Our Philosophy

At THE FMM, JHB’s premier mixed martial arts & CrossFit Conditioning facility, we offer Dynamic MMA systems, Muay Thai, Vale Tudo, grappling, wrestling, CrossFit, Ladies Muay Thai & combatcoaching bully proof your child programs. Our classes are taught in a friendly community based environment where we value skill, smarts, and sportsmanship over strength or brutality. Members can expect a mentally & physically tough training combined with the opportunity to acquire valuable skills that will benefit all aspects of his or her life.

At THE FFM HQ Training facility, we value neither brute strength nor aggression. We value the “Art” in Mixed Martial Arts. We see the evolution of becoming a martial artist as a life-changing process, which forces the student to focus the mind and train the body. It is as much a mental journey as a physical one supported by your coaches and training partners. 

We stand for giving every person, male or female, professional or hobbyist, the opportunity to develop the skill and conditioning of a warrior. THE FFM is a result driven community with experienced coaches. We stand for quality coaching and training. We are confident in our methods and look forward to passing the knowledge of our art on to our peers.

THE FFM covers everything. Our programs provide detailed coaching in each specific art or the fusion that requires being Mixed Martial Artist. You can develop your stand-up skills in our extensive Muay Thai or specific MMA ground dynamic programs. These programs are battle proven and tested by our fighters.

THE FFM training philosophies & programs are based on trail blazers like CrossFit conditioning, Rosstraining & GymJones with a Militia twist. Designed for scalability that applies equally well to all individuals regardless of age or fitness level. By varying the load and intensity, we start you at a level appropriate to your fitness and experience. With commitment and hard work, you will achieve greater fitness and a high degree of athletic ability.

We take an old school approach emphasizing fundamental, functional movements with proper technique. You will learn and get fit with ever changing workouts that combine bodyweight exercises, weightlifting and a huge variety of high intensity drills that combine cardio and strength challenges. The stimulus provided is always varied and the results are dramatic. The atmosphere is one of support and camaraderie to anyone willing to put in the work.

Richard Quan

 

Born: South Africa

Raised: moved to Thailand and Malaysia in 1997 to learn Muay Thai

Education: Degree in Criminology

Professional Accomplishments: MMA Athlete & fighter, Participated Muay Thai’s premier Stadiums Ratchadamnoen and Lumpinee, Crossfit Level 1 instructor, AMOK! Head team coach & gym owner

Teaches: Muay Thai, MMA, CrossFit Conditioning and AMOK!

Richard Quan moved to Thailand in 1997. Here he began his journey as a fighter and competed in the world’s most dangerous rings at the highest professional level, including bouts at the infamous Rajadamnern and Lumpinee Stadium. Richard lived and fought in Thailand and Malaysia for 9 years and fought in over 50 Muay Thai fights. In 2003 Richard moved to Los Angeles, where he found his passion for the MMA game. He studied Mixed Martial Arts and started a MMA specific gym called “OC Muaythai”. Here he trained well known, professional athletes the likes of Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Eric Apple, Justin Levens, Marcio “Pe de Pano” Cruz and many others. Richard also fought in mixed martial arts and submission grabbling.

In 2005, the US Marine core recognised Richards superior knowledge in all aspects of combat and he was recruited to train a sector of the US Marine Core and Los Angeles Police Department. In 2006, he attended a PSD course under James Webb and trained with the Thai Navy Seals. Richard started training AMOK! in September 2006 under Mike Taggart and Since then has gone onto train with Kelee Arrowsmith, Mark Human and Ian van Rensburg.

Norman “Chef” Wessels

 

Born : South Africa

Raised : Moved to London in 1999

Education : Culnary Arts, Executive Chef

Professional Accomplishments : MMA Athlete & fighter, Brown belt Thai boxing, group leader for combatcoaching.com, Crossfit Level 1 instructor. Team captain & gym owner

Coach : MMA, Mauy Thai, CrossFit Conditioning and bully proof your child program.

Norman Wessels moved to London in Oct 1999. He started Thai boxing at the Karim Safari gym in Fulham. A mountain of a man who set the standard for gentleman boxers. Training with various athletes, boxers and Thai boxers alike in Karim’s camp, fired his passion for combat sports. During a holiday in South Africa he was presented with the opportunity to train with Morne Swanepoel (Founder of CombatCoaching), who introduced Norman to the ideas and concepts of MMA. As the friendship grew, Morne mentored Norman and helped him with the physical and mental evolution that needed to take place to become an MMA athlete. In 2006 when Norman moved to JHB, away from Morne’s Amanzimtoti / Berea HQ, seeking work, he stumbled across Richard Quan, training then out of his Rivonia facility. Richard took Norman’s training and conditioning one step further, fine tuning his all round game with his unique and specific style of MMA. Now his best friend, partner & FFM Head Coach, their training ideas, philosophies and ethics paried up on the same path to naturally conceptualize The FightFit Militia. Their goal is to be The Premier MMA & fitness community, leading from the front & setting the benchmark, where steel sharpens steel.

Norman is a MMA athlete, fighter, Assistant fighters coach in all facets of MMA combat dynamics, fitness conditioning coach and the Sandton JHB group leader for Morne Swanepoel’s CombatCoaching MMA & Bully proof your child program.

Norman’s goal is to constantly evolve using the skills, knowledge and wisdom passed on to him from the combat athletes who each added chapters to his life: Karim Safari, Morne Swanepoel, and Richard Quan, mentors, friends, partners & community.