Chris “The Nerd” Franco
As the founder of the first mixed martial arts school in Canadian history, Chris “Mjolnir” 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, over 25 Gold Medal victories in local tournament competition and manager of FKP MMA, Maria “The Babysitter” Demers and World BFL Amateur Welterweight Champion, Two Time World Jujitsu Champion, over 25 Gold Medal victories, Pro MMA Fighter and co-owner of FKP MMA Jayden “Liquid Steel” Martin.
After 10+ years of shadowing and working beside Mr Franco, Mr Martin recently has become co-owner and with this newly forged partnership they both pride themselves on FKP MMA’s diversity and accessibility to any and all their students.
- 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 FKP MMA
- 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
Jayden “Liquid Steel” Martin
- CO-Owner of FKP MMA Inc.
- Over 20 Years of training under Chris Franco
- FKP MMA Black Belt Muay Thai / Kickboxing
- FKP MMA Black Belt Pankration / MMA
- FKP MMA Black Belt Submission Wrestling
- BFL World Amateur Welterweight Champion
- Two Time World Jiu Jitsu Gold Medal Champion (SJJIF) (Purple Belt) 2016
- Has won over 50 Gold Medals in local tournament competition (Kickboxing, Muay Thai, NO-GI)
- Undefeated as an amateur 4-0 Record
- Professional MMA Fighter
- Ranked #1 in British Columbia out of all the amateur fighters in the province
Maria “The Babysitter” Demers
- Manager of FKP MMA Inc.
- Over 15+ Years training under Chris Franco
- FKP MMA Black Belt Kickboxing
- FKP MMA Junior Black Belt Pankration
- FKP MMA 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
- FKP 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
- FKP MMA Black Belt in Muay Thai
- FKP MMA 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 11 years
- FKP MMA Blackbelt in Kickboxing / Muay Thai
- FKP MMA Brown Belt in Submission Wrestling
- FKP MMA Red Belt in Pankration
- FKP MMA Full Instructor
- FKP MMA Fighter
- FKP MMA’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
- FKP MMA Junior Blackbelt in Pankration
- FKP MMA Brown Belt in Submission Wrestling
- FKP MMA Red Belt in Pankration
- FKP MMA Full Instructor
- FKP MMA Assistant Coach
- Achieved wins in local tournament competition and holding Gold Medals in Pankration, No-Gi and Kickboxing
Caio “BIGFOOT” Machado
- UFC Fighter
- FKP MMA (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