The Northwest Budokan is the headquarter dojo, of which the UPMA is a satellite school to. Chief Instructor Zachary Hanks, 6th Degree Black Belt, established the Northwest Budokan in October of 1996, in Vancouver, WA. For over 20 years, the Northwest Budokan has been dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge in three traditional Japanese martial arts: Shotokan Karate, Ju-Jitsu, and Kobudo (Okinawan Weapons Training). These three arts lead to a well rounded individual, not only in the martial arts but in all aspects of their character.
As an established expert with twenty-five years of training in Japanese martial arts, Hanks is referred to by the title “Sensei”, meaning “one who has been before” or more colloquially, “instructor”. Sensei Hanks created the entire curriculum for the program, and oversees all instruction, lesson plans, promotions, specialty seminars, and extra-curricular events. Sensei Hanks holds many competitive karate titles in fighting, forms, and weapons. He has also received much acclaim for his success as a children’s coach, and as a nationally certified referee. But for Sensei Hanks, competition has always played a secondary role to teaching, which is where his passion truly lies. Now in his twenty-fifth year as a professional instructor, Hanks has shared his martial art knowledge with thousands of men, women, and children of all ages. Says Hanks:”The beauty and discipline of the martial arts often has a magically transforming effect on people. It gives one a true sense of one’s self, and brings out things in people they never dreamed possible. There is nothing more gratifying than being an integral part of that transformation.”
Come this summer, Pouya Rad will have been a part of the Northwest Budokan, and a practitioner of the martial arts, for a decade. During this time, he has attained the rank of 1st degree black belt. During these nearly ten years, Rad has been an assistant in the children’s class since 2009, as a blue belt rank. Since then, his responsibilities have grown over time as he has put on various extracurricular workshops/workouts, co-led classes, and led full classes.
The Northwest Budokan remains as one of the longest lasting martial art schools in the area.
University of Portland Martial Arts Club 