Femme Rising

This isn’t goodbye.

You may have heard, but Femme Rising is closing its doors. Yeah… it sucks. There’s no neat way to wrap that up. What we built here mattered. The strength, the friendships, the laughter, the confidence. That doesn’t just disappear.

But this isn’t the end of the story.

Rei will be opening her own studio in the near future, and if you’ve ever trained with her, you already know that’s going to be something special. We’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way.

In the meantime, this space isn’t going quiet. We’re shifting the mission.

We’re going to use this platform to spotlight women who are doing bold, interesting, powerful things, here in Portland and beyond. Entrepreneurs, creators, community builders. The ones making real impact.

Because Femme Rising was never just a place. It’s a mindset and a community.

Our final week of classes is here. Come train. Come connect. Come be part of it one more time.

And as we start this next chapter, tell us who we should spotlight. Portland or anywhere. If there’s a woman doing something worth paying attention to, we want to know.

We’re not done. We’re just moving to the next chapter.

Who taught you how to protect yourself?

Now imagine being that person for someone else.

Femme Rising is hiring in Northwest Portland for:

• A Minis’ Jiu Jitsu Instructor (for our next generation of tiny grapplers)
• A Self-Defense Instructor (to teach real-world skills in a women-centered space)

We train girls to trust their strength.
We train women to take up space.

We need instructors who can do more than demonstrate moves. You need to connect, guide, and build confidence.

In-person teaching at our NW Portland studio.

If that sounds like you, email your resume + a quick intro to [email protected]

Help us spread the word! Tag a Portland instructor and share this to your story.

Join us for PLAYFIGHT, a queer-led, all-gender class where we explore martial arts, self-defense, and movement through the lens of embodiment, play, and joyful experimentation.

​PLAYFIGHT draws from the traditions of wrestling, jiu-jitsu, judo, sumo, and other movement arts.
We offer a beginner-friendly, playful learning environment that builds real-world skills.
Each class begins with solo warm-up movements, then moves into fun, animal-inspired partnered games.

Classes are $28, 75 minutes long, and take place on Thursdays at 7:30 PM at 🌼 1927 NW Kearney Street.

Coming soon… Train Like Her! Our new Instagram series breaking down real jiu jitsu, kickboxing, and self-defense skills inspired by the strongest women in fantasy.

We’re bringing iconic female characters to life through techniques you can learn in our videos and practice at Femme Rising classes! From warriors like Aelin to fighters like Feyre to fearless leaders like Violet Sorrengail, we’re taking the power you love on the page and turning it into practical technique you can train on the mat.

Who should we start with?
👇 Drop your favorite heroine + the moves you want to learn!

We are beyond excited to partner with Alo to celebrate International Women’s Day in the most Femme Rising way possible, on the mats.

To honor this year’s theme, , we’re offering a free jiu jitsu class on March 8 at 4pm for women ready to step into their strength. This is about more than one workout. It’s about women backing themselves, building real skills, and proving to their nervous system that they are capable of more than they think.

Spots are limited, so claim yours now! Sign up through the link in our bio. 💥

Take your skills to the next level with Applied Kickboxing!

If you love kickboxing and are looking for more, this class is for you. Women’s Applied Kickboxing takes your skills beyond the basics by practicing techniques in controlled real-life scenarios.

You’ll sharpen your striking, defense, and footwork while working with a partner in a supportive environment. Through structured drills and light contact training, you’ll build confidence in reading opponents, reacting effectively, and refining your technique under pressure.

Join us this Saturday at 6pm — link in our bio to register.

Join us for PLAYFIGHT, a queer-led, all-gender class where we explore martial arts, self-defense, and movement through the lens of embodiment, play, and joyful experimentation.

​PLAYFIGHT draws from the traditions of wrestling, jiu-jitsu, judo, sumo, and other movement arts.
We offer a beginner-friendly, playful learning environment that builds real-world skills.
Each class begins with solo warm-up movements, then moves into fun, animal-inspired partnered games.

Classes are $28, 75 minutes long, and take place on Thursdays at 7:30 PM at 1927 NW Kearney Street.