Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Ward.
Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started martial arts at 15 in a small, rural town in Alabama. Unsure of myself, intimidated by the world, and with little direction in life, I managed to stumble upon a martial arts school in my small hometown. My mother drove me up the county road, which locals call Berry Mountain. Farmland surrounds us on a winter afternoon, and the sun is already well set by 6:00 pm on January 20th, 2011. Winding the mountain road, we find the gravel driveway leading up to the building sitting atop the hill. A white, 2-room, old church building that serves as the dojo. I walked into a class of warriors, being disciplined in the art of Hapkido and also in the art of life. In this dojo, I’d spend the rest of my teenage years and into my early adult life studying, honing, building relationships, and finding myself. Life took me to many places, including the military. After the military, I returned home and reconnected to the art of Shinsei Hapkido, and I’ve since settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with my lovely wife, Jessica. After joining the Shinsei Hapkido Kwan of Chattanooga. ( Kwan referring to the school located in this area) I spent several years teaching in Chattanooga before opening my dojo. We opened our dojo here in Chattanooga in January of 2024 and are thriving with healthy students training hard. In Shinsei, we acknowledge that we have a gratitude debt owed. Our instructors gave us a gift and invested in us more than we could repay them. It is by investing in others that we settle our debt of gratitude. The discipleship carries on, and the art lives in us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road was not smooth, but we were prepared. In Shinsei Hapkido, my siblings in the art and I were trained in throws and takedowns. For every throw we practiced, we also practiced a much more critical discipline: getting back up. Every fall we took, we got up. Every punch we practiced, they pushed through. Determination, tenacity, and endurance were engrained in us and forged by our environment. Yes, there were struggles, but they’re hardly mentionable. Do not try to prepare the road for others; prepare others for the road.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I teach a martial art called Shinsei Hapkido. Shinsei Hapkido traces its roots through Choi, the founder of Hapkido in Korea, and follows its roots in Aiki Jitsu. Incorporating Shotokan Karate and Judo, our style brings several key combat factors into play. Teaching martial arts, however, is not my life’s mission. I am called to cultivate a strong community through martial arts, and my other passions in wilderness exploration and mountaineering are the cathedrals in which I practice that calling. Building strong communities is done through discipleship. It’s not a 6-hour course or a 3-week workshop that does it. It is the act of participating in daily life together, learning from each other, holding each other accountable, meeting and training regularly, having hard conversations together, sharing struggles, and being vulnerable; these are the things that build strong communities. We use martial arts as a platform to train strong leaders and heal deep wounds. We use it as a place to come together to develop discipline, tenacity, and clarity of purpose. We do not charge outrageous fees and pay belts every six months for your trouble. We walk a difficult journey with you and help you find the way. A journey we walked, and a journey we continue to walk, time and time again.
What changes do you expect to see in your work and the industry over the next five to ten years?
We will continue to follow the way. The way refers to the right way to live, treat others, carry ourselves, and care for our families and communities. We hope only to bring as many as we can with us.
Pricing:
- Regular Classes Fridays at 6:45pm and Sundays at 5:30pm / $50 per month.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.riverbendhapkido.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554086545273&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Melanie Chesnut
