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Grandmaster Patrick A. I.Nwamu Photo Credit:  Michael Law

Grandmaster Patrick A. I. Nwamu (aka Prince Punchin' Pat, The Karate King)

Early Life

Prince Patrick A. I. Nwamu was born on August 10, 1972 in New York University Hospital located in Manhattan New York City.  He was born to Patrick and Grace Nwamu, members of the Nigerian Royal Family of Asaba. Patrick grew up on West 231^st Street in the Bronx and began studying martial arts and boxing at the age of 6. Patrick grew up tough learning how to defend himself with his hands at an early age due to gang violence in the Bronx in the early eighties. After watching many films starring Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee and Jim Kelly, Prince Patrick was inspired to become a martial arts actor.  After surviving prison, the streets of the Bronx and the everyday struggles of young African-American men, Patrick decided that higher education, TV/film production and professional combat/martial arts would be his life and future.

Education and Amateur Boxing Career

After many years of training in various styles of combat around the world, Patrick was accepted to Georgia Military College in 1998 and began amateur boxing as a student athlete. Patrick won the 1998 Georgia State Amateur Boxing Championship as well as the 1998 and 1999 Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championships sanctioned by USA Boxing, representing Georgia and New York, respectively.  Subsequent to receiving a contract to turn professional, Patrick left school to begin his pro career after competing in the 2000 Olympic boxing West Coast trials.

Professional Fighting Career and Historic Accomplishments

World Championship Titles

As a professional fighter, Prince Punchin’ Pat went on to win 3 world titles in 3 different styles of combat within a 9 year span making him the first Prince on record to ever do so.

• International Boxing Association (IBA) – 2006 Super Cruiserweight World Champion
• International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) – 2011 Super Cruiserweight World Champion
• North American Grappling Association (NAGA) – 2015 Mixed Grappling/Jiu Jitsu Heavyweight World Champion, April 2015

Key Historic Accomplishments

• First member of a Royal Family to fight for and win the ISKA Super Cruiserweight Professional Full Contact Kickboxing World Championship Title
• First Professional Full Contact ISKA Super Cruiserweight Kickboxing World Championship title fight to EVER be held in Nigeria or on the continent of Africa
• First time a former Super Cruiserweight World Champion Professional Boxer would fight for and win the ISKA Super Cruiserweight Professional Full Contact Kickboxing World Championship Title
• First person to promote a World Championship Kickboxing match, of any style, in Nigeria

Coaching

Prince Patrick Nwamu has spent many years as a licensed coach, teaching in various styles of combat:

• USA Boxing Coach –Membership ID# 498812
• USA Taekwondo (USAT) Coach –Membership ID# 999798111

With all his years of coaching and competing on a world class championship level combined with significant contributions to martial arts including his creation of Kwab-Je (Nigeria’s national martial art and freestyle fight sport), Prince Patrick Nwamu, in 2011, was bestowed the highest honor of Professor and title of World Champion Grandmaster by the Intercontinental Union of Kwab-Je which also acts as the Nigerian Executive Board representing the World Karate/Kickboxing Association (WKA).

Executive Martial Arts Career

• Patrick independently promoted, in association with Dibella Entertainment and HBO, the International Boxing Association (IBA) Super Cruiserweight Pro World Title fight in Madison Square Garden, New York City August 2006.
• Patrick independently promoted the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) Super Cruiserweight Pro Full Contact World Title fight in Asaba, Nigeria January 2011

In 2016, Grandmaster Patrick A. I. Nwamu was appointed Nigerian National President/Chief of Operations representing the World Karate/Kickboxing Association (WKA).

Acting & Production

After many years in TV/film production and as a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild, Patrick worked on various projects such as:

Commercial Work:

• HBO – Boxing After Dark
• Met Life (Young & Rubicam)

Music Videos:

• Shakira/Santana Video --  “Illegal” (2006)

Feature Film:

• They’re Just My Friends (2006 theatrical release USA)

This film was a biopic about Patrick’s life and was written, produced and released by his own company Punchin' Pat Productions.  This was his debut as writer, executive producer and leading man.

After the release of his film, Patrick was contacted by Rosedog Books (Dorrance Publishing) and was offered the opportunity to turn his screenplay into a published book; which he did. The book is also titled They’re Just My Friends.  

Philanthropic Organizations

Prince Patrick is an active member of the Royal Arch Free and Accepted Masons, an international organization that donates up to $1 million per day to children's Shriner hospitals and other children’s causes around the world.  Patrick is constantly growing and evolving within the Masonic fraternity and is always looking for new philanthropic opportunities to support.

Hobbies

Patrick is a long time motorcycle enthusiast and is a lifetime member of the International HOG Club (Harley Owners Group) as well as a member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

Languages

Patrick speaks three languages fluently:

• Ibo (Nigerian dialect)
• English (American dialect)
• Italian (Roman/Central Italian dialect)

Family Lineage

Prince Patrick A. I. Nwamu comes from the Royal Family of Asaba and descends from a long line of Kings (Asagbas) listed here:

• King Nwani of Asaba – 1870 (Great Grand Uncle)
• King Okocha Nwokolo of Asaba – 1962 (Grandfather, father’s side)
• King (Prof.) Chike Edozien of Asaba – 1991 (Cousin, mother’s side)

In 2009, Prince Patrick was crowned Crown Warrior Prince of the Kingdom of Asaba by his people for his accomplishments in professional combat/martial arts and his observance and promotion of Asaba traditions and customs.