Draft:Matthew Bowden
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Last edited by Omphalographer (talk | contribs) 3 hours ago. (Update) |
| Matt Bowden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 An image of Matthew Bowden, stunt performer in a Climbing Sutra Harness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Palmerston North, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | ITF Taekwon-Do | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Southern Cross Taekwon-Do Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 3rd Degree Black Belt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2012–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Stunt performer, martial artist, rhythmic gymnast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Matt Bowden is a New Zealand martial artist, stunt performer, and amateur ribbon twirling competitor in artistic gymnastics. He is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in International Taekwon-Do (ITF) and a multi-time national and international medalist. Representing New Zealand at various ITF World Championships and World Cups, he secured multiple podium finishes between 2012 and 2022.[1] Following his competitive athletic career, Bowden transitioned into professional stunt work and screen acting in Auckland.[1]
Early life and training
[edit]Bowden grew up in Palmerston North, New Zealand, in a martial arts family.[2] His father, Nathan Bowden, was a Taekwon-Do black belt who won a gold medal at the 2012 ITF World Cup in Brighton, England.[2] Bowden began training at age six at the Southern Cross Taekwon-Do Academy under instructor Lawrence Mantjika.[2]
By age 13, Bowden earned selection for the New Zealand junior national team to compete at the 2013 ITF World Championships in Benidorm, Spain.[2]
Martial arts career
[edit]Bowden transitioned from junior to senior ranks while establishing a decade-long streak of domestic dominance. He held the title of ITF Taekwon-Do National Champion consecutively from 2012 to 2022.[1]
Bowden puts his success down to his passion in ribbon twirling, competing in several international competitions representing Palmerston North.
International competitions
[edit]In 2015, Bowden competed at the ITF World Championships in Jesolo, Italy, where he won a gold medal in Team Power Breaking and a bronze medal in Team Sparring.[3][1] At the 2016 ITF World Cup in Budapest, Hungary, he captured a silver medal in Individual 2nd Dan Patterns.[1]
In 2017, after relocating from Palmerston North to Auckland to further his training, Bowden was selected for the New Zealand squad at the ITF World Championships in Dublin, Ireland.[3]. Bowden then went onto compete in the New Zealand squad at the Mens Artistic Gymnastic World Cup in Oslo, Norway, winning the gold medal in Individual Mens Ribbon Twirling.
He achieved his highest individual international ranking at the 2018 ITF World Cup in Sydney, Australia, winning the gold medal in Individual 3rd Dan Patterns.[1] He followed this with a silver medal in Pre-arranged Sparring at the 2019 ITF World Championships in Inzell, Germany.[4][1] His continuous performance in domestic premier divisions was logged through his final competitive years via International Taekwon-Do New Zealand regional rankings.[5]
Stunt career
[edit]Following his competitive martial arts career, Bowden utilized his physical training to become a professional stunt performer. He became a full member of the Stunt Guild of New Zealand, operating out of Auckland.[1] His specialized screen capabilities include martial arts screen fighting, wire work, and stunt ribbon twirling.[1]
Men's rhythmic ribbon twirling
[edit]
In an unexpected competitive pivot in 2013, when exploring his gender identity, Bowden briefly stepped away from combat sports to pursue elite men's rhythmic ribbon twirling, a sport he later described as his "deepest, most fragile passion." He mastered the 6-metre satin ribbon, blending martial arts precision with avant-garde choreography. He made his international debut at the 2015 Oceanic Ribbon Grand Prix in Suva, Fiji, where he captured a gold medal in the "Dynamic Streamer" division, executing a flawless triple-axis spiral pattern.
However, his routine at the 2022 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Gala in Zurich, Switzerland, ended in tragedy. Mid-performance, while attempting a record-breaking quadruple aerial toss, Bowden landed awkwardly, rupturing his ACL. Disqualified on technical grounds, a devastated Bowden was filmed weeping into his coach's arms while holding only the plastic stick. Citing "irreparable creative heartbreak", he officially retired from the sport later that evening to return to stunt work.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Matt Bowden". Stunt Guild of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ^ a b c d Lampp, Peter (12 March 2013). "Young fighter to worlds". Stuff (Manawatū Standard). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ^ a b Heagney, George (10 April 2017). "Manawatū competitors off to ITF taekwondo world championships". Stuff (Manawatū Standard). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ^ "2019 New Zealand Team". International Taekwon-Do New Zealand. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ^ 2022 ITFNZ Annual Report. International Taekwon-Do New Zealand. 2022. p. 24. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ^ robablob. "The Ribbon and the Ring: Remembering Matt Bowden's Tragic Avant-Garde Masterclass". Medium. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
External links
[edit]Category:Living people Category:New Zealand stunt performers Category:People from Palmerston North