In 2011 Shiva began his martial arts journey in Taekwondo with Grandmaster Ms. Lonnie Matthews and became Co-Owner of his family’s martial arts school Mireu Martial Arts in Coralville, Iowa. Between 2015-2017 Shiva studied Hapkido with Grandmaster Jaewoo Seol. Shiva has been a Head Instructor at the Mireu Martial Arts Main School in Taekwondo since 2013 and is currently studying Taiji & Hapkido with renowned Taiji Sifu Haiming Chen, creator of Four Hands Taiji and world renowned Hapkido Grandmaster Yong Gul Son, who is the President of the United States Black Eagle Hapkido Association.
Shiva has also had opportunities to study with world renowned Taekwondo pioneer and Grandmaster Woojin Jung, who is the President of Taekwondo Times magazine and a personal friend of the late General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of TaeKwon-Do.
On July 24, 2021 Shiva traveled to Colorado City, Arizona for his Master Instructor test, testing for his 4th Dan Taekwondo Black Belt along with Mireu Martial Arts Colorado City Branch School Owner & Master Instructor Randal Tippets.
Master Justin Matthews – Shiva Sundari, graduated from East-West School of Massage & Integrative Medicine’s 1000hr – Advanced Massage Therapy program with a focus in Holistic Therapeutic Massage & Pain Relief.
Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master-Teacher, Kirtan Wallah, Yogi & Martial Artist
In January of 2017, Shiva became a certified Reiki Master Practitioner and Teacher through Mary Thompson, a highly respected local Senior Reiki Master-Teacher based out of Illuminations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Shiva also had an opportunity to seek further study in December of 2017 with Rupa Majmudar, a highly respected Senior Reiki Grandmaster based out of Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Ahmedabad, India. This fulfilled a desire to develop a deeper understanding of the body’s energetic system and how it can be used to interpret imbalances within the body.
Shiva has shared his love of education through various teaching & teaching assistant opportunities throughout the community. He was most involved with a course through the University of Iowa developed by Dede Dancing, a local Massage Therapy practitioner and the owner of Dancing Prairie Massage Therapy College. This course was geared towards assisting University of Iowa Medical students with surface anatomy, palpation techniques and overall interpersonal interaction through the medium of Massage Therapy. This class has proven to be a very effective means towards improving medical understanding, but has also aided in bridging the gap between Massage Therapy and the Western medical profession.
Shiva began teaching Personal Wellness & Eastern Studies at Dancing Prairie Massage Therapy College in June of 2018, also having opportunities for assisting with Massage Therapy Technique courses and clinical supervision.
In November of 2017, Shiva took a 6-month sabbatical to study Yoga, Reiki and Vedic philosophy in India. During this time Shiva lived in various ashrams throughout India, having an opportunity to study under multiple highly respected Indian Gurus, including Radhanath Swami, who has been a dear friend and guide on the path. Shiva spent two months studying with world renowned Yoga Guru Swami Adyatmanandji, Founder of Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Ahmedabad, India. During this time Justin received a 225 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification through Gujarat University. This time period of living in a spiritual community allowed for Shiva to deepen his own spiritual practices and understanding, so that these ancient teachings may be integrated into every aspect of his life as a teacher, person & holistic healthcare practitioner.
In May of 2021 Shiva began a 500hr Yoga Teacher certification course with internationally renowned Yogi, Kirtan Wallah and Teacher Saul David Raye, who has been a dear friend and teacher to Shiva since 2018.
In 2019 Shiva and Willow Pogue founded the Mandala Collective as a global online resource for holistic practitioners to share their offerings both in-person and online, proving to be a blessing throughout the Pandemic. In December of 2020 Willow Pogue opened the Mandala Collective Healing center in Salida, Colorado and in May of 2021 Shiva joined Willow in Salida.
Shiva’s hope is to nurture a greater sense of well-being within the community, raising awareness of each person’s own roles in manifesting wellness for themselves. Martial Arts, Yoga, Meditation, are all holistic practices meant to empower and inform our life. Being a Martial Artist isn’t just learning how to kick or punch, or how to defend ourselves, it is learning a new way to interact with your life with greater confidence, patience, and understanding. Martial Arts teaches us to fully engage with every aspect of life intentionally and skillfully. The greatest Martial Artist isn’t someone who is just physically strong, they must most importantly be strong in their heart and mind, without this we will always fall short of ‘Pilsung’ – certain victory over any internal or external opponent. The greatest force isn’t generated where force meets force, it is where force is met like flowing water, absorbing, redirecting and amplifying all that comes at you while exerting nothing more than what has been given and then skillfully returned. The cornerstone of Mireu Martial Arts is ‘Dan-Gear’ – Unity of heart and mind, Unity of all people, of all cultures, races, and religions, Unity with all life, one family, one world. Together we can all flourish, we can do and overcome anything. Martial Arts is a family and all those you train with become your brothers and sisters, we build each other up, we challenge each other to grow and we humble each other whenever necessary. With determination and perseverance anything can be accomplished and that is what you will learn without a doubt on your martial arts journey.
