THE TEAM

Since 2009, DF.GYM has worked hard to create a fun, successful and inclusive Muay Thai and fitness community. During this time our team of instructors has evolved from 2 guys with a dream, to now a team of awesome motivated individuals all bringing something positive to the table. With so much experience under one roof THE ENERGY IS CONTAGIOUS and we can’t wait to share that energy with the new people that walk through our doors each day. Whether you’re a professional athlete looking to break records, someone just getting started on your fitness journey, maybe you’re looking for long term fitness, for a better quality of life, or just looking for fun likeminded individuals to hang out with, our group of professional (yet sometimes goofy) training staff are ready to help you reach your goals.

Don’t be fooled by his devilish good looks and his joking antics (and my content writing ability) Patrick is a 2x Australian Muay Thai Champion and holds a record of 32 fights for 22 wins and has a trophy cabinet that would make any professional athlete jealous. In 2009 Patrick went undefeated in all of his seven Muay Thai fights, all by way of knock out, one of which was the WMC North QLD Amateur Title, this earnt him his fight name ‘The KO King’. Patrick has fought all over the country as well as 2 fights in Thailand and the United Kingdom and whilst training as a pro-fighter Patrick completed his Cert 3&4 in Fitness and soon after teamed up with Jesse to turn DF.GYM in to what it is today. Patrick also holds a CrossFit Level 1 Cert, CrossFit Gymnastics Cert, Kettle Bell Cert and a Thump Boxing Cert. After 7 years of managing the gym, he still thinks it’s the best job in the world getting to hang out with awesome like-minded people everyday.

‘The Demon’ is the fighting pride of the Fight Academy, with a massive record of Muay Thai fights under his belt you’ll see him in the Semi-Main or Main event of any show he fights on. Ryan has 9 years Muay Thai experience and is a 2x QLD Champion, an Elite Fight Series Champion and holds a Cert 3&4 in Fitness. Ryan lives and breathes Muay Thai as a pro-fighter and a coach and knows how to bring the best out of his clients. Ryan is an awesome trainer and an even better bloke and we wouldn’t want anyone else spearheading our Muay Thai program.

‘The Smiling Assassin’ Mr Dirk Cummings has been training Muay Thai for the past 4 years. He currently holds the Muay Thai Australia, Featherweight Queensland Title and is currently finishing his Cert 3&4 in Fitness. Dirk coaches with the Junior Muay Thai classes, Kickboxing Fitness classes and holds pads in the adults Muay Thai classes, as well as takes one-on-one Muay Thai PTs. Dirk brings his positive energy and unique style to every class he teaches and knows how to find the joy in training hard and he is a pleasure to have on our team.

‘Lethal’ Luca Lanigan has been training Muay Thai since he was 12 years old and now he lives and breathes his passion and has been a full time coach for the last 3 years. Luca has represented Australia in Muay Thai at the IFMA Youth World Games in Thailand and is the current MTA QLD Title holder. Luca is a coach in all forms of our Muay Thai classes, including Junior Muay Thai, Kickboxing Fitness, our Beginner 2 Beast program and our competitive Fight Academy classes. Luca is also an amazing PT and enjoys passing on his knowledge and teaching his clean and technical fighting style to all members young and old at DF.GYM.

In 2013 Steph started her fitness journey 20kg heavier and found a love for health and fitness through her weight loss journey. Soon after Steph decided she wanted to help others by sharing her knowledge and completed her Certificate 3&4 in Fitness to become a qualified Personal Trainer. Steph has been training under Patto at DF.GYM as a PT client for many years (including all through her pregnancies) and is an absolute Kickboxing and Cross Training machine. She is awesome for some friendly banter but when it comes to training she has a hard and fast style that gets results. Steph is an asset to our coaching staff and an awesome person to have around the gym and we love the energy she brings to our team.

Kristen ‘The Killer’ Filitonga is our behind the scenes hard working Front Desk Manager. With her own fight record of 12 fights and the current number 1 ranked ‘Junior Middleweight’ Female in Queensland she has her eyes set on her own title belt. As well as packing a punch in the ring, it’s Kristens organisational skills and dedication to the DF Community that is her greatest asset to our gym. She lives and breathes our ethos and always goes the extra mile for our gym and our crew and she is a massive asset to our busy little gym.

‘Old Man Marc’ began training in the dark ages in 1987 in Sydney under Walt Missingham. He trained and fought with other notable fighters of Walt’s such as Vince Perry and Paul ‘Pitbull’ Grima and in 1992 he became the Australian Super Middleweight Amateur Champion. Marc reached the grade of Instructor in Thai Boxing for Walt Missingham’s school in 1995 and through this connection moved to America and trained with Ajarn Surchai Sirisute the founder and head of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA. Marc worked and lived there for many years and trained under Greg Nelson at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy who produced world class Muay Thai and MMA champions such as Sean Sherk and World Heavyweight MMA Champion Brock Lesnar. Marc is known around the gym for his technical ability and producing game plans for every fight… He’s also a firearms expert so he’s a good person to have on our team.