Mata-Leao Combat Sports

Today I had the pleasure to have one of my first juvenile students come an visit us since probably close to 10 years ago. Jacob Butler was just a little boy when he last trained with us and now he’s all grown up. Not many kids end up sticking with the martial arts but the ones who stick with it… man, I’m telling you — these are the ones to watch out for. Not just on the mats, but in life.
That being said it takes a lot of discipline and dedication to follow through with training specially during your teen years. There are just way too many distractions, so to see kids do this… it is a true blessing. Because Jiu-Jitsu has a way of doing something special to a person. It makes you strong — not just physically, but mentally. It keeps you humble, because the mat has a way of humbling everyone eventually. And most importantly, it shapes your character in ways that never leave you, no matter how many years pass between sessions.

Jacob, it was an honor to see the man you’ve become. Once a Mata Leao student, always family. Welcome home, brother. 🤙

CoachLife ProudCoach MartialArtsLife Portland

Huge congratulations to our Tiny Ninjas on their promotions yesterday! 🥋✨
So proud of your hard work, focus, and big smiles on the mats—keep shining, little warriors!

PortlandKids MartialArtsLife ConfidenceBuilders

1st day of training @ 360 Fighter Camp Brazil in the books. A bit delirious and jet lagged but we made it happen.

Huge shoutout and congratulations to Chanel “Rainmaker” Kimbrough, Emmett Lawber, and Peter Jones for their incredible performances at this past weekend’s Subleague Submission Challenge!

Chanel showed true warrior spirit, stepping up to compete in TWO weight divisions—bringing home gold in their division and silver in the weight class above. Absolute boss move.

Peter battled hard and earned a well-deserved third-place finish in his division.

Emmett went through a series of tough, hard-fought matches and, while just missing the podium, showed serious grit and heart every step of the way.

What stood out most? When asked how they felt about the tournament, all three were simply grateful for the experience and what they learned. That mindset is what martial arts is all about.

We’re incredibly proud of their bravery, enthusiasm, and willingness to step on the mats and test themselves. That’s how champions are built.







Keep up the amazing work—we’re just getting started. 💪

Guess the Technique

Progress in Jiu-Jitsu isn’t always obvious.

But every class, you’re improving.

Trust the process. Stay consistent.

We see your growth. Keep going. 👊

Focused faces today. You can literally see the confidence building!!

🎃👊 KIDS HALLOWEEN PRE-FUNK PARTY! 🥋🍬
Friday, October 31st | 4:30–6:00 PM

Get ready for a spooktacular time at Mata Leão Combat Sports!
We’re kicking off Halloween with a kids-only pre-funk party filled with:
🕹️ Fun games
🥗 Tasty (and healthy!) snacks
🎭 Costume contest & prizes

Parents — feel free to bring a healthy snack to share!
We’ll make sure our little warriors get some real food before the candy madness begins! 🍎💪

After the party, we’ll all head out together for Trick or Treating in the Ladd’s Addition neighborhood!
Friends and families are welcome to join the fun! 🏡👻

Let’s celebrate Halloween the Mata Leão way — with community, laughter, and a whole lot of fun! 🎃💥

📍Mata Leão Combat Sports
📅 Friday, October 31st, 2025
🕓 4:30–6:00 PM (party) | Trick or Treating afterward