About
Twenty years of coaching. One goal: your results.
Hi, I’m Matt Johnson. I’ve been passionate about fitness for over 20 years, and I’ve spent my career helping people in Wilmington get stronger, move better, and feel at home in their own bodies.
My journey started as a multi-sport athlete — playing for the fun of it, without realizing it would shape my future. Sports taught me what consistent, intelligent training can do, and they still keep me honest today: staying competitive on the field means training with purpose off it. That’s the same standard I bring to every client.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from UNCW and am an ACE®-certified personal trainer with a stack of specialty certifications behind it. But what I actually sell isn’t a workout — it’s consistency with a coach who knows what they’re doing. That combination changes lives. I’ve watched it happen client after client.
My credentials, in plain English
- BS in Exercise Science, UNCW — four years of studying how the human body adapts to training: physiology, biomechanics, and program design. I build your program on science, not fads.
- ACE® Certified Personal Trainer — the nationally accredited baseline for safe, effective one-on-one coaching.
- ACE® Senior Fitness Specialist — specific training in programming for older adults: joint-friendly strength work, balance, and agility that keep you independent and doing what you love. If you’re 55+, I understand your aches — and what to do about them.
- ACE® Fitness Nutrition Specialist — evidence-based nutrition guidance, because strength and fitness start in the kitchen. Every training client gets straightforward meal planning help, no fad diets.
- ACE® HIIT & Anaerobic Power Training — certified in designing high-intensity interval and steady-state programs using the ACE® IFT Model, so group HIIT sessions are challenging and matched to your body.
- ACE® Mind Body Agility & Sports Conditioning — movement quality, agility, and conditioning work for athletes and anyone who wants to move quickly and confidently.
How training with me works
- Free consultation. We sit down in person, talk about your goals, your history, and what’s realistic. No pressure, no obligation.
- Fitness assessment. Before you train, I measure where you’re starting from — strength, movement, balance — so progress is visible, not guessed at.
- A program built for you. One-on-one, group HIIT, partner training, or senior fitness — at the gym, your home, a park, or the beach.
- Consistent coaching. I watch your form, adjust your program as you adapt, and keep you accountable. That consistency is where results come from.
Let’s get started
The first step costs nothing: a free in-person consultation. Call me at (910) 264-0495 or use any contact form on this site, and I’ll get back to you within one business day.
