Frequently Asked Questions

You can refer to some other info on this site, but in general we teach students a broad variety of self defense and fighting skills. This includes striking, throwing, groundfighting, weapons training, and emotional skills.

Yes! We take pride in our inclusive community and capacity to work with students who may have injuries or other physical issues. We do not think you need to be an athlete to have a positive and enriching martial arts experience. We do recommend checking with your doctor before beginning training if you have concerns.

We'll provide a gi (training uniform) for new students for free with their first membership payment. Training gloves and shin guards are recommended. We do carry equipment at the school for students to use including weapons, gloves, and pads.

Absolutely. We understand that people have lives! We offer memberships that don't require contracts, and additionally can provide private training at a time that works for you.

This varies. We consider the rank of black belt in our school a serious endorsement that requires focused, long term study. For students that attend regularly and are receptive to coaching, the average time to black belt is 5-6 years. If you are not training with the explicit goal of earning black belt, that is okay; we just want to be transparent about expectations.

While students of other martial arts will find some similarities in techniques, we have found that students coming from other backgrounds find a fresh experience in our curriculum. We enjoy working with students with previous experience and only ask that you are respectful and open to instruction.

No. While we have some students and instructors with background in competition, it is neither a goal nor requirement of our school. This is an art for self defense and daily living; nothing more, and nothing less.

We think Ninjutsu is more appropriate for teens and adults. At this time we are not offering regular classes to kids younger than 13. Workshops are a possibility, you can see what works for you on our services page.

We are happy to arrange workshops and programs for women interested in practical and effective self defense.  We have done so for multiple organizations, companies, and private groups.

We do offer family discounts and introductory packages for prospective students or groups. Please email us at contact@discoveryportland.com for more information.

No there are not. We try to keep our school a place that is easy to work with.