Jamie Hammons began her martial arts training in 1994, when she was 3 1/2 years old. She started as a Little Dragon, earned a junior black belt when she was 11, and then earned her 1st degree black belt at 16. Jamie currently holds a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo. Jamie has been working side-by-side with her parents and brother since she began teaching as a junior black belt. At the time, she was part of the junior leadership team, and now she is the Program Director at Aurora Martial Arts in Corvallis, Oregon. She is also a core instructor and is instrumental in the success of the Junior Kenpo Program.
When Jamie’s parents opened Aurora Martial Arts, training became a part of her life. She began training because of her dad. However, around the age of 8 or 9, she became a little more “black-belt focused” – training turned from something she had to do into something she wanted to do. Jamie was constantly watching all of the students train and learning new things; the new techniques looked fun and this made her want to train hard, so she could learn those techniques. Jamie grew up at the Kenpo Karate Academy and over time found a love for training and teaching. Her passion is the children’s program. She loves working with young students, watching them grow and develop into amazing martial artists and wonderful human beings. Seeing the joy and pride on their faces when they succeed is one of the things that keeps her motivated.
Throughout her 27 years of training, Jamie has always loved kicking and self-defense. During college she developed an interest in talking about teaching self-defense for women. Her passion for this started when she gave a speech in one of her classes about the martial arts and how to run a successful martial arts school. After the speech and throughout the term, more and more women would come up to her with questions about personal safety, looking for tips and asking about what to do in different scenarios. With this new direction Jamie has spearheaded an effort to offer women’s self-defense courses at Aurora Martial Arts and through the local Parks & Rec department.
She is a mama of two amazing little boys. Ethan, 4, and Jensen, 3, are her pride and joy! The martial arts has made her more patient, disciplined, understanding, and active, which has helped her to be a better mom and wife. For her, watching her boys at the academy brings back so many memories, and she loves watching them try to copy what all the students are doing on the mat.
Ethan was born November 17, 2017. He is a strong, independent, and loving boy. He has been a part of martial arts from the time he was born, as he was born just an hour before a Brown and Black Belt Test! Mr. Sepulveda was the first person outside of his family to hold him in the hospital. Ethan started his Kenpo journey in December of 2021 and became a Fire Breathing Little Dragon. He loves being able to be on the mat during class time with all the other students. He also loves that his grandpa is his instructor. Ethan always looks so proud when he puts on his uniform. Not only does he have a big smile on his face, but he gets to look like his awesome Uncle Louis!
Jensen was born on January 8, 2019. He is a feisty, independent, strong, and passionate little boy. Although he is not quite old enough to join a class, he spends plenty of time watching. He has been known to do push-ups and stretching with the group and more than a few times, his mom has had to chase him down because he wants to do bag work with the class.