Tien Tae Jitsu Martial Arts

My son has been a student of Tien Tae Jitsu under Master Johnson for 9+ years and it’s been a great experience for him both physically and mentally. Watching him progress from a 6 year old self defense student to a first level black belt student at 15, I can’t imagine any other sports program that would have given him the focus, discipline and leadership skills that he has gained at TTJ.
What really drew us to Master Johnson’s program was the emphasis on self-​defense, strength and skill rather than a competition-​style format where the students are engaging in more aggressive tactics with eachother. In TTJ, they are learning a combination of Karate, Taekwando, ninjitsu, jujitsu, responsible weapon use, asian culture and history and personal responsibility and leadership. It’s not about getting to the next belt level, it’s about what they learn in the process of preparing for the next level. This has been very effective in preparing our son with lifelong skills that will be an asset to his physical fitness, self motivation and confidence.
If you’re looking for a program for yourself or your kids that encompasses the broader meaning of martial arts, physical fitness and self-​discipline, then look no further than Tien Tae Jitsu where your participation will translate into benefits that will last a lifetime.

We pulled our kids out of this school primarily because the egos of the instructors were over the top inappropriate. Since then we’ve also discovered that the curriculum at this school is sorely lacking. We felt our kids spent way too much time swinging their arms and legs around in the air and saying «yes sir» to other higher ranked kids (e.g. «assistant instructors») and despite extensive training were definitely not prepared to defend themselves in the real world. My advise… look elsewhere. There are several better options in the PDX area.

As a student of Tien Tae Jitsu martial arts (28 year old male), I’ve been consistently satisfied with the quality of martial arts instruction and the usefulness of this art. You won’t find forms or kata here, only a well-​rounded set of moves at each belt level that builds effectively on what came before.
Emphasis is always on what works – meaning moves are pulled in from karate, taekwondo, jujitsu, ninjitsu, street self defense, savate and more. Starting out as a beginner, I found the art approachable and non-​intimidating – students learn useful self defense techniques at their own pace starting from day 1. Belt progression is well-​thought-​out, with each new level building upon what was learned before.
Instructors are courteous, encouraging, and always willing to teach and encourage. School is open and welcoming of any age, sex, race and ability level. Emphasis is on growth of the whole person: physical, spiritual (what this means for each student is entirely up to them), and emotional.
The no-​contract, zero-​pressure sales/​membership approach is much appreciated. (Didn’t realize how rare this was until I started checking out other schools in the area.) This isn’t a McDojo… actually it’s as far from it as you can get. If you want a guaranteed black belt in 24 months, look elsewhere.
You get the impression that instructors honestly enjoy practicing the art. The school is always really clean and well-​kept, and the practice space has a floating wood floor which is great on the feet, ankles and knees when jumping. Had great experiences with their Tai Chi Chuan, kickboxing and self-​defense classes as well.