About matt
For nearly two decades, Matt Powell’s influence has been felt in every facet of the martial art world and fitness world. Training every walk of life, from celebrities to the special forces, soccer moms to martial art masters, Matt changed the way tens of thousands of people look at their own capabilities.
Innovating...
For nearly two decades, Matt Powell’s influence has been felt in every facet of the martial art world and fitness world. Now, he brings that same science to the to the concept of personal evolution.
Matt applies the lessons from teaching thousands to a systematic approach on changing the mind and body toward personal development. Coining the phrase ‘self-defense against life’, Matt combines his business experience, entrepreneurial success, and teaching experiences into new methods of changing the mind, body, and spirit.
Authoring 7 books on learning and personal development over 200 instructional videos on Youtube, two dozen of the most indepth scientific martial art instructional videos, multiple Udemy courses, and a previously popular podcast.
Matt’s work is vast and multi-faceted, as well being featured in numerous publications, such as UK Guardian , Chicago Tribune, Blackbelt, Martial Arts Illustrated, Security Magazine, Mass Transit mag, The Active Times, Combat Action Network, Recoil, Onnit Magazine, and many others.
define it.
find it.
Personal evolution shouldn’t be a guessing game.
At Path, we set clear definitions of what we seek to achieve and develop paths for success that are challenges for a lifetime.
“You can’t achieve what you can’t define. If you can define it, you can do it. If you define it, the goal can’t move. If you define it, it’s understandable. Defining our destiny is the purpose of Path.”
Matt Powell
Founder
For nearly two decades Matt Powell’s work has pushed the envelope of science in martial art and combatives. From industry changing books and concepts to first in the industry partnerships, Matt’s developments drives the foundation for other arts and system.
Having written multiple books, over a dozen instructional videos, hundreds of Youtube videos, and being featured in numerous magazines, Matt continues to lead Pramek, bringing the lessons learned from thousands of students in some of the world’s most challenging positions to the world personal development.
Writing, demonstrating, and teaching both in the US and abroad, Matt’s courses and seminars are unlike any taught in the world, often referred to as ‘the masters class’ of personal development.
Growing up studying boxing and wrestling, Matt Powell’s first exposure to martial art was under renowned coach, Scott Sonnon/ROSS system in the late 1990’s. Since then, the styles he’s studied are not common to the American public: A.A. Kadochnikov, V. Zavgarodnij, Shvets, Retuinskih, Vishnevetskij.
After being the first Westerner asked to represent the Kadochnikov school and system internationally, Matt created the organization K-Sys, which spread throughout the United States and internationally.
Matt later wrote the first English language manual on the science of combat in a biomechanical perspective. Taking this knowledge, Matt developed a group of martial art researchers to combine the Russian scientific styles with the pragmatism of other martial arts.
Matt found by combining these styles basic tenets with American ingenuity, he could create something easy for a beginner to learn – and in-depth enough to keep a student busy studying for 20 years.
Working in high-risk private security contracting, Matt found that his Russian-based training was theoretically sound, but lacking in practical application. After discussions with his teachers in Russia, he decided to move on and develop his own methods, which quickly became Pramek.
Developing the system from 2004-2008, Matt realized the system needed more development and stopped teaching publicly from 2008 until 2011, when he relaunched Pramek.
Since that time, Matt has taught a variety of students, from the US Army 75th Ranger Regiment, teaching at US Army Combatives school for school founder Matt Larsen, to the Army Land Warrior Development unit…as well as police departments, private security teams, corporations, police, soldiers and civilians, to celebrities like Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges.
Matt has taught in the US, Canada, South America, and Europe – bringing what became this new system to anyone willing to host him and his seminars, resulting in thousands flocking to classes in Atlanta, at schools and study groups, and seminars.
With this large of a group to learn from, Matt undertook a massive study of students, learning, and teaching, taking over 600 pages of notes on each class and lessons learned.
These resulted in a new method of study where Matt partnered with multiple PhD’s to develop. In 2012 Matt began releasing his CLM Series, the Conceptual Learning Method. The CLM is an on-going ‘masters course’ in martial art learning and testing. Universal to any art, the CLM is designed to teacher teachers not how to teach their individual system…but how to teach. Selling thousands of copies, the CLM continues to evolve and change other arts and training systems. Learn more about the CLM here.
In 2014, Matt decided on a shift for Pramek, partnering with John Wolf and Erik ‘Esik’ Melland to develop fitness programs for Pramek, as well as Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics to develop F3 and firearms fitness programs. This culminated in the release of a long developed program, Mission Specific Fitness, a program specifically developed for law enforcement by law enforcement, which Matt sold to a popular fitness company.
In 2016 Matt began to focus on a new pursuit, called Pastless, focusing on human psychology and personal growth. Matt’s concept was simple: similar to martial art or movement, confidence could be taught, and tested through Pramek.
Under this project Pramek underwent a massive shift, decentralizing globally and Matt focusing on applying all of Pramek’s research into Pastless. Matt released two books in the beginning of the project. One, OPEN IN CASE OF LIFE, which is 8 lessons Matt has learned from teachers throughout the world. The other, UNDO, a methodology for deciding on life goals and achieving them.
Matt’s concept – let’s test our personal growth strategies over thousands of Pramek students and get their feedback.
The results were astounding, resulting in Matt developing the early forerunner of Path. Over the next few years, Matt began writing Confidence, which took one year to finalize the script and nearly 9 months to produce. Released to great reviews, Matt decided it was time to develop a new path. Matt drove to the Bisti Badlands in New Mexico to write and brainstorm in the desert and a few days later came back with a new company concept: Path.
Matt continues to lead Pramek while working in consulting…by choice. As Matt says, ‘Path is a passion, not a career’. Along with his career, Matt has numerous entrepreneurial projects, including co-owning a chain of niche retail stores called Explores focusing on handmade southwestern products being exported throughout the US. Matt currently resides in New Mexico where he focuses on developing Path, career, teaching, researching, vanlife, perfecting his burrito making skills, and mountaineering.
Life force for optimum living
Path, and our sister company Pramek, are trusted by tens of thousands throughout the world. Creating innovative products geared toward student success, we help our students find their definition of optimum living and finding their authentic selves.
change your life today.
Matt studied with teachers around the world and brought back the lessons they taught him about life. Now, at last, he has put them all down in a free book for you.
