Renshi MATT EROLIN – OWNER, CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
Personal Mission StatementTo honor God; create a life abundant in hope and love for his wife; be the hero of his children's lives; empower others to be overcomers, helping them realize their God-given potential!
current rank: 5th dan
fun factHe can play 3 different instruments (guitar, piano and bass guitar) and used to have a band during his teenage years. He also grew up playing baseball and is still a nerd about it as he even enjoys listening to a game on the radio!
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Renshi Matt is the founder, owner and chief instructor of Erolin 3D Martial Arts. He originally started martial arts at nine years old under the instruction of Fourth Dan (degree) Black Belt, Shihan Tony Kitson of Young Champions and Sensei Fred Erolin (father, Tang Soo Do influence). Renshi Matt rose through the ranks very quickly in a system that typically took students seven to eight years to achieve First Dan Black Belt. Sensei Matt accomplished it in five-and-a-half years, achieving Second Dan Black Belt two years later. He did all of this while excelling in other activities such as baseball and music.
From age 10-17, he solely competed in tournaments through the Young Champions-California organization. He was a dominate competitor, frequently placing in the top three with several first place wins. Then he took a seven-year hiatus from competition. At the age of 25, he began competing in open tournaments (along with his students), consistently placing in the top three, with several first place and grand champion wins in Open/Creative forms and Traditional Korean forms. This was also the year, May 2010, when he earned his Third Dan Black Belt ranking. He’s earned many trophies and awards, but he will be the first to tell you that his joy doesn’t so much come from his personal wins (though it's great) but from coaching and training his students to such victories. In August 2016, Renshi Matt earned his Fourth Dan Black Belt. Additionally, he has been awarded his Second Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate through the Nishokado system based in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to Freestyle Tae Kwon Do and Shotokan, Sensei Matt also has background and experience in Hapkido, Kali, Krav Maga and Muay Thai. He's a firm believer in NOT teaching one style but many styles, fusing multiple arts together. His passion is to teach and motivate the next generation of martial artists and to develop an army of leaders. He enjoys public speaking, seeing it as a platform to empower others to attack their fears and win, to be overcomers. Currently, Renshi Matt holds the rank of Fifth Dan Black Belt, recognized by the United States Black Belt Federation, a rank he earned on January 10, 2021. While proud of all of his accomplishments, especially his martial arts accomplishments, he is the first to mention that the black belt is nothing more than a piece of fabric. The true black belt lies inside the heart of the one who earned it. As Team 3D’s motto goes, “It’s not about what you achieve. It’s about who you become.” He has chosen to strive to become a man of influence, one who not only achieves great success, but empowers others to do the same. In Addition to MArtial Arts... Renshi Matt and his high school sweetheart/wife, Cindy, own an online basic consumables company called ShopELine.com. The two have realized that if you want to have options in your life, you have to capitalize on the opportunities that come your way. They were blessed to have met a couple that coached (and continues to coach and mentor them) them to build an asset for themselves, so they could start pursuing an eight-cylinder life, becoming financially free to do the things they're passionate about. The growth in both endeavors is very exciting for the young couple!
Additionally, Renshi Matt is the Worship Ministries Director at Journey Church in Lancaster, CA (www.AVJourney.com) and also serves on the church board (Executive Committee). |
