Following on from our interviews with the Head coaches of the BJJ Teams in the Asian region we would like to introduce Thomas Fan who many may know as being the Head Instructor of Kylin Bjj in Hong Kong.

Thank you Thomas for being a part of these interviews.

Thank you Steve, it’s my pleasure.

Could you tell us about your background?  How and where did you start in BJJ?

My background is Chinese and I grew up in a small town call Cannock in the middle of England before study/work in London and now working in Hong Kong/Macau. I started Bjj around 97/98 in London after watching UFC 2 on a video cassette! Before that I was training a lot in Thai boxing and Kung Fu which I competed in full contact (San Da) back in the UK.

Can you tell us about your instructor, training partners and about your Team?

I first started training with Chen Moraes of the Anaconda team who was the very 1st Brazilian Black belt to start classes and run competitions in London, he is now based in Barcelona in Spain. Later I trained with Eder Chagas, Anderson Amaro,  Ronaldo Campos and now I am under Black belt and former world champion, Jose ‘Ze’ Marcello of Brazilian Top Team (BTT Europe) together with Xandinho who have recently joined us here in Hong Kong. My training partners are my students and friends and of course Xandinho who is our Black belt here in Hong Kong.

You recently received your Brown belt can you tell us about this and about your Team Kylin BJJ based in Hong Kong?

This was in November 2007, so it seems not so recent now…time flies! I received my Brown Belt from Prof. Ze Marcello at the BTT HQ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Brown belt graduation has taken me a long time to achieve as I’ve already been a Purple belt for about 4 years living in Hong Kong. Bjj has not come easy for me since I lived in HK as I really didn’t have much outside contact here apart from guys who would drop by HK and come roll with us. In the last 2 years I became affiliated under Ze Marcello, did some good training back in the UK and was finally rewarded with the hard work, now I have to work harder to uphold the  responsibility, since I always compare to the high levels and standards of my professor. My trip to Brazil was fantastic, I got to experience a great  culture, atmosphere and training with many Black belts and professional mma fighters, most memorable being Murilo Bustamante and Rousimar ‘Toquinho’ Palhares who recently debuted in the UFC. Also we got to meet Ricardo Arona and had a seminar with him in his house, half his living room is covered with mats! The trip really opened my eyes about Bjj and the way the Brazilians approach the art, staying there and training really gives you a sense of how the art became how it is and how it reflects the people and the environment it was developed in, in that way I believe you get a deeper understanding of what is BJJ.

Our Kylin team was formed by myself and a few dedicated students namely Ken Man and Andy Chan. We are a small team still but have competed well in competitions and achieve some good results domestically and in the region, now with Xandinho here, the whole team as BTT HK is growing more with better support, facilities and finance.

Where is your school located?

Right now I have slowed down my teaching duties to concentrate on my work, all main classes in Hong Kong are held with Xandinho at Jabmma studio. My personal web has been changed to kylinbjj.com and is currently being updated.

How long has BJJ been established in HK and can you tell us about the HK BJJ Scene?

I arrived in HK around 6 years ago and there were only a handful of guys who would get together and train on occasions. There were about 3 blue belts including myself, TL Lim and my good friend Richard Hutson who would take on the teaching role. The Hong Kong BJJ Association (HKBJJA) who we represented at the time was formed by Henry Ng who had learnt his BJJ from Australia. Things grew from there with word of mouth and after numerous demonstrations and ‘exchanges’ in local Judo clubs, local karate and martial arts events. Later as we grew, some guys decided to do their own thing and affiliate with different teams from Japan and elsewhere. Today in HK there are 3 official clubs here which include ourselves – BTT HK and other fitness centres promoting ‘Bjj/MMA’ classes. But I would say only ourselves and one other club is reaching a high standard, there seems to be a trend in recent years of ‘fast promotions’ of belt levels by some instructors which have put a question mark on the level of quality. This I think has been a trend globally since financially some clubs have to make sure their members are happy so they don’t leave and go elsewhere!

Now there are many BJJ Black belts coming from Brazil and the West to Asia including HK to do seminars/compete, with some settling short and long term to establish strong teams in this region. This is good and in my opinion, making sure the quality of homegrown BJJ players and instructors will one day make a name and match those on the international circuit.

You are looking to move to Macau .Can you tell us about this move, will it affect your HK based students and how do you see the future of BJJ in Macau?

Yes, I started my work in Macau but will travel back to HK for the weekends where I will have some teaching duties along with Xandinho. All current and new students will train together with Xandinho or myself in HK. I will also be looking to start some classes in Macau once things are more settled here.

BJJ in Macau is still young like HK was a few years back but there has already been some good work done by guys here. A Macau Bjj Association has already been formed and the future looks good as awareness starts to grow.

How do you see the BJJ scene in our region?

There are many teams growing up in the region right now and with overseas Black belts teaching here to push the standard, the future looks good. Now more and more competitions are organized on a regular basis and with sponsorship money, big names have been attracted to these events which can only help to bring more awareness to the sport. I see all the teams in the region producing many good Bjj players and they in turn will bring more young people into the sport.

Thomas, you have fought in many local and International comps, could you tell us about your competition back ground and any highlights?

When I was back in the UK, I competed as White and Blue belt in the early days of Bjj in both the Gi and No Gi. I have competed in some full contact kung fu comps before Bjj and really got into the No Gi before I put the Gi on. Some highlights I would say is winning a Blue belt European comp back in 2000, winning the 1st Gracie Barra comp in Gi and No Gi on the same day in 2002, and having competed with Remco Pardoel (UFC 2) and Jon Olav Einemo (ADCC Champ) when they were Blue belts! In the same comp back then I watched Joachim Hansen in Blue belt category and Fabricio Werdum in a super fight against an Olympic level Judoka as a purple belt.
In Asia I am proud to have taken the 1st HK teams to compete in Taiwan, Thailand and of course the Philippines on a number of occasions and winning some of those comps myself!


Do you find it hard to compete and coach at the same time?

Sometimes yes, as I think as a coach you are there 100% to prepare your students technically, physically and mentally ready for an upcoming competition, so everyone can do as well as possible. I think your focus becomes divided when you try to do both and it’s hard to be at your best especially when you have a young team and as the coach you don’t have others to help you. I have experienced a few times when things can go really well or not so well!

You are also a Doctor do you find it difficult to run the school and hold down a busy job can you tell us about this?

Yes, I work as an Osteopath and after a long day of listening and treating patients in pain, it can be mentally and physically very tiring. But it is at the same time very rewarding when you see all the hard work you put in reflected by the quality of your students, sometimes Bjj is what you look forward to at the end of a days’ work so you can relax! But yes, it’s not easy with Job, teaching and when you’re married which I’m sure all older guys will understand!

How often do you train and do you prefer Gi and No gi?

In HK when I was taking all the classes, I would be training 4 times a week – teaching and sparring with all my students. With Xandinho here, on top of the classes we would have some technical sessions and sparring amongst ourselves and some selected students in Gi, No Gi and MMA. I like them all, sometimes when your hand is sore I prefer No Gi! In competitions I like No Gi better as there is less control by competitors.


Do you have any favorite MMA / BJJ Fighters
There are many these days, but the main guys would include:
BJJ – Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, Marcelo Garcia
MMA – Fedor Emelianenko, Crocop, BJ Penn, Antonio ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira

Thomas you often bring your Team to the Philippines to compete.
How do you see the competition and standard of the comps based here and do you have any feedback about coming to Manila?

The Philippines comp in my opinion is the best one run in Asia (outside of Japan) at the moment. I have been a few times and each time the level of competition and the general atmosphere has been great. Compared to recent competitions in the region, the Philippine comp is definitely pro-competitors in regards to fee entry and general welcoming of all who participate.

I really hope to be attending the next scheduled Philippine comp in December with our team from HK and hopefully Macau also.

Do you enjoy your stay in the Philippines?

I have always enjoyed visiting the Philippines and really love the people’s hospitality and friendliness. I always try to make time to visit the many beautiful islands there.  I have been to Boracay about 5 times since my first trip about 12 years ago!


What are your competition plans for the future?

Once I have settled more with my new work, I plan to really try to organize myself in regard to training and improve myself technically and in fitness. I plan and want to be able to compete in Japan, Europe, Pan ams and the Mundials and also in Brazil of course.


Is there any news you would like to tell our readers?

Right now in terms of our team here, we are concentrating on bringing everyone to a good level and be ready for future competitions ahead in Gi, No Gi and also MMA for some guys. Our professor Ze Marcello will be visiting Asia sometime towards the end of the year and we will be planning some good seminars during that time.

We thank you for taking the time to share your information about you and your Team to the readers of BJJ Philippines and wish you the best of luck.

Thank you very much Steve and to everyone in the Philippines!