Matthew Pynch began training at age 7. This was the beginning of his quest to understand the breath link between the physical, the psychological and the spiritual. He consistently practiced and competed in Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Western Wrestling until age 18. He earned his Karate teaching certificate in 1992 from Byung Jik Roo.

Matthew began teaching Karate in multiple Dojos in Las Vegas and at age 16 he was teaching after school Karate programs for private and public schools. He strengthened his personal practice by adding yoga and shared it with his peers and students as he studied Geology and Earth Sciences at The University Of The South. He started First Step Martial Arts in 2005 and continues to offer classes throughout the United States.  His wife, a yoga teacher, taught him about the marriage between breath and movement.  This lesson became the corner stone of his practice.

Matthew’s Martial Arts classes are founded on continuous conscious breathing, teaching his students to reign in their brains with karate technique, sacred postures and natural movement.  Freedom of movement is the true Martial Art and only becomes a “style” when restrictions have been imposed.  Freedom of breath and natural human movement define and defend our human system.  Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Wrestling, Yoga, Systema and Tai Chi all contribute to our Sustainable System.