Matt Sutherland has over 20 years' experience in martial arts and holds numerous dan grades in various disciplines, including karatedo, jujutsu, kenjutsu and kobudo. Sutherland-sensei was awarded his first black belt in wado-ryu karatedo in 1991, by Stanhope-sensei and Mather-sensei. Since then, Sutherland-sensei has received honours and recognition from some prestigious martial arts authorities; most recently, he was honoured with the title of renshi, polished warrior, and with the rank of sandan, third dan. Sutherland-sensei still considers his good friend Johnson-sensei to be his teacher. In the 1990s, Sutherland-sensei contributed to martial arts publications, and for a short while was editor of an international specialist publication, The Martial Arts Connection. During this time, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet, train with and interview some of the living legends of the martial arts world, such as Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, Ohtsuka Hironori II-saiko-shihan, Richard Morris-hanshi, John Therien-kyoshi, Enoeda Keinosuke-sensei, Jon van Weenan-sensei, Masafumi Shiomitsu-hanshi, Tomiyama Keiji-sensei and Takamizawa Toru-sensei, to name but a few. Also during the '90s, Sutherland-sensei ran one of the most successful martial arts schools in his area and organised major martial arts courses, bringing together students and senior ranked teachers of many martial arts. Since 1992, Sutherland-sensei has held various posts with the likes of UKASKO and NAKMAS. Although currently inactive as an instructor, due to professional commitments, he remains an ardent practitioner, supporter and studious researcher of the arts.