Jeff Patterson

Jeff Patterson is the owner and founder of Northwest Fighting Arts (NWFA) and Portland Tai Chi Academy (PTCA) in Portland, Oregon.14 He is a highly experienced martial artist with over 36 years of practice in various disciplines.1

Martial Arts Background

Jeff has achieved black belt equivalency in several martial arts, including:

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Eskrima
• Tai Chi
• Qigong
• Muay Thai
• Kenpo

He started teaching martial arts in 1988, initially with just a handful of students in his basement.3 Over the years, his organization has grown significantly, with over 25,000 students benefiting from his teachings.1

Professional Experience

• Founder of The Yielding Warrior4
• Owner of Northwest Fighting Arts/Portland Tai Chi Academy4
• Author of three books and creator of two audio courses1
• Producer of hundreds of instructional videos1

Education and Military Service

• Served in the Marine Corps for four years1
• Earned two Bachelor's Degrees in business from Portland State University14

Teaching Philosophy

Jeff emphasizes the transformative power of meditative arts and their ability to enhance overall life experiences.15 He has developed comprehensive curricula for various martial arts disciplines, including Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tai Chi, and Qigong.1

Controversy

It's worth noting that there has been some controversy regarding Jeff Patterson's credentials, particularly his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.2 While his website claims he received a black belt from Rigan Machado in 2007, there have been conflicting reports about the validity of this claim. However, a follow-up communication from Rigan Machado's association stated that Jeff Patterson was promoted to black belt by Rigan several years ago, but his school is not affiliated with their association.2