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Who is Matthew Furey?

Matthew Furey is the alter ego of best-selling author and world kung champion, Matt Furey. He is also his marketing teacher, business mentor, health coach and spiritual guide.

In Furey's seminars and coaching programs - "Matt Furey" usually takes a back seat as "Matthew" comes forward to transmit a message filled with optimism, imagination, confidence, gratitude and love. He commands his audiences to "wake up and rise up" - to expand their self-images and align themselves with the infinite spirit within each of us.

Those who meet "Matthew" personally are deeply touched by his compassion, heart and acceptance of people from all faiths and backgrounds. Although, from external appearances, Matthew appears to be a rough, tough character - audiences quickly realize they're dealing with someone "on a different level" who truly wants to see them become successful.

When Matthew enters a room the energy in the place changes. And when he begins talking people quickly realize that his "Zen Master" schtick is not schtick at all. When you attend Furey seminars or join his coaching programs you'll understand why.

Okay, so who is Matt Furey?

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania's Hall of Famer Matt Furey is a native of Carroll, Iowa. He began competing in swimming and wrestling when he was eight years old - and through dedicated practice, became a champion in each sport. In 1981, Furey was the state runner-up in the Class 3A Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships at 167-pounds. He attended The University of Iowa from 1981-1984, where he wrestled for Olympic Gold medalist, Dan Gable, and was a member of three national championship teams.

In the fall of 1984, in order to help rebuild a doormat wrestling program, Furey transferred to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and in 1985 he won the NCAA II national title at 167-pounds, defeating two-time California state champion, Howard Lawson, in the finals. While at Edinboro he was coached by Mike DeAnna and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Baumgartner.

In February of 1987, Furey opened a training business for wrestlers and fitness enthusiasts. Most of the high school wrestlers he trained went on to wrestle in college.

The Fitness Guru receiving Hall of Fame photo

Matt Furey being inducted into Edinboro University Hall of Fame

Furey began studying various martial arts in 1990 and immediately saw the physical, mental and philosophical links these arts had with wrestling. This lead to the publication of his first book and videos in 1996, entitled, The Martial Art of Wrestling.

In 1996, Furey began competing in the ancient Chinese grappling art of Shuai-Chiao, the oldest style of kung fu. Furey's teacher, Dr. Daniel Weng, a national champion from Taiwan, and a ninth-degree black belt, guided Furey to three national titles - then over Christmas of 1997, Dr. Weng brought two U.S. teams to Beijing, China, to compete in the world championships. In Beijing, Furey won the gold medal at 90 KG (198-pounds), and was the only non-Chinese to win a title. In addition, Furey's world title was historic because it marked the first time that an American had won a gold medal in any world kung fu competition held in China.

Combat Conditioning Author shows off his ripped abs

In 1999, Furey traveled to Tampa, Florida to train under the legendary Karl Gotch. Several months later Furey moved his family from California to Tampa, Florida, so he could train with Gotch full-time. Gotch taught Furey a treasure trove of knowledge on conditioning as well as the real professional style of wrestling, known as catch-as-catch-can (catch wrestling).

Furey quickly excelled as a catch wrestler, earning him the covers of Grappling and the U.K.'s Martial Arts Illustrated.

In 2002, Grappling magazine dubbed Furey, "The King of Catch Wrestling" - and in the book Grappling Masters, Furey is one of 22 elite world class grapplers who are interviewed and featured.

In addition to The Martial Art of Wrestling and the international best-selling Combat Conditioning , Furey's other best-selling books include Combat Abs and No B.S. Fitness. Furey also has several best-selling courses, including: Combat Stretching , Gama Fitness , Magnetic Mind Power and Farmer Burns Catch Wrestling Video Course.

Matt Furey in the May 2002 issue of Grappling

Martial Arts Magazine Cover featuringMatt Furey

Matt Furey in the April 2003 issue of the U.K.'s Martial Arts Illustrated

Matt Furey in the February 2000 issue of Karate Illustrated

Matt Furey in the September 2007 issue of Gladiator Magazine

Furey publishes a FREE daily e-mail newsletter on his website at www.MattFurey.com that you are encouraged to sign up for. And he has an exclusive member's only website at MattFureyInnerCircle.Com. He is also the president of the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation, Inc. where he is dedicated to keeping the teaching of Dr. Maxwell Maltz, author of the 35 million copy best-seller, Psycho-Cybernetics alive, well and GROWING!

Furey writes a monthly column for Inside Kung Fu and has been featured in GQ, Grappling,Black Belt, Inside Kung Fu, Martial Arts & Combat Sports, Blitz, Martial Arts Illustrated, Gladiator Magazine and many other publications throughout the world.

Along with his wife, Zhannie, Furey has two children, a son Frank, and a daughter, Faith. As a family they travel back and forth between their two homes in Florida, and Hainan Island, China.