Professor Egor has more than 25 years experience in different martial arts, including Russian Sambo, Judo, Krav Maga and of course Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Egor is a 1st degree black belt in BJJ; received his black belt from a pioneer of MMA in this country professor Shah Franco in 2013. Winner and medalist of numerous tournaments including Ontario Open, IBJJF Toronto Open International and Montreal ADCC Pro Trials, Egor is continuously improving in the arts as an instructor as well as a fighter. Egor is also known locally as a master of leg locks – taking his knowledge of Russian Sambo he reintroduced them to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA.
Egor is the founder of Redstar BJJ Kimonos – a very well known and successful BJJ kimono brand, and big supporter of grappling community in Ontario and North America.
647.782.4555
egor@primalmma.ca
Sensei Fernando Katayama brings to the mats more than 35 years of experience in judo and jiu jitsu, having begun his training at the young age of 4. Shortly after beginning his judo training, Fernando began incorporating more ground fighting in both judo (“newaza”) and Brazilian jiu jitsu, alongside his self-defense training in jiu jitsu.
Fernando’s vast experience includes numerous competitions ranging from local to international tournaments, and with a competition career spanning over 20 years in which he trained with elite level athletes and coaches. Notably, he lived in Japan for a year, training at International Budo University, under judo legend Sensei Kashiwasaki and at the prestigious Kodokan Institute, where he obtained his Black Belt in judo. He is also a Black Belt in Brazilian Jij-jitsu under Kodansha Odair Borges, and a 3rd degree Black Belt in International JuJutsu.
Fernando is an experienced instructor and has been teaching judo and jiujitsu to students (“kohais”) since the early 90’s. His approach to teaching incorporates the core values of Budo and the fundamental principles of judo: rectitude, courage, benevolence, politeness/respect, veracity, honor, and loyalty. For him, the ultimate goal is to make the student better, both as a person, and as an athlete. Even with his extensive experience, Sensei Katayama is humble and continues to learn from those he trains with.
A former Professional MMA Fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Professor Seiji brings a high level skill set and expansive wealth of knowledge to the mats to the mats at Primal MMA.
Mike began training jiu jitsu in the notorious 10th Planet system. After 6 years he travelled much of the US going from gym to gym and learning from many incredible black belts and coaches. The trip ended in California, one of the jiu jitsu meccas, the final stop before returning to Montreal. From there Mike began studying and living at the famed Tristar gym, spending time and learning from some of the top mixed martial artists and coaches in the world. He now calls Toronto home and proudly represents and teaches at Body of Four under Professor Marco Costa and their affiliate Primal MMA under Egor Radzik. Over the course of 10 years Mike has trained exclusively No gi Jiu Jitsu. This has afforded him the opportunity to refine the details and learn the nuances that make or break no gi techniques. His love for grappling and passion for sharing and exchanging techniques is what drives him to become the best competitor, coach and(one day) mentor he can be.
Konstantin comes to us from Mother Russia where he spent his teenage years shooting guns, eating ‘borscht’ & riding wild bears with Vladimir Putin. All jokes aside, Konstantin’s been training, competing & medaling in Judo, Sambo and Kudo on both Russia’s provincial and territorial level since the age of 12. A few years after his arrival in Canada, Konstantin joined Action & Reaction MMA in North York, Ontario to study the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Fernando “Gringo” Zulick. Within the following 5 years, Konstantin developed a very fun and acrobatic style of Jiu Jitsu that’s always fun to watch but not very fun to fight against. Konstantin went on to win or medal in over two dozen BJJ & Grappling tournaments, including multiple local and international podiums: the Ontario Open, Quebec Open, IBJJF Toronto Open, IBJJF Montreal Open, St. Petersburg (Russia) Open, and many more. Konstantin received his Purple Belt in BJJ under Fernando “Gringo” Zulick in his final year at Action & Reaction. He’s been co-instructing 7AM BJJ since 2017, and brings a wealth of martial arts knowledge and competition experience. Outside of the gym, Konstantin is an award-winning mortgage broker, host of a business podcast, serial entrepreneur and just a great person to know and have a beer with. Don’t believe it? Just look him up!
Jullian’s always been active, from his days playing basketball to taking martial arts as a youngster. Health and fitness have always played a huge role in his life. In his late teens, Jullian discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is a martial art that he cannot live without. He loves to use Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a way to sharpen the mind, strengthen the body and calm the soul.
He’s found some success in local competitions but his true passion comes in the physical and social components that energize his day, hence his love for training first thing in the morning with the 7AM BJJ crew. Jullian believes in the empowering nature of jiu jitsu and loves to help his peers grow in the martial art.
You can find him smiling bright and early on the mats every Tuesday and Thursday morning and he hopes you leave the mats smiling too.
Robin’s interest in martial arts actually started with video games. Searching for a way to improve his performance in competitive gaming, he read the book “The Art of Learning” by Josh Waitzkin. The book illustrated the parallels of the learning process in chess and martial arts. A process he easily related to having played chess often in high school and later becoming a competitive gamer.
Robin became interested in exploring this process further by getting into martial arts himself. After seeing “A White Belt Story” documentary he decided to join Primal MMA to pratice jiu-jitsu.
Through his training, Robin developed new appreciation for the human body and its ability to move. The more jiu-jitsu Robin learned, the more clear it became to him that the process of learning martial arts is the same as the process of learning chess and even video games. Robin believes the key in realizing perfection in any art comes from constant application of learning to gain more knowledge in order to overcome the challenges that the craft presents to its practitioners.
Robin developed an interest in coaching kids after substituting only one class. The experience taught him there is value to the learning process in teaching too. Since that day, Robin decided to stay on as an assistant kids coach and has worked along side many other kids instructors at Primal MMA.
I am the head instructor of the Muay Thai program at Primal. My background and how I came into martial arts is very simple. It was purely by accident. But is now a major passion in my life.
I have been training for the past 6 years and have been teaching for the past 3. Teaching Muay Thai is one of my favourite things to do as I can help and connect with so many people as well as improve on my own game through teaching. I have a professional of 7-0 in Muay Thai / Kickboxing and 1-0 in MMA.
I hope to fight professionally in the UFC.
At the age of 20, Kiian Knight has already gained a great reputation in the fight world and fitness industry. As a certified Canfit level 1 personal trainer and amateur competitive kickboxer, he has taught and teaches a variety of classes around the city, including kickboxing, full body circuit, and strength training . Kiian has participated in martial arts since the age of 6, specifically developing a passion for kickboxing in his teens. In 2014, he held the title as a North American K1 kickboxing champion. Currently he is an amateur competitive fighter and loves to share his passion for kickboxing and fitness with those who want to get fit and learn to fight.
Noel Clubb brings 25 years of boxing Coaching experience to Primal MMA. Noel boxed in the the US, Michigan State, in the late 1980s & early 1990s, and has been Coaching in Canada making stops in Hamilton, Scarborough & Toronto, ON. Noel has been Coached by some of the top USA Boxing Coaches and also with one of Canada’s great Boxing Coaches, Arnie Boehm (Kitchener, ON) & later with the great boxing technician in Neddrie Simmons (from Toronto’s very own Cabbagetown Boxing Club).
Noel has Coached several elite Amateur boxers into major International wins through the early to late 1990s such Barry Christy (Canadian Flyweight Champion) Danny Black (Canadian Welterweight Champion) and Edizen Veluz (Female Canadian Champion), just to name a few.
Noel created the first ‘High Performance Committee’ to facilitate the Olympic Boxing structure & athlete development for Ontario/ faciltating Team Canada and was the VP for Technical Development for Ontario for 4 plus years. He now brings his boxing knowledge to Primal MMA.
Growing up Jack always knew fitness and athletics were his passion. He grew up in a gym watching his father, a personal trainer, work with client after client, hoping that one day he too would follow a similar path. At the age of 16 Jack took up boxing in hopes of taking his overall fitness and self-confidence to a new level, and in return he discovered that fighting was what he was meant to do. Boxing helped him grow as an athlete, and as a young man. He’s competed at the local, provincial, national, and international level and hopes to soon land a spot on Canada’s Olympic squad. Teaching boxing lessons has only helped him grow as a fighter, and although first round knockouts are the icing on the cake for him, seeing the day-to-day improvement in his classes might be the cherry on top.
A former elite middle distance track athlete, Thomas has taken his passion for athletics and fitness and molded it into a vessel for helping others achieve their personal fitness, health and athletic goals. Thomas has worked in the sports and recreation industry since 2002, as an athletics coach and strength trainer. In 2009, he began training full time in London before returning to Toronto in 2011. After years of working in a big chain gym, disenchanted by the work environment and training methods, he opted to open Primal Movement and forge his own vision for a fitness facility that puts it’s members and clients first. Since it’s opening Primal has seen two expansions with the addition of Primal MMA and Training Studio / Clinic in 2014.
Thomas believes in a wholistic approach to training, encompassing all aspects of fitness and wellness, both body and mind. He views the human being as an athlete inherently, and trains his clients following this mantra. Thomas trains clients of all ages, with a wide spectrum of goals. From young athletes looking to gain an edge with their strength and conditioning, to individuals who simply want to look and feel better through weight loss, lean muscle development and a change in body composition. His specialties include Hypertrophy (muscle development), Fat Loss, Injury Rehabilitation, Athletic Conditioning and Strength and Conditioning for MMA.
416.899.9183
thomas@primalmma.ca
Having grown up playing high level competitive sports, specifically elite level Hockey, Justyn was immersed in athletics and strict training regimens from a young age. After hanging up his skates, Justyn transitioned into coaching hockey teams in the GTA. Having taken his knowledge of training in competitive sports, he transitioned into the fitness industry learning the ins-and-outs of strength training and nutrition. Through years of thorough research and first-hand experience, Justyn has a deep understanding of how nutrition plays a pivotal role in athletic performance, recovery, strength training and bodybuilding.
A strong believer that the mind is our most powerful weapon, Justyn continually pushes himself beyond his physical limitations to prove that our bodies are capable of exceeding our own expectations. Having dedicated himself to his passion, martial arts, Justyn has competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Boxing tournaments across Ontario.
Beginning his martial arts journey at a local karate studio in the small town of Tottenham, Connor developed a love for martial arts as a form of self expression. Finding the rigorous perfect form that karate demands as too controlling, he found passion in the more freeing creative sport of mixed martial arts. Once he could he moved to a more Muay Thai/MMA influenced gym, as well as taking a trip to Thailand to better understand the art. Converting to a plant based diet in 2015, nutrition has always been important to his success as a martial artist. First stepping into the cage at 17, he has found his strength and inspiration in the people he surrounds himself with, including Connor’s wife Yasmin, who is also a Primal MMA member.
As a passionate martial artist, Connor Rideout truly views the mats and the cage as his canvas and enjoys being creative with how to get the edge. Also getting the opportunity to step in and teach Muay Thai classes, which he would sometimes spend hours preparing for a lesson, while also leading and working with the MMA team during Saturday open mats. Connor is a BJJ blue belt with aspirations of someday being deserving of a black, who also competes regularly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments. Believing in openly critiquing yourself, being open to the experience and knowledge of others, showing your passion through work, expressing your individuality and understanding what is natural for your body is what Connor finds key in becoming a successful martial artist.
I’m Lou Berkovits, a practicing yogi and Power Yoga teacher committed to sharing my love and passion for yoga. I teach a vinyasa or flow of movements based on the Journey Into Power series created by Baron Baptiste. I have consistently found this series to be the most challenging, rewarding and beneficial. Regardless of how many times I have practiced this flow, no two experiences have ever been the same. Each practice is as unique as that day, as that time, and as that moment. Get ready to work hard, get sweaty, get messy, and create the possibilities that lie within you to evolve into your grounded and true self.
Sports and fitness have always been a central part of Drew’s life. His passion for human movement and fitness led to him becoming a nationally ranked Canadian wrestler and competitor on the McMaster University wrestling team. At McMaster, Drew took his knowledge from the mat into the classroom to complete his Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from his program, he moved to Toronto to attend the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy. Massage Therapy was the obvious next step for him, as he wanted to provide athletes with the same hands-on treatment that helped him through his Varsity wrestling career. Through his academic and practical endeavors, Drew uses massage therapy modalities to treat musculoskeletal and joint related issues in order to improve clients’ functional capacity, range of motion and overall well being. His favourite part of being a massage therapist is seeing obvious improvements after just one treatment, whether it’s increased range of motion or pain alleviation.
