Retired martial arts instructor Bob Matland — better known as Master Matland — has seen firsthand how taekwondo can change the life of a child or teenager.
For years, Matland helped students build focus, determination, confidence, and respect — skills that stretched far beyond the dojo.
In 2007, inspired by the progress he was seeing in his students, he founded Kicks Are For Kids, a Metuchen-based nonprofit that provides physical arts scholarships to children and teens whose families cannot afford these classes. The aim of Kicks Are For Kids is to provide a way for kids from less fortunate families to attain “Positive Mentoring for a Positive Future!”
Supported through community fundraising and local partnerships, the organization offers scholarships to students ages 7 to 18 who can benefit from lessons in the physical arts. The classes are based on “focus, determination, and respect,” he said.
Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, with students agreeing to maintain good grades (at least a B average) or show academic improvement while attending at least two classes each week.
To date, 56 students have received financial-aid scholarships through the family-focused nonprofit. Thousands have benefited from the lessons and techniques taught at the Black Belt Institute, Matland’s former martial arts studio, where Kicks Are For Kids was founded and is still based.
Matland says some of the program’s greatest rewards have come years later, when former students walk back through the studio doors to share how martial arts and Kicks Are For Kids helped to redirect their lives.
“A few of these former students told me they were hanging around with rough crowds and getting into unhealthy habits, including drugs,” he said. “But because of the discipline and confidence they learned here, they turned things around. They’re doing well in college now and have strong goals for the future.”
“They tell me our work helped transform their lives,” he added. “Hearing that makes all of the hard work worthwhile.”
One student in particular left a lasting impression. The young man, who had special needs, trained alongside his mother and sister and stayed committed to the program for years.
“He earned his black belt, and the change in his confidence and self-esteem was incredible,” Matland recalled. “Watching him grow from a white belt to a black belt over four years was something I’ll never forget.”
Current Black Belt Institute owner Colin Faxon has been involved in martial arts for 35 years and took over the school in 2018. He says, “I absolutely love working with the students. I am moving in the direction of my career that feels right.”
He said martial arts has given him better discipline and made him less prone to procrastination. “When it’s time to do the laundry or the dishes, I do it now instead of later. I love that it has given me the platform to ‘take action and make things happen,’ which is the motto of the school.”
When it comes to Kicks Are For Kids, Faxon said, in addition to the physical aspects of martial arts, he sees the students enriched by the focus and discipline. “Physically, I know they enjoy it, but they are also getting the mental values from it.”
More than two decades ago, Matland was working as a quality engineer and chief compliance officer for Fortune 500 medical device companies, handling matters involving the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). But he wanted to work more directly with people and families.
“When I took over the martial arts school, I knew I could directly help people,” he said. “There is no better feeling than having a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Fundraising efforts began with Kick-a-Thon events and free safety awareness seminars held at the studio, featuring local police officers, firefighters, and first aid squad members. Participants were asked to make small donations to support the scholarship fund.
“The goal was to build trust,” Matland explained. “We wanted children to feel comfortable asking local first responders for help if they ever needed it.”
Another major fundraiser has become a community favorite: Cruise Night car shows in downtown Metuchen.
Matland, a longtime board member of the Metuchen Chamber of Commerce, began organizing these events in 2010 and continued them after the chamber dissolved in 2018. Since then, proceeds from the events have gone directly to Kicks Are For Kids to support current and future scholarships.
Held on the second Wednesday of each month from May through September, Cruise Nights bring together classic cars, local restaurants, businesses, and families for evenings that celebrate the town while raising money for local children.
“There’s no charge for people to register their cars; however, many registrants give a donation to help the kids,” Matland said. “It’s a great way to showcase the best of Metuchen while helping kids at the same time.”
He says the events continue to grow thanks to loyal sponsors and volunteers. “This year’s event is phenomenal,” he said. “Every year it gets easier to get sponsors because people know the team and believe in what we’re doing.”
The 2026 Metuchen Cruise Nights have raised $8,000 for Kicks Are For Kids scholarships, thanks to support from the 36 sponsor businesses.
Parents say the program’s impact reaches far beyond martial arts training. One local single mother said her 16-year-old daughter has flourished during her three years of taekwondo classes through Kicks Are For Kids.
“It has been an amazing opportunity to build confidence and have fun, as well as focus on movement and socialization,” she said.
Her daughter has since advanced to a red belt, and the family appreciates the calm, respectful atmosphere created by the instructors.
“The teachers set a great example of self-respect and calmness,” the appreciative mom said. “It takes a long time to earn each belt, and I’m proud of her dedication and achievement. I know the lessons she’s learning will benefit her now, in college, and throughout her life.”
