Training at 10th Planet Newport: Our Family’s Experience at Tsunami Training Center

Finding a Place to Train in Newport

We stayed near Newport for two weeks while exploring the Oregon Coast.

Our children are used to continuing their jiu-jitsu and wrestling training wherever we travel, so we began looking for a local gym where they could drop in during our stay.

Tsunami Training Center immediately stood out because it was not a typical martial arts facility.

The gym was located in Aquarium Village, a unique coastal-themed area filled with colorful buildings and small local businesses. The entire setting felt distinctly connected to Newport and the Oregon Coast.

The gym itself continued that theme.

One of the Coolest-Looking Gyms We Have Visited

Tsunami Training Center was one of the most visually interesting gyms our family has trained at.

The building was bright green and decorated with ocean-inspired scenery. It felt playful, colorful, and completely different from the plain industrial spaces where many jiu-jitsu gyms are located.

The design fit perfectly with Newport.

There was also a rock-climbing wall with a large mat beneath it. The facility offered climbing and had other obstacle-style activities that gave children more ways to move and play.

Our kids spend a lot of time in martial arts gyms, so they immediately notice when a facility offers something different. The climbing wall and extra activities made Tsunami feel like a place where kids could explore, not simply arrive for class and leave.

The gym also kept a chess set available.

That may seem like a small detail, but our kids enjoyed having something to do while waiting for class or spending time with the Professor’s children. The combination of jiu-jitsu, climbing, obstacles, and chess created a relaxed environment where families could comfortably spend time.

The Kids’ No-Gi Training

The jiu-jitsu program at 10th Planet Newport was entirely no-gi during our experience.

Our kids are comfortable training without the gi, so the transition was easy for them. They were able to participate, learn, roll, and stay active throughout our two-week visit.

The classes were enjoyable, and the kids looked forward to returning.

The training was not as competitive as some of the gyms we have visited around the country. The pace and overall room did not feel centered on preparing a large group of serious youth competitors.

That is not necessarily a criticism.

Different gyms serve different communities, and not every child who trains jiu-jitsu wants to compete at a high level. Some families are looking for confidence, exercise, self-defense, discipline, friendships, or simply an activity their children enjoy.

Tsunami Training Center seemed to offer an environment where children could learn and have fun without the room feeling overly intense.

A Truly Family-Friendly Environment

The strongest part of our experience was the family atmosphere.

Professor Nate and coach Casey were incredibly kind to us from the beginning. They did not treat our family like temporary visitors who would disappear in two weeks.

Their children played with ours, and the kids spent time together both inside and outside the gym.

As a traveling family, that kind of welcome means a lot.

Our children are constantly entering new rooms where everyone else already knows each other. They have become good at introducing themselves and adjusting, but it can still be difficult to always be the new kids.

At Tsunami Training Center, they were included quickly.

The owners made the gym feel like a community rather than simply a place where we paid for classes.

Being Invited Beyond the Gym

Nate and Casey also invited us to join them for an Art by the Shore family event at Beverly Beach State Park.

The free workshop was hosted by Friends of Otter Rock Marine Reserve. The kids collected sand and used it to create art while learning more about the coast and local conservation programs.

Other workshops offered activities involving marine debris, mosaics, and cyanotype art.

We also learned about opportunities for young people to help educate visitors about tide pools and marine life.

That invitation became one of the more meaningful experiences of our Newport stay.

It gave our kids a chance to spend time with new friends outside the gym and helped us connect more deeply with the local community.

Those experiences are part of why we continue making the effort to find training while traveling. Jiu-jitsu gives our children consistency, but it also opens doors to friendships and experiences we probably would not have found on our own.

What We Loved

The strongest parts of our experience were:

• The owners were kind and welcoming.
• The gym felt genuinely family-friendly.
• The children were included quickly.
• The facility was visually unique.
• The climbing wall gave kids another physical activity.
• The chess set gave them something quiet to do between activities.
• The no-gi program allowed our kids to continue training.
• The owners invited us into their community outside of class.
• The location in Aquarium Village felt distinctly connected to Newport.

Would We Train at 10th Planet Newport Again?

Yes, we would return.

We would not choose 10th Planet Newport specifically because it offered the hardest youth competition training we have encountered. We would return because the kids enjoyed themselves, remained active, practiced no-gi, and were treated with genuine kindness.

The owners helped turn a temporary training stop into a meaningful part of our Newport trip.

For a traveling family, that matters.

Our children may not remember every technique they practiced during those two weeks, but they will remember the bright green gym, climbing the wall, playing chess, making friends, and being invited to create art on the beach.

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