Matthew Smulders
Instructor
I have been training in Martial Arts almost my entire life, and started Arakan in 2018 after moving to Melbourne. I originally began my training for strength and fitness, but found my true motivation to learn self defence when a family member got attacked on the street a month into my Arakan journey.
Since then I have learnt to strike with speed and power, but also to remain fluid and adaptable as well. I am constantly striving to better my skills and technique so that I can share it with the rest of Melbourne.
When I am not teaching or training I find myself at the beach, skateboarding, or spending time with the people that mean the most to me.
I truly believe self defence is a necessary life skill worth investing in. Arakan has shown me not only how to defend myself in a bad scenario, but also how to defuse it safely, or avoid it entirely. And that, along with the discipline, strength and confidence you will find in your training, is why I'm so passionate about teaching as many people as I can.
Student Testimonials
I have been doing Arakan Martial Art for the past one month for self defence training. I find it very practical when it comes to self defence. From day one Matthew Smulders, my trainer would have us do at least one street scenario where I apply whatever I learnt in the lesson. In the last lesson he taught me how to deal with collar grab. First we practiced the movement, then we practiced the scenario. What I like about training with Matt is that he adjusts the training intensity based on how much I have absorbed the lesson, helps me make the small adjustments and then ramps up the intensity. And he is a super nice guy to talk to. I always feel heard and enjoy these lessons a lot.
If you are in Melbourne, I highly recommend training with him.
Humzah Al Kindi
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