Renzo Gracie Academy

I am working on 2 years training under Aaron at Renzo Gracie Academy. I found RGA while looking for schools to train at before I moved out here to PDX. Aaron was the first person to take the time and answer my questions online and make me feel comfortable enough to start jiu jitsu at the only other school I had trained at, at that point. Coming from a completely different jiu jitsu school culture. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Aaron has an amazing insight into what it takes to be a well-​rounded grappler. We do not just learn jiu jitsu. We learn wrestling, (ugly)judo, and so on. I had never wrestled from the feet before I came to this school. I am no longer terrified of taking a fall or conversely forcing take downs of my own.
This school attracts quality people. People that become not only great training partners, but great friends and even family. The facility is amazing. A huge open mat welcomes, beginners as well as advanced athletes. My wife and 3 out of my 4 kids also train here.
This place becomes home very quickly.

This review is specifically regarding their kids program:
We have been attending RGA for around 8 months and we absolutely LOVE it!!! Coach Justin and owner Aaron have worked very hard to build a warm and welcoming environment. We felt very welcome from day one and there is no hidden costs/​price BS that we found with many of the others local gyms in town.
The kids program is divided into two age groups (5 – 7 and 8– up). The younger class is the perfect mix of fun games, good fundamental Jiu Jitsu instruction, and wrestling. The older kids get more instruction and wrestling time. Through Coach Justin’s boundless patience and enthusiasm it is obvious that he truly enjoys teaching kids!!!
The programs are supported by a very dedicated parent group (also very welcoming) which has produced some really great friends!
As for the bottom line… come check it out you won’t be disappointed.

Although I have only attended open mat competitions here I do know many of the student and teachers so I think I can safely say this is an amazing place to train. Really nice people and a talented bunch. They even have Nathan Orchard from 10^th Planet teaching some no-​gi classes which should tell you how cool and open minded they are here. Plus the space is this big wide open room that just feels nice to be in, the way the have decorated is classy and clean, not distracting and cheap. The fist Sunday comps are awesome too, what a great idea. Check this place out.

Renzo Gracie PDX is a family friendly school that’s a good choice for students of all ages, no matter what their goal is (competition, hobby, exercise, etc.) I’ve visited when I’m in town for two straight years now and will keep coming back. The students have no egos, and it’s a great learning environment. Most importantly, the head coach, Aaron Milam, is a well accomplished black belt who is one of the friendliest and most technical instructors I’ve met. This school receives the best praise! New students should definitely check out the 101 course. Not many schools offer such a fundamental program!

Aaron is great. Renzo gracie lineage and the «curriculum» is not just simple guard passes and arm locks. Jiu jitsu is always changing and evolving and Aaron is definitely interested in keeping his students at the edge of that innovation.
Thanks Aaron :)

Aaron Milam is straight legit. I’ve been training off and on for the past 9yrs with a lot of tough accomplished guys. He is there for every class, very patient, and his style and moves are on point. If you’re looking for Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu he’s a five star coach and leader. Wish Aaron and Tim could move to LA! Haha Thanks for everything guys!

I’ve been training at Renzo Gracie Academy Portland for just shy of a month, but I have a broad background against which to compare the experience; I’ve been training elsewhere across the U.S. on and off again for 13 years. When I moved to Portland, I investigated the local options carefully before choosing this academy.
Aaron’s grappling and instructional skills are both excellent. While one of those things are true of many people, both of those things are true of few people. His BJJ pedigree is similarly outstanding: Danaher. If you’re new to BJJ, you should Google John Danaher.
In addition to excellent instruction, Aaron’s managed to preserve the Renzo culture here in Portland, which is to say an environment promoting an informal and yet dedicated love of BJJ. Classes are split roughly ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ gi/​no-​gi. Techniques are kept relatively simple and therefore effective. That said, Aaron does seem to be keeping up with and keeping his students up with the cutting edge of grappling. I like that he’s spending all of that time learning new moves and selecting the ones that work, so that I don’t have to. BJJ is inherently a rapidly evolving art, and I don’t have the time to personally track its evolution. A good instructor and good classmates are crucial for that, and Renzo Portland provides both.
The aforementioned «Renzo culture» shows in the student body, which is diverse in personalities, skill levels, and physiques (big, small, muscley, wirey, male, female), but very friendly and welcoming across the board. While the school itself is new, a number of upper belts have been attracted to it, creating an environment in which advanced skill sets are unusually diverse in style. Often academies have a certain core skill set, e.g., aggressive guard passing and arm attacks, or yoga and crazy rubber guards, or MMA-​friendly basics. No such rut as yet exists at Renzo Portland, and thanks to Sunday city-​wide open mats, with luck no such rut will develop.
Sunday open mats are amazing and are a great chance to come check out the school. Many of the people on the mats are (yay!) not from Renzo Portland, but roughly a third or half are, so it’s a chance to get a feel for the culture of the school. Feel free to come by for a normal class, too. Aaron doesn’t do the hard contract push, so you’re at your leisure in checking things out.
If you’re interested in trying out BJJ, you couldn’t start at a better place than Renzo Portland.

If you’re looking to learn Jiu Jitsu look no further! I trained Jiu Jitsu before finding Renzo Gracie and I was on the fence about it. I felt like I was never moving forward. After the first night of instruction from Aaron I knew where I needed to be. His ability to instruct and explain the concepts behind Jiu Jitsu are mind blowing. Aaron Milam is second to none. Another great advantage that Renzo Gracie has over other neighboring schools is the schedule. You won’t find another academy that offers such a versatile schedule, and each class is taught by Aaron so you’re receiving high level instruction every time you’re on the mat. My teammates have quickly become my friends and we have doughnuts on Sunday! There is no need to look any further. Come join us!!!

Aaron is one of the finest and most knowledgeable instructors in the Portland area. Although I do not get to train with him often I make a point to go train with Aaron when I can. Every time I walk away humbled and having learned something valuable to my Jiu-​jitsu game. Aaron and Renzo Gracie Portland have built an academy that has top notch instruction and a great friendly, inviting atmosphere to boot. I recommend Aaron Milam and the Renzo Gracie Portland Gym to anyone wanting to try Jiu-​Jitsu. No matter if you are new to Jiu-​jitsu or experienced, its a great academy, full of great people, and very, very high level instruction!

Top notch instruction, convenient location, and a great schedule make this the bjj gym to be at. Aaron makes being a newbie easy and fun.

This review is for instructor Aaron Milam who I trained with for two and a half years. Aaron is an excellent teacher who I have seen inspire and motivate all different types of people on the mats. He is committed to high quality instruction and training. He teaches with a high level of expertise at each and every turn — beginners will learn how to survive and master the fundamentals necessary to progress, and more advanced students will be encouraged to develop their own unique styles. If you can train often with him, you will excel. Competitions are encouraged, but never required or pushed on anybody. He welcomes all students to seriously compete or just to have fun. Highly recommended.

As a wrestler, I have been instructed by Olympians and Olympic team coaches and have competed at both the national and international levels. That being said, I felt like an absolute beginner when I went to Aaron’s first class. He is the best coach that I have ever had.
I was humbled by the depth of his knowledge and ability to break complex movements down into easy to understandable parts.
His ability to analyze an athlete (body type, strengths and weaknesses ect.) and decide what will work for them is a rare talent. Just this afternoon he showed me a superior variation of a move that I have used and taught for over 20 years.
I just wish that I met him earlier in life.

Mind blowing! Every time I walk through the doors I am blown away. Great group of people both men and women. Come in with the reassurance that you will be welcomed and made to feel at home. Never been on mat a day in your life? No problem. Are you a knotted eared veteran looking to tie somebody up in a knot? Come on in :)

Full disclosure: As of this January (2014) I’ve been studying Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu with Aaron Milam steadily for five years. That said, here are some fun facts about Aaron:
1. Aaron Milam’s reputation as a competitor in New York City (and at Renzo Gracie NYC specifically) is unparalleled at his weight. I am not over-​stating my opinion when I say that he has the finest technique that I have ever personally observed.
2. Aaron’s academic pedigree makes him a uniquely gifted teacher as well. I have met very few people who are so capable of formalizing and teaching a sport/​art as amorphous as Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu.
3. Aaron has excellent Judo and Wrestling.
4. He’s a black belt under the John Danaher (2008).
5. He’s a remarkably decent person, not just a excellent athlete.
But, what about Renzo Gracie Portland (RGAPDX)? We’re a team. We’re all in this thing together and really happy to be a part of the grappling community in Portland, Oregon. It’s one of the most friendly atmosphere’s that you could ask for in a gym. (I bet you money that if I needed my house painted this summer, I could ask these guys to help and they’d show up with BBQ supplies.) It’s challenging, but most importantly it’s fun.
Also, we have a brand new facility with a great Strength & Conditioning program and tons of awesome equipment and mats. So there’s that too.
I’ve doubled down year after year on Team Renzo Gracie and Aaron Milam; I’ve never lost this bet.