In the heart of Ellicott City, Maryland, a 27-year-old dynamo named Matthew ‘Brother’ Wachtman is flipping, vaulting, and sprinting his way into the spotlight. Known for his electrifying parkour skills and his heartfelt dedication to physical therapy, Matthew is more than an athlete or a student he’s a trailblazer redefining what it means to move freely and live fully. From the brick-lined paths of the University of Maryland to the obstacle-laden quads of World Chase Tag championships, his journey is one of grit, growth, and giving back. This is the story of a young man whose leaps inspire others to soar.
Early Life: A Spark for Movement Ignites
Born and raised in Ellicott City, Matthew grew up in a community where history and modernity intertwine. As a kid, he was rarely still climbing trees, racing through backyards, and turning playgrounds into his personal obstacle courses. His older brother, a tech-savvy early adopter of parkour videos, introduced him to the art of free-running before it became a global phenomenon. “He’d show me these grainy clips of guys flipping over walls, and I was hooked,” Matthew recalls. Those moments planted a seed, but it was his natural athleticism and relentless curiosity that made it grow.
High school saw Matthew diving into martial arts, where he honed discipline and body awareness. But parkour called louder. By his teens, he was practicing flips and vaults in local parks, earning the nickname ‘Brother’ for his tight bond with his sibling and his knack for building community wherever he went. Ellicott City’s rolling hills and urban pockets became his training ground, each corner a new challenge to conquer.
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College Years: Parkour Meets Purpose
When Matthew enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2014, he brought his passion with him. Studying kinesiology, he delved into the science of movement, fascinated by how the body adapts and thrives. But academia was only half the story. On campus, he found a tribe in the UMD Parkour Club, a scrappy group of free-runners who’d gather to leap over benches and scale walls. Matthew, already a seasoned traceur, became a leader. “It wasn’t about showing off,” he says. “It was about pushing each other to try one more move, to get it right.”
His influence grew beyond College Park. He helped establish parkour clubs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and even Virginia Tech, where his brother had ties. By his 2018 graduation, Matthew wasn’t just a kinesiology grad he was a parkour pioneer with a vision to make the sport accessible and safe. His senior year also marked a turning point: a minor injury led him to physical therapy, sparking an interest that would shape his future. “I saw how movement could heal,” he says. “It wasn’t just about jumping higher it was about living better.”
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Chasing Glory: World Chase Tag and Parkour Stardom
Matthew’s parkour journey took a thrilling leap in 2020 when he joined APK Blue, the competitive team of American Parkour, to compete in World Chase Tag. This high-octane sport think tag on steroids, played on a 12-by-12-meter obstacle course demands speed, strategy, and split-second instincts. Matthew’s audition video, a dizzying montage of flips and sprints, earned him a spot. “It was like everything I’d trained for clicked,” he says.
As ‘Brother,’ he became a standout. In the 2023 Pan-American Championships, he darted through bars and vaulted ramps to tag an opponent with one second left, clinching a pivotal point for APK Blue. His team placed third, earning a berth at the World Championships in France. There, facing 16 elite teams, Matthew’s tactical brilliance shone. “He’s a specimen,” teammate Mark Bowles told reporters. “Fast, strong, and scary smart on the quad.” With over 300 million views on platforms like ESPN and YouTube, World Chase Tag made Matthew a niche celebrity, but he stayed grounded. “It’s fun, but it’s still about the movement,” he insists.
Between competitions, Matthew trains rigorously weightlifting, sprinting, and drilling parkour moves in Virginia gyms. Living in northern Virginia to be closer to his team, he balances this with coaching gigs, teaching kids and adults the art of flow. His classes in Ellicott City and beyond emphasize safety and creativity. “Everybody can do more than they think,” he says, echoing a mantra from his own journey.
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Healing Through Movement: The Physical Therapy Path
In 2022, Matthew enrolled at Marymount University to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, a natural extension of his kinesiology roots and parkour ethos. Now 27, he’s in his final year, blending classroom rigor with clinical rotations in Alexandria, Virginia. His patients range from athletes recovering from sprains to seniors regaining mobility. “Parkour taught me to adapt,” he says. “Therapy’s the same you meet people where they are and help them move forward.”
His professors praise his empathy and hands-on skill. “Matthew’s got this knack for making patients trust their bodies again,” says Dr. Karen Lyle, a Marymount faculty member. He’s already eyeing a future where he combines parkour coaching with physical therapy, perhaps opening a clinic that integrates free-running principles into rehab. “Imagine teaching someone to vault again after a knee injury,” he says, eyes lighting up. “That’s freedom.”
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A Community Builder in Ellicott City
Back in Ellicott City, Matthew remains a local hero. He hosts parkour workshops at community centers, drawing diverse crowds eager to try something new. His sessions are less about flips and more about confidence helping a shy teen nail a roll or a retiree improve balance. “Brother’s the guy who makes you feel like you belong,” says Sarah Kim, a regular attendee. He also mentors young athletes, sharing lessons from his World Chase Tag days about resilience and strategy.
Matthew’s ties to Ellicott City run deep. He loves its historic charm, grabbing coffee at Bean Hollow or hiking Patapsco Valley trails when he’s not training. “This place raised me,” he says. “I want to give it back.” His parents, still local, cheer his every leap literally and figuratively. “They joke I’ve been jumping off things since I could walk,” he laughs.
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The Road Ahead: A Vision for Movement and Impact
As Matthew nears DPT graduation in 2025, his future is wide open. He’s considering specializing in sports rehab, inspired by his own brushes with injury and recovery. A dream project? A parkour-inspired therapy program for kids with developmental challenges, using movement to build confidence and coordination. He’s also eyeing more World Chase Tag seasons, hoping to lead APK Blue to a world title. “It’s not about winning,” he says. “It’s about showing what’s possible.”
Off the quad, Matthew’s personal life reflects his warmth. He’s close with his brother, now a software engineer, and spends free time gaming or cooking his chili’s a hit among friends. Single but open to connection, he jokes, “I’m looking for someone who can keep up with me or at least cheer when I stick the landing.”
Why Matthew Matters
Matthew ‘Brother’ Wachtman is more than a parkour coach or grad student. He’s proof that movement can transform lives whether it’s chasing a rival across a quad, guiding a patient through recovery, or teaching a kid to leap without fear. In Ellicott City and beyond, he’s building a legacy of courage, community, and care. As he puts it, “Life’s an obstacle course. You just keep moving.”
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