about

I have spent my whole life researching, studying, practicing, and teaching in the physical domain. I have always been on the move, I love to play, I love to train, I love to compete, it is a part of who I am, it shaped me as a person.

Lukey Matthews

In 2012 unexpectedly, my health slowly deteriorated, a year later I found myself in the cardiac ward, surrounded by patients three times my age. Medical Specialists and General Practitioners examined, studied, and assessed me, unable to discover the cause, I was discharged with no clarity, and no diagnoses to my condition.

I felt completely lost mentally and unable to physically express myself through my most loved activities. These moments of uncertainty impacted my mental health and sense of self.

After deliberation, I found motivation by exploring a variety of other modalities through exploration and research, including, Yoga, Breathwork, Meditation, qigong, and Movement practices.

The highlight during this pivotal time in my life was a week spent in Thailand with a movement master, Ido Portal, a man obsessed with movement. He has trained and worked with some of the best athletes on the planet. Ido's message was simple, to create a platform for multiple disciplines to communicate with each other, fighters talking to dancers, dancers talking to footballers, footballers talking to cross-fitters, and so on, sharing ideas, collective knowledge. I continue to engage and train in Ido’s practices daily including his online platform.

I was fortunate to find a Integrated Medical Practitioner during this time and have slowly increased my capacity to sustain my health and wellbeing. This journey also sent me back to school completing a University Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science, as well as a Strength and Conditioning Certification with ASCA.

My personal sporting, coaching, and health experiences are the foundation of my business. I have played and coached AFL in the heartland of Victoria, NSW’s Mid North Coast, and Western Australia’s far North. I have been involved as a player and coach at local, representative, and state levels, and a development coach with the North Coast Institute of Sport.

During my time in sports development, I have witnessed many talented regional athletes progress to metro areas after engaging in local academies and development programs. These athletes often leave with all intentions of making their passion their profession, the transition is often all too consuming. This comes as no surprise when regional athletes continue to train in such isolated, static, and liner practices, with almost no focus on mental preparation. Matthews Athletic Development is all about closing this gap and providing regional athletes the opportunity to engage in a wider range of practices applied at elite levels. The programs will foster adaptability, resilience and increase physical potential. By engaging in these practices athletes will develop a skill set that will increase their chance of transitioning successfully. Likewise fostering an integrated approach that is sustainable for life as an athlete and beyond.

Teaching and challenging athletes to dive deep into common and uncommon practices, become comfortable in the uncomfortable, training methods and modalities of the entire body, physical and physiological intelligence. My goal is to help guide students to find their purpose without compromising their physical and mental health. providing opportunities for athletes beyond their communities.

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