JESS
May 12, 2025
Coach | Fighter | Father | Hardcore Philosopher
In His Words
“I look in the mirror and no longer see that scared young man—I see someone who can help others find what I had to tear out of every fiber of my being.”
Who is Matt Steadman?
Matt Steadman doesn’t just coach fitness—he coaches transformation. A mainstay and extremely valuable part of our team, Matt brings a rare combination of grit, empathy, dedication, and lived experience. His path didn’t start in country clubs or health science labs. It started in a world most people try to escape from—and he fought his way out.
Raised amid chaos and instability, Matt found meaning in movement and friends—from skateboarding and hardcore shows to MMA and eventually fatherhood. Each chapter sharpened his edge, deepened his purpose, and shaped the coach we rely on today.
From Fistfights to Classrooms
Matt’s fitness journey formally kicked off in his early 20s while training for MMA. That process didn’t just transform his body—it changed his life’s trajectory. What began as a means of survival became a lifelong path of discovery—and eventually of service. Ever since, he’s been coaching, not just in gyms and on mats but also academically. Matt teaches Fitness and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with us while also holding down gigs at Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah. His schedule is the wildest around… A beautiful mess of early AM lifts, BJJ classes, late training sessions, and maybe a carb or two.
Heavy Music, Heavy Lifts & Now Coffee
Matt’s ideal training day starts with a good breakfast and some delicious coffee after a good night’s rest. Then it’s into the gym for movement prep, explosive work (like box jumps or Olympic lifts), and his favorite strength lift: the Zercher squat—because, of course, it is. Conditioning rounds out the session, which he calls “the vegetables.” After he’s feeling good and alive, he’ll grab a snack, take the dog out, and off to Jiu Jitsu.
Oh, and the soundtrack? Let’s just say it’s extensive, spanning from obscure hardcore, metallic chaos, and—occasionally—your mom’s favorite 80s ballad. His playlists will either fire you up or leave you questioning your taste in music—or both.
Who He Trains Best
Matt thrives when working with honest, consistent, and open-minded people—those who show up ready to do the hard work and engage in real feedback. He’s not in it for aesthetics. He’s in it for progress, resilience, and helping people uncover the parts of themselves that they didn’t know existed.
From the Darkness – Comes Light
Matt doesn’t get into his past much. He’s lived through instability, abuse, incarceration, and self-doubt. But the birth of his first child at 29 sparked a transformation that cleared the slate. It was the shift from fighting against – to fighting for – to be the kind of man his kids can look up to. That turning point redefined his life, washed away hate, and anchored his purpose.
Matt Steadman is more than a coach—he is proof that transformation is possible, no matter how dark the start. He shows up with truth, intensity, and heart that’s been rebuilt from the ground up. And if you train with him, prepare to become more than you thought possible. Just be ready for odd hours, heavy lifts, and music that may terrify your tame playlist algorithm.
