From The Ground Up
Back in 2018, I was running sessions out of a cramped garage space with barely enough room for two people to throw hooks without hitting the wall. Started with just me, some beat-up heavy bags, and a handful of folks who wanted something real - none of that sanitized fitness center vibe.
Spent fifteen years competing in the cage myself before hanging up the gloves. Fought across three continents, trained under some absolute legends in Thailand and Brazil. The thing is, after all that time getting punched in the face for a living, I realized what I really loved wasn't just the fighting - it was watching people discover they're tougher than they ever thought possible.
We moved into this warehouse space on Industrial Avenue about three years back. It's raw, it's loud, and yeah, it smells like hard work. That's exactly how it should be. This isn't your typical chrome-and-mirrors place where people come to take selfies. We've built something different here - a proper training ground where office workers train alongside amateur fighters, where moms who've never thrown a punch learn to move like strikers.
Every coach here has actual fight experience. We've all been in that dark place where your body's screaming at you to quit but something deeper keeps you moving. That's what we teach - not just techniques, but that mental edge that carries over into everything else you do.
- Marcus "Thorn" Castellano, Founder
The Empire Timeline
2018
Humble Beginnings
Started in a 600 sq ft garage with 8 founding members. Just the basics - bags, mats, and pure determination.
2019
First Competition Win
Our first fighter took gold at the BC Amateur MMA Championships. That's when people started paying attention to what we were building here.
2020
Expanded to Team Training
Added group classes and conditioning programs. Kept the doors open through everything - outdoor sessions, mask training, whatever it took.
2022
New Facility Launch
Moved into our 8,500 sq ft warehouse on Industrial Avenue. Full cage, boxing ring, strength area, recovery zone - the works.
2023
Coaching Team Expansion
Brought on three world-class coaches specializing in Muay Thai, BJJ, and strength conditioning. Our roster hit 200+ active members.
2024
Championship Victories
Six of our fighters won titles across different organizations. Added nutrition coaching and sports therapy to round out our programs.
2025
The Empire Grows
Now we're 350+ strong. Still the same gritty atmosphere, just with better equipment and more warriors ready to test themselves daily.
