Coaches « Integrated MMA Blog

Coaches

DAN HIGGINS

Position- Head Coach

Specialist- MMA

Rank- Black Belt Integrated MMA

Black Belt BJJ

Dan Higgins BJJ Blackbelt

Dan Higgins is the head MMA trainer of the Integrated Mixed Martial Arts Team, who are in a position to lay claim to being Australia’s number 1 MMA team, boasting numerous Australian Champions. Coach Higgins led from the front fighting regularly at the top level in the USA. Now retired from competitive fighting, he is recognised as Australia’s very best MMA trainer. Dan himself trained under the watchful eye of his mentor Greg Jackson of Jacksons Submission Fighting when in the USA. A MMA practitioner of world-class ability Dan is truly a freak in the submission-wrestling arena and now passes on his skills to his Australian team mates.

At the age of 8 Dan Higgins began his martial arts training in Shotokan Karate. In the years to follow Dan went on to win 8 state and 4 national Karate Titles. His huge success in the sport of Karate brought him to New Orleans in the USA where he won a silver and bronze medal in the World Full Contact Karate Titles. Dan Higgins love for the martial arts and his hunger for challenging himself saw him win State Titles in Judo and Karate in the same year.

Whilst traveling overseas in the Army Dan watched the Ultimate Fighting Championships on television and decided that Mixed Martial Arts was a sport that invited the most exciting challenge yet in his chosen sport of Martial Arts. This sport where fighters integrate all skills of Martial Arts into a full contact reality fighting arena appealed to both his love for both the striking and grappling aspects of Martial Arts.

In pursuit of Mixed Martial Arts expertise Dan turned to Chris Haseman and Bill Turner and began training him specifically for MMA. To this day Dan and his Integrated Martial Arts Team still have the highest regard for his original MMA trainers and continue to be affiliated with them.

Dan Higgins is a classic example of the rewards that hard work and determination can bring to a person not only in their chosen sport but also in everyday life. Dan began work at Australia Zoo as a cleaner. Happy enough to be working in his peaceful surroundings after years of bouncing at nightclubs Dan diligently went about his mundane daily duties his martial arts expertise unnoticed or so he thought.

One afternoon the World Famous Steve Irwin rode his little trail bike that he used to get around the zoo into the toilet block where Dan was busy cleaning after closing and offered Dan a position on his security team. For many years Dan was employed as Security Director of Australia Zoo and Personal Self Defence trainer for the Irwin Family. Recently Dan stood down from his position at Australia Zoo and now balances his work with commitments as a father and as coach at Integrated MMA. Dan thanks our sponsors and teammates for their support. Without them he says his goals would be a lot more difficult to attain. Thanks to Integrated Martial Arts, Greg Jackson and his team and Fairtex.

Book Personal Training With Dan Higgins-: email- danny_higgins280@yahoo.com.au

TONY GREEN

Position- Team Manager and Trainer

Specialist- Strength and Conditioning

Sport at the top level has always been a priority in Tony Green’s life. He played A grade Rugby League in the State League and competed in bodybuilding at a world level after winning the overall Southern Hemisphere Title. Tony has an extensive background in strength and conditioning training and sports diet and supplementation, having completed fitness leader/personal training and human movements studies he also holds a governement accreditation to a Certificate 1 level in sports training/martial arts.

Having trained throughout his youth in many forms of martial arts Tony started training in MMA to help prepare his brother Michael who was preparing for Mixed Martial Arts fights at the time. Tony also began training his “adopted” little brother Kyle Noke and made the trip weekly to Brisbane training with Chris Haseman. This is where he met Dan Higgins. At that time all of these men were living in the Sunshine Coast area and had many like attributes including a devious sense of humour. Tony and Dan had a discussion and that was the catalyst in forming the Integrated MMA Team, aligning themselves with Tonys brother Mick who had at an earlier time started the Integrated Martial Arts Academy dedicated to helping kids bring out the very best in themselves.

Tony has now retired from competitive MMA and now train students in Hervey Bay whilst managing the Integrated MMA team in Brisbane. Tony takes great pride in supporting the teams pro fighters helping them in reaching for their goals and dreams in both MMA and life.

Personalised Resistance Training and Dietry Advice With Tony Green-: email bodyoptics@yahoo.com

ADRIAN PANG

Position- Coach and Team Captain

Specialist- MMA

Rank- Black Belt Integrated MMA

Book Personal Training With Adrian Pang-: Ph. 0452 662 496

STEVE COMPTON

Position- Assistant Coach

Specialist- Striking

Rank- Purple Belt Integrated MMA

Black Belt Nino Pilla International Academy of Martial Arts, Filipino Martial Arts.

One of Australias highest ranked Instructors within the Nino Pilla International Academy of Martial Arts, Steve is a certified instructor under Bruce Lee protoge Guro Dan Inosanto at the prestigious Inosanto Academy based in Los Angeles USA.

Having trained throughout the World for the last 20 years Steve brings with him a wealth of knowledge of which he shares with the fighters at Integrated MMA.

NELSON STEWART

Position- Assistant Coach

Specialist- MMA and Afterparties

Rank- Purple Belt Integrated MMA

A loyal member of the Integrated MMA team since …. Nelson Stewart dedicated himself to the team initially as a fighter.With his fight career shortened due to injury Nelson has dedicated much of his time to Integrated MMA and become a valued trainer, corner man and wingman to the fighters.