UWMTA - Key Persons
Professor Jeff Patterson started teaching martial arts in 1988, with just a handful of students in his basement. Joining the Marine Corps shortly afterwards, he became a weapons instructor for his battalion teaching knife techniques to over 1000+ people.
Serving for four years, he spent another four at Portland State University earning two Bachelor's Degrees in business. He used his experience with martial arts and teaching to help pay for his school and living expenses by teaching martial arts on the side, and continued to train with several instructors to further increase his knowledge in the arts.
Professor Jeff opened up Northwest Fighting Arts in 1994 with long-time friend and training partner Sean Haley, who later left to pursue a fight career. After several years and a few location changes, Northwest Fighting Arts has become one of the largest and most successful schools in the Portland area. There are 500 active students under his guidance and instruction today.
Jeff-2Professor Jeff teaches a variety of classes along with his senior students at Northwest Fighting Arts, and has used his knowledge and skills he's learned from his instructors to build a highly detailed and in-depth curricula for each respective art.
Job Titles:
- International Director for the University 's Muay Thai College
Presently, Kru Vut Kamnark is the International Director for the University's Muay Thai College. With his guidance, the College now seeks to build ties internationally and promote authentic Muay Thai and all of its culture and values to the World.
Kru Vut Kamnark was a notable student of Muay Thai under both Dr. Chanchai Yombit and the College Director Kru Juratdet Urit, who is famous for receiving the Teacher of the Year award and for authoring a Muay Thai College textbook. Kru Vut came to the U.S.A., where he spent 17 years establishing Muay Thai. His contributions include founding the United World Muay Thai Assoc. (U.W.M.T.A.) in 1993, which presented over 100 training camps across the U.S.A.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Secretary of the Board