HEAD INSTRUCTOR

Harold Utterback started in Muay Thai kickboxing, Filipino Kali and JKD Concepts in 1992 under Terry Grant and Thomas Cruise. He met Rickson Gracie in 1993 and then met Wellington “Megaton” Dias in 1996. Harold is a two-stripe Black Belt representative in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary 4X World Championship Medalist Wellington “Megaton” Dias.

He has competed in numerous competitions in Boxing, Judo, Sambo and of course, his beloved Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Megaton Dias invited him to Brazil in 2002 to compete in the Mudial “Worlds of Jiu Jitsu” and the Masters of Jiu Jitsu. Since then, he has returned many times over the years with his friends and students to enhance his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu knowledge and teaching methods.

Professor Harold has been apart of Northwest Martial Arts since its inception and his passion to the art continues to be his life long endeavor.

INSTRUCTOR - SALES - ADMINISTRATOR

Coach Tyler began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2008. At that time he took up hip hop dance and acting as well, performing in many shows at Portland Community College.

Tyler began teaching dance in 2009 and in 2012 got an opportunity to work as a kids coach at Northwest Martial Arts. He's been fully committed to providing a fun and vibrant learning environment for kids for over a decade.

Tyler wears the NWMA banner on his back with pride and received his BJJ black belt in 2018. He plans to commit the rest of his life to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and improving his community.

KICKBOXING/MUAY THAI INSTRUCTOR

Natalie Whitson started training at NWMA in 2013, starting with three years of kickboxing.

Since then, she has earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Related education includes graduation from the Mata Leao Combat Arts Instructor program in 2020 and Herb Dean Judging course in 2021. Before arriving at NWMA, Natalie was a coach in Olympic fencing for 13 years, and has authored a book on fencing.

Travis Niderost started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2013 under Alex Ross at SCM Jiu Jitsu. He received his blue belt in August of 2014. In 2019 he moved with his family to Eugene, Or. and started training at Northwest Martial Arts. He was promoted to purple belt under Harold Utterbeck in December of 2021. In January 2022, he began as an assistant coach for the kid’s program. He has won many metals in competition as a white, blue, and purple belt.