Positive Mission of Martial Arts in Ankeny & Ames

The Brief Story Behind Furious Fox

Furious Fox Martial Arts was founded with a simple mission:

To help youth, families, and individuals build stronger lives through positive martial arts training rooted in authentic experience, traditional values, and real mentorship.

Hello! I’m Master Wathen, founder and headmaster of Furious Fox Martial Arts in Ankeny and Ames, Iowa.

My martial arts journey began when I was 13 years old after being bullied in school. I wasn’t looking for violence or conflict — I simply wanted to learn how to defend myself and become stronger both physically and mentally.

What I discovered was something much bigger than self-defense.

Under my first instructor, I learned discipline, confidence, perseverance, self-control, and respect through traditional Taekwondo training. Martial arts helped shape my character during some of the most important years of my life, and those lessons stayed with me into adulthood.

Over time, martial arts became a lifelong path.

Years later, I had the opportunity to live abroad in South Korea, where I continued my martial arts studies and immersed myself in Korean martial arts culture and training. During that time, I trained in multiple disciplines and eventually found a deep passion for the Korean sword martial art known as Haidong Gumdo — “The Way of the East Sea Sword.”

Its flowing power, dynamic movement, precision, and philosophy deeply resonated with me.

Through years of training, teaching, and persistence, I eventually became:

• A master-level instructor in Haidong Gumdo

• A Korea nationally licensed sword instructor

• An official member of the teaching staff at the World Haidong Gumdo Federation Headquarters dojo in Seoul, South Korea

Training and teaching in Asia was one of the greatest honors of my martial arts life.

After returning home from Asia in 2020, I founded Furious Fox Martial Arts to pass those experiences and traditions on to the next generation here in Iowa.

Today, Furious Fox Martial Arts offers programs in:

• Korean Sword Martial Arts (Haidong Gumdo)

• Traditional and Olympic-based Taekwondo

• Self-defense and Hapkido influences

• Character development and leadership training

But beyond techniques, forms, and physical training, the deeper purpose of Furious Fox Martial Arts is helping students become stronger people.

We strive to help students develop:

• Confidence

• Discipline

• Respect

• Resilience

• Self-control

• Courage under pressure

Our school is family-oriented and built around positive mentorship, authentic martial arts lineage, and a supportive training environment where students encourage one another to grow.

Whether someone walks into the dojo looking for confidence, fitness, self-defense, discipline, cultural experience, or personal growth, our goal is to help them become a better version of themselves through martial arts training.

Martial arts changed my life for the better many years ago.

Furious Fox Martial Arts exists to help pass those same opportunities forward to others.