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Eastside Grappling
4.6 ★★★★★ 48 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Portland, Oregon
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
- 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
- No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
- Open mat open-mat rolling sessions for members to practice live — always optional and at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule eastsidegrappling.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (503) 812-1175
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–7 PM |
The classes they run
“Josh also goes to every competition that has an Eastside competitor.”
“Great place to train, I've trained in at least 3 other big name grappling gyms and eastside by far has the best focus on technique and personal training to their students.”
“First started coming to the open mats on Sundays a few years ago and everyone was very welcoming.”
“Mike lead the group through some great instruction with progressions for both beginner and advanced students.”
Other martial arts here
“Josh is a wizard of technicality and wrestling at its best, along with a welcoming, positive place to train and call home.”
What members say
“If you want to learn jiu jitsu from an engaging and knowledgeable coach with friendly and encouraging people then I recommend checking out Eastside Grappling.”
“Josh is a wizard of technicality and wrestling at its best, along with a welcoming, positive place to train and call home.”
“If you want to learn jiu jitsu from an engaging and knowledgeable coach with friendly and encouraging people then I recommend checking out Eastside Grappling.”
“Great place to train, I've trained in at least 3 other big name grappling gyms and eastside by far has the best focus on technique and personal training to their students.”
“Josh also goes to every competition that has an Eastside competitor.”
From the reviews
I have trained for over 10 years and had the opportunity to learn from instructors with amazing pedigrees throughout the US. I am fortunate to learn from Josh Botkin and from my fellow training partners and friends. Josh excels at being both technical and conceptual with his instruction.
I have been training at Eastside Grappling since 2017 and have had the privilege of watching the gym grow and evolve. It has personally given me a community I could not imagine my life without. You will have the opportunity to wrestle with and get immediate feedback from the head coach.
I have been training here for years. First started coming to the open mats on Sundays a few years ago and everyone was very welcoming. Started training here just after the pandemic. I train at the noon class on mon, wed, and Friday usually and it’s great.
I have trained with Josh for the whole 12 years I have been training. Josh is an excellent instructor and has created a great environment for learning at Eastside Grappling. The students and other instructors are friendly and welcoming. Great place to train, learn, and have fun.
New to BJJ? Start at Eastside Grappling
Eastside Grappling comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, 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 or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. 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, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first BJJ class at Eastside Grappling
Nervous about walking into a BJJ 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 basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, 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.
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