In 2008, as strangers, we both attended Ironfist Muay Thai with a mutual friend. We planned to just go for a look, but once we arrived, we received an offer to jump in for a free session to see how we liked it. After some back and forth hesitation, we found ourselves in the class.

Little did we know, that unassuming class was to be a major turning point in our lives.

That first night, we ended up pairing up with each other. Muay Thai had been so popular at the time due to the Muay Thai contender series on Foxtel. And so, there weren’t enough shin pads for everyone in the busy class, and we didn’t have any equipment.

Still, not wanting to miss out on the fun, we participated anyway. We did kick drills without shin pads. Unsurprisingly, we had bruises on our legs for the next few days. Regardless, we were hooked!

Having no fight background, we were initially apprehensive about going to a “fight gym.” Once we stepped in, though, the atmosphere was undeniably welcoming. We quickly build rapport with others in the gym. Many of the friends we made then are still some of our best friends today.

We both ended up finding ourselves in several amateur bouts over the years. We formed close connections with each other and the other regular students at the gym. Unfortunately, the day came when what we felt to be the best gym in Brisbane closed its doors. That was in 2014.

(The gym has since reopened in 2019 and today enjoys close friendships with The Fight Centre.)

This devastating news left many questions; What gym will we attend? Will the sense of community be the same under a new instructor who doesn’t share our history and comradery? Would we continue to train with the same passion if we were all at separate gyms?

The bonds we have built with the other members have become far too valuable. We knew that what we had was something special, and we didn’t want to lose the close relationship we had with them.

We had to find a new gym that supported the culture we had built, our set of moral values. That said, we know that the feat is near-impossible. So we decided to take matters into our own hands and open a new gym. It would be under a new name, at a new location, but it would carry the same ethics and morals we value so greatly.

When we say that we found Ironfist to be the best gym in Brisbane, that’s because it brought a transformation in us. Boxing and Muay Thai changed our lives. We began as kids with no knowledge of true confidence. And we became capable young men who were comfortable in their own skin and knew where they stood in the world.

We knew we could bring the same growth to others coming into our place. The gym had done it for so many people like us, and so we wanted to do it for others.

January 5th, 2015 we opened our doors for the first time. We had no signage, no website, and no Facebook page when we began. TFC was born. We had the old community, but we relied heavily on word of mouth to bring new members in. For the first few years, the gym was driven by pure passion. There wasn’t much profit, and we paid gym bills with wages from our day job. (We both worked full time for the first 3 years)

Still, the dream was well and truly alive. Many students showed remarkable changes in life. The sense of community was strong, which was always our number one priority.

After three years of operation, word had gotten around, and we had outgrown our facility. By the end of the year, our gym doors in Springwood closed for the last time. The next day, we opened the doors to a newer, bigger, and upgraded facility in Slacks Creek.

At this point, we were still working as tradies and would come to the gym after work to teach classes. The days were long, and with the added pressure of the larger location, we knew it was time to stop treating this as a hobby and start building it as a business.

Our values remain the same, and the people joining every day continue to become some of our closest friends. We welcome individuals of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds—not just fighters, but also mothers, school teachers, parents, and children. This diverse community is a gift we never take for granted.

It had been a busy year for Head Trainer Ben Johnston. He won state, national, international, and world titles left and right. Finally, Ben fought for and secured the prestigious WBC world title.

The months leading up to that fateful night included a lot of travel. Ben travelled back and forth from Australia to Muay Thai’s motherland, Thailand. There, he trained with one of the sport’s greatest-ever fighters and trainers, AKA’s Langsongkram.

The Thailand trip also involved a motorcycle accident on the way home from training. This unfortunate event occurred less than eight weeks before the competition. Ben had to get surgery, with no less than 40 stitches on his face.

Of course, Ben had the love and support of the TFC staff and trainers. He modified his training to minimise any further damage. Finally, fight night rolls around, and Ben shows up fit and strong. He secured the well-deserved win via knockout in the fourth round.

Life isn’t always so smooth-sailing. The year 2020 saw the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Undeniably, it harmed a lot of businesses and affected us as well. But we are resilient, and we managed to adapt.

The Fight Centre was forced to close our doors as many other businesses did, but only for a short period of time. During that time, though, we managed to get an online training program up and running.

Not only did we run live zoom classes, we worked around the clock to record full libraries of training videos for our members.

2020 was also the year TFC added Brazilian jujitsu to our timetable.

2021 was the year for growth. After successfully adding the BJJ program at the end of 2020 the natural progression for us was to add mixed martial arts classes (MMA).

By the end of 2021, restrictions had eased, allowing events which allowed us to introduce our first TFC Fight Camp. Designed to give our members a taste of a fighter’s journey, the Fight Camp offers an 8-week training program culminating in an in-house exhibition fight.

The Fight Night event is a fantastic way to bring our community together. With food trucks and various activities, everyone can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere as competitors showcase their skills to friends and family. This event not only highlights the dedication of our members but also strengthens the bonds within our TFC family.

Time to upgrade again! This time, we moved into our very own 1,000m² building—a milestone that has been years in the making and represents a massive risk and investment. After several failed attempts and hundreds of hours dedicated to the search, we finally found the perfect location at 1-3 Meakin Road, Meadowbrook. The moment we saw it, we knew it had to be our new home.

The work didn’t stop there. Transforming this dirty industrial shed into the world-class combat sports facility it is today required relentless dedication. September 2022 was marked by back-to-back 20-hour days, fueled solely by a dream and passion. Every inch of the space was meticulously planned and executed to ensure it met the highest standards for our students and athletes.

This journey was more than just a physical transformation; it was a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible environment for martial arts training. Today, our facility stands as a beacon of excellence, embodying the hard work, perseverance, and unwavering belief that anything is possible with the right mindset and effort. We are proud to welcome everyone to our new home at TFC, where dreams are built and champions are made.

In 2024, TFC cemented its reputation as a mixed martial arts gym to take notice of. We proved that we were more than just a Muay Thai and boxing gym, showcasing our strength and versatility in the MMA arena. Our MMA team has been on a rampage, achieving an impressive win rate of over 80%.

This year has been highlighted by some remarkable victories. Darcy Vendy secured the XFC Pro Welterweight title, demonstrating exceptional skill and determination. Less than a month later, Ben followed suit by capturing the Welterweight Eternal title, further solidifying our dominance in the sport.

These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our fighters and coaches. As we continue to grow and evolve, TFC remains committed to providing top-tier training and fostering a community where champions are made. Our success in 2024 is just the beginning, and we look forward to many more victories in the years to come.