Head coach and co-owner of SOMA Fight Club
I often tell people, this place is more than a gym, more than a business, but a real movement.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
I came out to Bali six years ago to be a striking coach. At that point, I never thought this place would take me to where I am today, to have experienced what I have experienced. The people I have met – the ones that have inspired me and pushed me – have all been at such a different level. They’re the ones that have set me up to where I am today. And then personally, it’s been all about time, dedication and grind.
Pre-Covid, we were on over 100 flights a year, traveling all over the world to corner athletes and fighters. This helped me to grow a name as a coach internationally. Then, by opening SOMA Fight Club during Covid, this helped create an influence locally on the island. Since the world reopened, I have jumped back into traveling to continue to build a global reputation for SOMA, having fighters in places like UFC, and fighting in countries like Australia, Japan, India, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Vietnam and all over the world.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Aside from being a father, I’ve been really proud of the growth of SOMA. The level of growth we have experienced in the past 12 months has been nothing short of amazing. We have had a huge influx of people from all over the world coming in to see us. We’ve become the first gym in Indonesia to launch a fighter into the UFC, the largest fighting platform in the world. We have also built multiple champions from this small island, and have proven ourselves to be one of the true powerhouse Martial Arts gyms in Asia. We often talk about legacy, and the legacy we are starting to create here is huge, largely due to the team we have in place, and the community we have around us. I often tell people, this place is more than a gym, more than a business, but a real movement.
What impact have you made in Bali?
I’d like to think that I have helped grow more leadership in the Martial Arts field within Bali, and helped Bali build upon its reputation as one of the best places in the world to fight, train, recover, repeat. I’d also like to think that we are also one group responsible for growing Martial Arts in Indonesia, making it one of the most valued places to not just train, but find yourself within a global community that all share the same love. We have people that tell us regularly that the reason they come to Bali is because of the environment we have built in SOMA.
What does the future look like for you?
For me, continuing to build a legacy for us here at SOMA, and to keep taking on the world’s best from Indonesia – that is something I’m really looking forward to. Watching our community grow globally, and being part of that change, is so important to me. The more we find ourselves on that world stage, being shown across the rest of the world to millions of people, really opens up more eyes to Bali, showing that we are the top destination in the world. For me, that’s what legacy is about.
What do you love most about Bali?
The people, both the Indonesian and the global community that Bali sees flying in daily. There is no other place like it; somewhere with such a strong culture, yet with a mass of people flying in from all over the world. And for me personally, to have so many people from New Zealand showing up and loving Bali, that has been really special. I have met so many people here, all who have become part of a global family, and every day that family grows bigger and bigger. That has been amazing.
If you could excel at any other sport, what would it be and why?
I don’t know if I would. Muay Thai, boxing and martial arts overall have been the exact fit for me. I’m not sure any other sport would fit a person like myself to be honest… Maybe it’s the punching people that gets me, haha!
Who is your Local Legend and why?
Actually there are two, who funnily enough, are now working together at Skool Kitchen, and also fought for us at SOMA. First up is Adam McCasey, my business partner. The guy has been here for over 10 years and set up a business from nothing. He’s earned such great love from the people who work for him, and from those around him. Then there’s Tai Graham, who’s been a pivotal part of the surf/Canggu scene for such a long time, and keeps building new innovative projects. He’s also Polynesian like myself, so I see a lot of myself in him.
What I have watched both boys do here in Bali is inspirational.