Matthew Darling

Godan (5th Degree Black Belt)

Testing for Rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt) at the 2026 UechiCon!

Sensei: Allan Azoff

Original Sensei: Bill Adams

Uechi Training since 1996

I began training in karate at the age of 12 at the Melrose dojo under Michael and Warren Chaile. Like many kids growing up in the 1990s, I was inspired by shows like Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and wanted to experience that strength and skill firsthand. At the same time, I was not drawn to traditional athletics, and karate offered something different. It provided an individual challenge that combined physical training with focus, discipline, and personal growth.

What has kept me training all these years is my love of challenge and the opportunity to continually test and refine myself alongside others. Uechi-Ryu has shaped me not only as a martial artist, but as a teacher and a parent. The discipline and self awareness I have developed through training have helped guide my decisions and sparked my passion for teaching. I strongly believe in learning by doing, an approach that karate embodies, and it is a principle I strive to pass on to both my students and my children. Today, I value both discipline and community. I am fortunate to train alongside skilled, collaborative martial artists who push one another to improve while maintaining a culture of respect and safety.

Some of my most meaningful lessons in Uechi-Ryu have come from moments of humility and challenge. Early in my training, I asked Michael and Warren to test me for my brown belt, confident that I was ready. Instead of turning me down, they had me perform my kata, then patiently and directly pointed out dozens of mistakes and weaknesses. It was a humbling experience that reshaped my understanding of what it means to be ready. In my first sparring class, I found myself working with far more experienced students and felt completely out of my depth. When I asked what I should do, my sensei simply said, “Don’t get hit.” That advice has stayed with me ever since, not just in sparring, but as a broader lesson in awareness, responsibility, and self protection in all areas of life.

As I continue my training, I hope to honor the lessons passed down to me by helping to build the next generation of students, carrying forward the discipline, community, and spirit of Uechi-Ryu as part of a lasting legacy.