Chris Franco
As the founder of the first mixed martial arts school in Canadian history, Chris Franco brings 40+ years of Martial Arts experience and has served the Vancouver community for the last two decades running his dojo on 33rd and Fraser with self defence programs suited for people of all ages.
As a UFC Coach, Mr. Franco has travelled the world competing, teaching seminars, coaching and cornering some of Vancouver’s top athletes such as UFC Fighter, 5 X BFL World Heavyweight Champion Caio “Bigfoot” Machado, Canadian MMA and Muay Thai Heavyweight Champion Paul “The Mauler” Lazenby, Two Time World Jiu Jitsu Champion, and over 25 Gold Medal victories in local tournament competition and manager of FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION, Maria “The Babysitter” Demers.
- Founder of Canada’s first MMA Dojo in Canada
- 40+ years of experience in the Martial Arts
- Taught over 30,000 classes in the martial arts spanning over those 40+ years
- Co – Owner and Founder of FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION
- Full-contact fighting record of 19 – 5 (MMA, Pankration, Kickboxing, Sabaki Challenge)
- Guam Superbrawl Super Heavyweight Champion
- Oregon State Jujitsu Super Heavyweight Champion
- Sabaki Challenge Heavyweight Finalist
- B.C. Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion
- UFC Coach
- 30+ years experience as a coach training athletes to win, provincial, national, North American and World titles in Jujitsu, MMA, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Grappling, Boxing (amateur and pro)
- Two-time Martial Arts Instructor of the Year
- Four-time Community Trainer of the Year
- Awarded a 2nd Degree Black Belt in 1995 which consisted of an eclectic style featuring Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Small Circle Jujitsu, Kickboxing and Submission Wrestling concepts
- 2 x UFC Judge
- Certified Judge under “Big”John McCarthy
- Stuntman: Rumble In The Bronx, Mr Magoo, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, Double Edge, Lucifer and Lands Edge
- Appeared in two Marvel Comics: Ms Marvel Annual issue #1 and Crescent and IO issue #1
- Professional Bodyguard
Instructors
Maria “The Babysitter” Demers
- Manager of FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Inc.
- Over 15+ Years training under Chris Franco
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Black Belt Kickboxing
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Junior Black Belt Pankration
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Brown Belt Submission Wrestling
- Two Time World Jiu Jitsu Champion (SJJIF) (Blue Belt)
- Can Am Pankration Champion
- Undefeated as amateur fighter (2-0)
- #1 Ranked BFL Bantamweight (amateur)
- Over 25 Gold Medals
- Over 30 Medals in local tournament competitions
- West Coast Can Am Fighter of the tournament (over 300 competitors)
PAUL “The Mauler” LAZENBY
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Full Instructor and MMA Coach
- Has trained with Chris Franco from 2001 to this very day! Forging a powerful friendship through blood, sweat, and tears
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Black Belt in Muay Thai
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Black Belt in Pankration / MMA
- NFC Canadian mixed martial arts champion
- Never lost a fight with Chris Franco in his corner
- Undisputed Canadian Muay Thai kickboxing champion
- First Super Heavyweight fighter in history to hold Canadian titles in MMA and Muay Thai at the same time
- Silver medal in the Canadian Junior Powerlifting Championships (Canadian record 601 lb. deadlift).
- First Canadian ever to fight in Japan’s “Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling” MMA organization.
- 3rd place in the 1995 Canadian Strongman Championships
- Professional Actor & Stuntman with over 250 films/TV shows/video games to his credit
Josh “The Spartan” Chow
- Has trained under Chris Franco for 15+ years
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Blackbelt in Kickboxing / Muay Thai
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Brown Belt in Submission Wrestling
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Red Belt in Pankration
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Full Instructor
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Fighter
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION’s Assistant Coach
- Achieved wins in local tournament competition and holding Gold Medals in Pankration, No-Gi and Kickboxing
- 2 x BFL Fight Veteran
Noah “The Iron Dragon” Kew
- Have trained with Chris Franco for 16 years
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Junior Blackbelt in Pankration
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Brown Belt in Submission Wrestling
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Red Belt in Pankration
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Full Instructor
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION Assistant Coach
- Achieved wins in local tournament competition and holding Gold Medals in Pankration, No-Gi and Kickboxing
Caio “BIGFOOT” Machado
- UFC Fighter
- FRANCO KICKBOXING PANKRATION (Full Instructor)
- Has trained with Chris Franco for 6 years
- Black belt in everything (Muay Thai, Submission Wrestling, Panktration, BJJ)
- Purple Belt in BJJ under Marcio Mendes ( Nova União – M4BJJ)
- 5 x BFL Professional World Heavyweight Champion
- Ranked #4 in Canada MMA Tapology (Pro Heavyweight Rankings)
- Professional MMA Record of 4-1-1 (Defeating 3 World Champions in 6 fights)
- Muay Thai record (16-1 Amateur )
- Professional MMA Fighter
- 2 x Brazilian National Champion