MEET THE TEAM
We have a team of dedicated coaches and personal trainers who are committed to helping you set and achieve your goals. Whether you just want to improve your fitness, or train for your next fight, we have the team to support you.
Martin Cole
Founder & Head Coach
Martin has been training in Muay Thai and Martial Arts since 1997 and competed in the late 90's and has been privileged to instruct at several Muay Thai gyms up and down the country before going on to establish Pride Combat Athletics in 2013.
Martin believes that Muay Thai and fitness training should be fun, challenging and accessible to everyone, values that he still old close to his heart. Martin uses his experience to coach both total beginners through to seasoned fighters to go on and achieve exceptional results.
Matt Round
Boxing & Fitness Coach
Matt is a Boxing Coach and Level 6 Personal Trainer, Advanced Health and Exercise Specialist. He is dedicated to the progression of students, from beginner to veteran levels.
Matt has competed and is still actively training. He also enjoys taking part in obstacle racing and fitness events.
Whether for fitness or boxing, Matt is a great motivator whose sessions focus on getting the very best out of you.
Rob Hayward
Fighter Development & Fitness Coach
Rob brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that he applies with all fighters and their development.
Rob found Muay Thai back in the late 2000’s, training out of one of the south east's premier Muay Thai gyms. He went on to train and compete at several high level and prestigious shows.
Rob has coached both seasoned professionals and beginners alike, many of whom go on to achieve great things in their own accolades.
Jay Butler
BJJ Resident Black Belt
Jay is the Pride Combat Athletics resident BJJ black belt and is an elite MMA competitor.
With masses of experience Jay has a wealth of knowledge to share with our students and with titles such as British Gi and no Gi Champion, 2 x TUFF Winner, FFL UK Winner, and many more, it’s not hard to see the benefit that students enjoy when training with Jay.
Jacob Wells
Kickboxing & Boxing Coach
Jacob is the current ISKA Pro British K1 Champion, WKMA Pro Kickboxing World Champion and 2 x European Middleweight Kickboxing Champion. Jacob has many years experience in competition and is still actively competing at an elite level.
Jacob specialises in fight IQ and conditioning
training, including weight loss, and provides exceptional coaching for beginners through to elite fighters.
Kamil Khakimov
BJJ & Grapling Coach
Kamil has trained in martial arts since a young age. He took up BJJ in 2014 after suffering injury preventing him from continuing with a promising Taekwondo career.
Kamil currently holds a BJJ Brown Belt, training under Jay Butler at Andy Roberts BJJ, Kamil has tested his skills in both Gi and no Gi competition. As well as this, he is the 2018 & 2019 British No Gi Champion in the Brown Belt division and also came away with Gold and Silver medals in many UK Tournaments. With a real passion for BJJ Kamil's coaching style is with an emphasis on taking ones time to learn techniques correctly so that they it may be executed flawlessly and with ease.
Josh Cooper
Assistant Striking Coach
Josh is an active member of the Pride Combat Athletics fight team and coaches public junior and adult kickboxing and Thai boxing classes.
Josh is currently forging his legacy in his fighting career and pride his experience in overcoming adversity, and in turn he enjoys coaching people to exceed their preconceived limits.
Josh is a great coach for juniors and adults alike and specializes in those who are newer to martial arts.
Izzi Wilkins
Assistant Striking Coach and Personal Trainer
Izzi is currently an active fighter out of Pride Combat Athletics and also an Assistant Striking Coach, helping within adult and kids classes.
Izzi also PTs clients regularly, focussing on Muay Thai and K1 Kickboxing. One of Izzi's aims is to encourage more women to learn a combat sport and to enable them to feel more empowered and confident.
She also organises regular Ladies Only Photoshoots which are hosted in the gym throughout the year. These photoshoots are led by a local Photographer at Sticky Bun Photography.
Gary Underwood
Muay Thai Coach
Gary is an experienced professional fighter and Muay Thai Coach.
Gary has been training in Muay Thai for over 10 years and is currently actively fighting at elite level. He is a particularly strong clinch fighter and instructs the weekly clinch class.
Gary is a friendly and welcoming coach available for training sessions at both beginner and advanced levels
Nathan Bazunu
BJJ & Grappling Coach
Nathan is a Bjj brown belt under Andy Roberts and Jay Butler and has been training & coaching for over 8 years.
Nathan got the Jui Jitsu bug whilst living up north, then after moving to Berkshire he continued on his Jiu Jitsu journey.
Nathan loves that everyone can make BJJ work for them and a style unique to themselves. He really enjoys coaching and looks forward to helping anybody who is willing to learn.
Alex Halse
Assistant Coach & Padman
Alex regularly trains and helps out at the gym. Alex and Jacob lead the Saturday morning K1 Kickboxing class together.
One of Alex's passions is training the fighters at the gym. He supports fighters throughout their fight camps and on fight night. He is an expert pad-man and a knowledgeable corner man.
He has experience in both Dutch and traditional styles of Kickboxing and is also a 1st Dan. Alex has also competed throughout the years.
Karl Fosbury
Striking Coach
Karl is an experienced coach and has been working with the Pride Combat Athletics fight team for a number of years, providing expert training on a group and one to one basis.
Karl takes pride in getting the absolute best results from your training and works tirelessly to help you achieve your goals.
Jojo Fattore
Striking Coach
Jojo is an active member of the Pride Combat Athletics fight team and regularly competes at high level. He is known for his incredible fight IQ and speed.
Jojo is a qualified personal trainer and enjoys helping people achieve their goals be it fitness and weight loss, martial arts training or fight preparation.
Super friendly and accommodating Jojo is great for people new to fitness through to seasoned veterans.
Nicole Small
Assistant Striking Coach
Nicole has several years experience and provides exceptional coaching specialising in ladies' and children's training in Muay Thai and K1 Kickboxing.
Nicole is a tough and tenacious fighter, and also a patient and understanding coach. Nicole provides her expertise to the female fight team at Pride Combat Athletics, many of whom are set to make their debuts in early 2022.
Nicole is available for beginners, ladies and children's personal training and small group sessions
Nathan Priday
Performance & Rehabilitation Coach
Nathan is a qualified Sports Massage Therapist and Strength & Conditioning Coach. With heaps of experience working with athletes from many different disciplines, he brings this wealth of coaching knowledge to PCA.
From over 10 years of martial arts training and competing, Nathan’s speciality is unlocking the athletic potential in each fighter, whether it be through Performance training, Mobility work or Rehabilitation.
His motto: ‘Pride in Performance’