
I’ve been a member of industrial strength (primarily for weightlifting) since 2018. I’ve trained in many other gyms and this has been my favorite by far. The gym is incredibly clean and aesthetically pleasing, with a wide variety of programming and training options, but it feels like a tight knit family. The owners and rest of the coaching staff are wonderful. I came to Industrial looking for a supportive fitness and weightlifting community, and that it exactly what I’ve found.
Training with Industrial has been more than finding a gym to throw on my lifters and get my workout in. Our weightlifting team has helped me to grow not only as a new lifter, but also as an individual. Prior to coming to Industrial, I was hesitant to compete in my first local meet and had put off signing up for multiple competitions. My coach and several of my rad new team mates helped me gain the skill and confidence to believe in myself and I had a great first meet experience in May.
I love lifting at Industrial with my new team mates. It is a great training environment, that focuses on quality of movement and longevity in the sport. The programming is well thought out, and makes room for both a team weightlifting environment and periods of individualization throughout training cycles. I have nothing but positive things to say about training here, and I would recommend it to anyone in the area looking to get stronger!
MEGAN
I started working out with Industrial Strength virtually doing their On-Demand kettlebell courses. This set me up for success to participate in class once the pandemic restrictions eased in Jan 2021. I did their kettlebell classes during my entire pregnancy and now postpartum. IS has helped me maintain my fitness during challenging times in my life and I am extremely grateful. In person classes are challenging, but leave you feeling well enough that you aren’t completely gassed the next day. Classes are fun and social. I love being able to learn new skills and get STRONG while hanging out with new friends!
NICOLE
You know you’ve stepped into a solid gym environment when you have an orientation to assess movement/mobility prior to starting classes or lifting weight. I completed On Ramp as well as some 1-on-1 personal training before starting classes. The coaches have great attention to detail, recommendations on progressions to heavier weight based on form and comfortability of the athlete as well as exercises to improve form on KB swings, snatches Turkish getups, etc. to get the most out of your workout.