Who Is Matt Powell.
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, while working in security consulting, acting as market manager for the world's largest security integrator and managing relationships in the transportation space. But, it all began years ago, in a small gym in Atlanta, Georgia.
Growing up studying boxing and wrestling in Atlanta, GA., Matt’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After being the first Westerner asked to represent the Kadochnikov school and system internationally (Matt no longer represents the school), Matt created the organization K-Sys, which spread throughout the United States and internationally.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.
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 of Onnit 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.
'I made a decision a long time ago not to mix my two interests - martial art and business, so one could learn from the other' is a common refrain from Matt. Unknown to many in the martial art world, Matt is active in the business community, working from the ground up to be a leader and innovator in the security industry. Matt currently works for Convergint Technologies, the largest privately held security integrator in the world, where Matt is the Transportation Market Manager. Starting from scratch, Matt built the transportation business at Convergint, now managing numerous colleagues, projects and operations in airports, transit authorities, and port authorities internationally. Day to day Matt works educating the transportation industry as well as Convergint's colleagues on innovative ways of protecting and securing transportation infrastructure, while acting as Convergint's liaison to professional organizations and governmental agencies.
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. Matt released two book 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 goals and achieving them.
This work continues today with Pramek’ PEAK program, which along with the CLM is the primary focus of Pramek.
Security Articles
Transit's Cyber Vulnerabilities
Transit's Cyber Vulnerabilities
Transit's Cyber Vulnerabilities
Matt and other experts discuss protecting the vulnerabilities of our public transit
The NCIR concept
Transit's Cyber Vulnerabilities
Transit's Cyber Vulnerabilities
Matt's industry leading concepts of active shooter responses and technologies.
Leading the industry
Transit's Cyber Vulnerabilities
Leading the industry
How Matt is leading in the ever changing transportation market