Rethinking Martial Arts and Self-Defense
At Naga, you’ll find far more than a kick-n-punch school, you’ll discover a rich community of practitioners devoted to the betterment of their body and mind. You’ll feel right at home inside our empowering community of highly supportive peaceful warriors. The courage, strength and inner peace you’ll gain here at Naga will extend into other areas of your life, for the rest of your life.
Your Martial Arts Journey Begins Here
Learning self-defense skills and mastering martial arts begins with you. Want to become more fit? Feel safer or protect those who you love? Looking to discover who you are? At Naga we have something for everyone, and this includes YOU!
Kids and Teens Martial Arts Training, Camps or Workshops
You know it takes a village to raise a child, and you understand how important it is to find mentors, coaches and programs that align with your family’s values. At Naga, your child learns self-defense skills, yes, but so much more. Welcome to our village where integrity, honesty, compassion and respect are part of the air we breathe. Incidentally, lots of fun is also guaranteed along the way!
Adult Martial Arts Training Path
You are looking for a workout that builds your strength, flexibility, endurance and all around awesomeness. Why not get those endorphins flowing and that sweat dripping while building a powerful connection with other incredible humans? Set your superhero free!
Empowerment & Self Defense Workshops
Naga’s Empowerment programs are nationally recognized, state-of-the-art, delivered by experienced professionals trained in up-to-date best practices. Research proves that self-defense works to prevent sexual assault: not only are graduates of empowerment classes less fearful, more aware of their boundaries and able to speak up sooner than before taking the class, participants are 63% less likely to be raped than those who never have taken a course.
Corporate Self-Defense Training
You have an incredible team of talented people. The nature of your
Meet Our Head instructors
Silvia Smart
I’m the luckiest gal in the whole world! I get to teach kicking and punching, parries and joint locks – all the stuff you’d expect a martial arts instructor to teach, and how fun is that? BUT, even better are the gleaming faces of empowered students and peaceful warriors that surround me at Naga. Stepping into the door of my school makes my heart sing!
Jeff Denson
I can’t think of many places I’d rather be than on the training floor at Naga! Our students and families are extraordinary, and the art we teach is limitless and inspiring. When we train, sweat, work on details and meditate together, the camaraderie is unmistakable. This is a great workout and so much more!
NAGA in the news
Popular Naga Podcasts
The Empowerment Podcast
Interrupting the Cycle Violence through Self Defense. Research proves that empowerment self-defense programs work. Participants are less fearful, more aware of their boundaries, and are able to speak up sooner when faced with manipulative or threatening situations. Furthermore, for those who have experienced trauma in the past, evidence shows that empowerment self-defense training can interrupt the cycle of violence and decrease the likelihood of a future assault. Join host Silvia Smart in this safe space. With over three decades on the frontlines, she’ll give you all the skills and knowledge you need to live your most fearless and empowered life!
The Power Up Kids Self Defense Podcast
With over three decades of experience teaching self-defense to children, teens, and adults, host Silvia Smart is a sixth-degree black belt and Head Instructor at her martial arts school in Oregon. Smart an inductee into the Association of Women’s Martial Arts Instructors Hall of Fame is recognized for both her dedication and body of work. Smart shares her compassion, ferocity, and wisdom with companies, organizations, private groups, schools, and universities around the country.
It is Silvia’s joy to share the gifts of power and safety through understanding, humor, and storytelling. Smart’s hope is that by listening together, children, and the adults who care about them, find connection and communication around the important topic of personal safety and empowerment. Her passion for this work is evident from the very first episode.
Recent Blogs
NCMEC | The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Thank Goodness for NCMEC and the Incredible People Who Work There!On a recent trip to Washington DC, I was blessed with the opportunity to engage with some of the dedicated and brilliant people who work at NCMEC. The Analysts and Case Managers are encyclopedias of...
Corporate Self Defense Workshop | Weyerhaeuser, Vancouver, WA
Administrative Assistants, “Admin Days” Gathering Just this week, I had the joy of teaching a rocking self-defense class for the women of Weyerhaeuser which is one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands and a big player here in the Great Northwest. Many...
Teaching at PAWMA, Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists, Camp 2019
Women Training Martial Arts Together What happens when you get 130 women – all martial artists - together at a retreat center in Turner, Or.? Magic! “Breaking Down Walls”, the name of this year’s PAWMA camp, lived up to its name. Women 12 to 70 years old from schools...
Black Belt Essay | Mas Twila
Read about one woman's journey through her Black Belt test at Naga in the art of Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen. Below, watch part of Mas Twila's board breaking sequence. This is a test we will always remember. Twila being celebrated at the end of her test....
Teaching Meditation at the FBI
Meditation is Good for Everyone The Portland FBI asked me to teach meditation techniques to their employees for Staff Appreciation Day. I can only imagine working at the FBI must sometimes be, shall we say, stressful? These are people who make it their business to...
Teaching Self Defense at the FBI
Employee Appreciation Day at the FBI The Portland FBI asked me to teach a self-defense class for their Employee Appreciation Day which sounded like a lot of fun! It turned out to be a lovely day with the sun peeking through the clouds – neither too hot nor too cold –...
