Instructors

Wally Jones first stumbled into the martial arts when, as a child he copied his older brother and joined a local Tae Kwon Do school.  From there, his love of the arts blossomed.  He  has since studied various arts as an adult including Mo Duk Pai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Hungar Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Capoeira. Wally began his training in Mo Duk Pai in 2000 under Kyle Alexander of SE Portland Martial Arts, and currently holds the rank of 2nd degree black belt. He also trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and currently holds the rank of purple belt. Wally has been teaching martial arts professionally to children and adults since 2006.  He is passionately dedicated to Martial Arts, and grateful for the gifts that teaching and training have brought to his life.

Lara Jones is the co-owner of SW Portland Martial Arts and an assistant instructor in both the adult and kid’s programs.  She was first introduced to Martial Arts in college when she took Karate to begrudgingly fulfill a P.E. requirement. Despite the ribbing Lara took for doing so as a diminutive woman, she found it to be indescribably satisfying, and a good ongoing outlet for all the “sass” she had to dish out to others in turn! She began training Mo Duk Pai in 1998, when a brush with death inspired her to return to Martial Arts and reclaim her health. Lara holds a masters degree in education, is certified to teach children from grades PreK-8th, and has taught both in and out of the classroom in a wide variety of settings. She takes great joy both in working to advance her training, and in working with students on the floor (most especially the sassy ones)! She holds the rank of brown sash in Mo Duk Pai.

Jaydra Perfetti is a MDP black belt who sharpens their teeth every morning with the thought of helping students become better martial artists.

Matthew Johnson, is a MDP black belt who fears nothing except fear itself.