THE FIGHTFIT TEAM

FightFit isn't a handful of separate trainers, we're a team. We exchange teaching and training ideas daily, allowing us to leverage over a century of combined experience. In addition, we keep multiple sets of eyes on every single client's progress to ensure the highest caliber of training.

Work with us, and you'll see we're the top rated training team in LA.

Matt Bahntge - Owner and founder

MMA / Muay Thai / Kickboxing / Boxing / BJJ & Grappling / Self Defense

For Matt, FightFit is the culmination of decades of teaching, training and competing in MMA, muay thai, kickboxing, wrestling, brazilian jiu jitsu and submission grappling. Starting his life in martial arts at 6 years old, Matt later moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles where he garnered a combined MMA record of 12 wins and 4 losses, alongside multiple championship and tournament victories. He has trained with some of MMA’s greatest fighters, including Lyoto Machida, Rickson Gracie, Urijah Faber, Pedro Monhoz, Vladamir Matyushenko and Frank Trigg among others.

Matt has spent thousands of hours instructing everyone from first timers to professional athletes, law enforcement and celebrities. He has implemented training curricula and nutrition programs for individuals, businesses and the UFC’s Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Drawing on this experience, he created FightFit Personal Trainers in 2014 to bring high quality, competition-tested training to all of Los Angeles.

Also a board game designer and ultimate frisbee player 🥏

John Garcia - managing trainer / Head coordinator

Muay Thai / Kickboxing / Boxing / Self Defense

John began training in Taekwondo at 9 years old and continued his progression into Boxing and Muay Thai at the age of 14, thoroughly in love with contact sports. As soon as he was able, at 18 years old, he started to build a winning record competing in amateur Muay Thai.

18 fights later, John holds the MTU featherweight belt as well as his second degree black belt in Taekwondo, along with degrees in both Business and Biochemistry. He has been teaching since 2014 and is a pro fighter with Team Victory Muay Thai.

Also a Pokemon collector and Dragon Ball Z fan 🐲

Simon But-Amaya - Managing Trainer

Muay Thai / Kickboxing / Boxing

Simon began his fight journey as a teenager, learning Wu Shu and competing in open style martial arts tournaments to test his abilities. As an adult he transitioned into Muay Thai and Boxing fights to further challenge his skills and test his mind, and began coaching the youth team at his home gym, eventually becoming assistant coach for the UCLA Boxing Club.

Simon continues to compete for his own enjoyment, compiling a record of 11-6 over three different sport fighting specialties. He also has a Bachelors in Exercise Physiology from Arizona State, and uses this education to blend modern cross training methods into the FightFit striking methodology. 

Also loves baking and playing guitar 🎸

Brian Monahan - Managing Trainer

Kick Boxing / Muay Thai / Boxing / Jiu Jitsu / Wrestling

Beginning with Tae Kwon Do at the age of 8, Brian evolved his training with Muay Thai and kickboxing soon after. Combining these into MMA-focused competition hasn’t stopped him from becoming a second-degree TKD black belt, as well as claiming over 10 gold medal tournament wins across NY, NJ, TN, and CA. He has additionally won district and regional championship titles as a wrestler.

With 5 years of full-time personal training experience, he caters to diverse skill sets and personalities. While aspiring to be a champion in combat sports, his passion lies in teaching and coaching, inspiring others on their transformative fitness journeys while he continues to actively compete in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA.

Also an analog collage artist and has some mean guitar skills 🎸

Edgar Peralta

Muay Thai / Kickboxing / Boxing / Self Defense

Edgar started his martial arts journey when he was 10 years old with taekwondo, continuing on to folk-style wrestling. After high school, he began boxing training under WBC champion Armando Santa Cruz and fell deep into Muay Thai fight training from there.

Years later, Edgar has now amassed a Muay Thai record of 4-1 and is continuing his competitive career with the Kings MMA pro fight team. Edgar has spent thousands of hours between training and instruction, and brings his knowledge on tackling obstacles inside and outside of the ring to FightFit.

Also loves homebrewing and playing drums 🥁

Lorenzo orozco

Muay Thai / Kickboxing / Boxing / Grappling / Self Defense

Lorenzo came into Muay Thai with a fury, living and training at the world famous Sasiprapa Gym in Thailand. Within only a few years, Lorenzo fought to an 8-2 record and claimed the CA State Championship. Before that, Lorenzo led his wrestling team to winning the Ocean League Title, and would later lead them to the 2016 CIF Wrestling Finals to place second overall.

Teaching beginner to advanced classes for kids through adults, Lorenzo has a wide range of experience in communicating the fundamentals of Muay Thai, kickboxing, and boxing. In addition to leading fight team practices and competing, Lorenzo is also earning his degree in Kinesiology and Nutrition to further his knowledge of the human body.

Also a concert lover and ocean swimmer 🏊‍♂️

Mel Franklin

Kickboxing / Boxing / Grappling / Self Defense

As a teenager, Mel began his training in boxing and soon moved on to Muay Thai, Eskrima Thai, and BJJ early in college. He hasn’t looked back. After his initial MMA bouts, Mel transitioned to training amateur MMA fighters throughout in various stages of their careers. He additionally taught Jeet Kune Do and Kali, and continued with years of training under Erik Paulson in submission grappling and Patrick King in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Mel has continued to learn and improve over the years, teaching an array of classes including boxing and Muay Thai for Team Janjira, as well as numerous cardio kickboxing classes at D1 gyms throughout Los Angeles. Additionally, Mel is an NCSF certified personal trainer, and has a BA in Biology.

Also loves cooking and hiking 🥾

Gene Shibuya

Muay Thai / Krav Maga / Boxing

Gene is an active martial artist with 6 years of experience in Krav Maga, boxing, and primarily Muay Thai. He is a lifelong athlete who came to martial arts to seek the benefits found in the physical and mental challenges of training, and he was rewarded by competition experience in USKO and IKF Point Muay Thai matches. Eager to share what he gained from training and competition, Gene is excited to coach students into becoming strong and fit martial artists.

As a trainer, he is focussed on making sure the client experiences the joy of constant improvement in all phases of martial arts training, from technique to overall fitness. Gene enjoys crafting training sessions that meet the goals of the student while they grow in knowledge of combat arts.

In addition to the martial arts, Gene loves the creative arts of video production, illustration, and cooking 👨‍🍳

Jorden Frank

Muay Thai / Kickboxing / MMA

Jorden is an avid martial artist with 13 years of experience, specializing in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA. As a teenager, Jorden was captivated with kickboxing and decided early on to pursue a career in martial arts. Jorden has been training, coaching, and competing in Muay Thai and MMA since 2010. He has trained with fighters from Bellator, Rizin, and UFC; Darren Smith, Talita Nogueira, Chris Saunders, and Gabi Garcia among many others. He currently holds a record of 2-1 in CAMO MMA. Beyond his MMA experience, Jorden has appeared in various TV series.

Jorden has a passion for the mastery of range in Muay Thai and kickboxing. He is thrilled to get the chance to effectively combine Muay Thai and kickboxing techniques to create a unique experience, that is not only enjoyable for clients but also highly effective. He has been coaching kickboxing for 5 years with individuals ranging in age from 10 to 65, and continues his journey in the world of martial arts and help others reach their dreams.

Also loves cooking and jamming out to some oldies 🎵

Keenan Herrera

Muay Thai / Boxing / BJJ / Judo

Beginning his martial arts journey at the age of 24, Keenan learned a mixture of Muay Thai, boxing, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, wrestling and Tang Soo Do karate. He holds the WFC amateur 185lb Muay Thai championship belt, and is a black belt in Tang Soo Do. He’s had the privilege of training at gyms like Combat Sports Academy (CSA) in Dublin, CA, with Uriah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness' pro fight team, and many others over his 16-year journey.

Keenan aims to help everyone from competitive athletes to hobbyists to reach their maximum potential as martial artists. He is most passionate about seeing people grow in skill and confidence from their work together, and has made it his personal mission to help everyone he can become better, stronger and more capable versions of themselves.

Also loves snowboarding, mountain biking, and spending time with his sidekick, Columbo (his French Bulldog) 🐶

Oscar Moller

Muay Thai

Oscar is a seasoned Muay Thai instructor deeply connected to the vibrant pulse of Los Angeles. With over a decade of immersion in the discipline and eight years of instructing, Oscar brings a wealth of experience to his training. Beyond this, his significant fight experience brings a practical dimension to his teaching.

Oscar's training style is anchored in authenticity and a strong focus on technique, emphasizing the genuine spirit of Muay Thai. He views the discipline as not just a passion, but a calling, a philosophy he eagerly shares with individuals from all walks of life. Expect a no-nonsense approach when training with Oscar as he guides you through mastering the art of Muay Thai and striking.

Also enjoys yoga and playing basketball 🏀

Ray Chen

Muay Thai / Jeet Kune Do / Shaolin Kung Fu

With over 20 years of dedicated training in the martial arts, Ray is a seasoned practitioner in Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do and Shaolin Kung Fu with over 30 Muay Thai amateur bouts under his belt. Ray has honed his skills through years of rigorous training and a deep commitment to mastering these disciplines.

As an instructor, Ray's teaching approach blends the depth of experience with adaptability and practicality, meeting students on their terms for a comprehensive and dynamic learning experience. Beyond this, Ray has an unwavering dedication to helping others achieve their own personal best, whether in self-defense, physical fitness, or personal growth. His approach emphasizes discipline, focus, and the continual pursuit of improvement.

Also likes outdoor games and buffets🍝

Nata Gomes

Muay Thai

Nata is a highly experienced MuayThai fighter who has lived in Thailand training out of the famous Phuket Fight Club for 6 years. He has 97+ pro fights under his belt, holding a record of 70 wins, 27 losses. Nata holds multiple Thai Championship belts and has fought on the biggest sporting platforms around the world including Lumphini stadium, MuayThai Super Champ, All Star UFC tournament (CN), and many more. Furthermore, Nata has trained alongside world champions such as Luis Cajaiba, Jose Neto, Julio Lobo, Thiago Alves, Matheus Robim, and Allycian Rodriguez at Phuket Fight Club.

Nata hopes to share his vast experience with clients across levels. His specialty is traditional MuayThai technique especially for fighters who are hoping to compete at the highest level and sharpen their strategic thinking during a fight. Fight IQ is incredibly important and Nata's training from Day 1 works towards improving any fighters' dominance in a ring. His classes tailor to students and their specific needs and trajectories, he hopes to bring more traditional technique to a student's training so will focus on form and structure more than outright strenuous trainings.

Also an avid soccer lover, his favorite team is Corinthians (Brazilian soccer team) ⚽

Sadie Sprague - Coordinator / social media manager

Sadie brings a wealth of experience in communications and coordination, along with a background in social media, acting and modeling. She has practically unlimited energy in helping to keep FightFit organized as we continue to grow, as well as assisting clients and promotion.

She also loves hiking with her dog, or reading one of the five books she's started 📚

Tyler atwell - Digital operations manager / managing nutrition coach

Tyler came to FightFit with over a decade of experience in digital operations and marketing and has become part of the glue keeping us together. In addition to functioning as your personal FightFit concierge, he ensures that everything from onboarding, billing and website maintenance are running smoothly.

Additionally, Tyler is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and heads up FightFit's 1-on-1 nutrition support, helping clients achieve permanent changes to their health and nutrition habits. He is a firm believer that relationships beat algorithms every time.

You can also find Tyler playing basketball and guitar 🎸

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