ORIGIN STORY

Martial arts has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It started with He-Man and the Ninja Turtles, honestly. I started karate at 9, earned my black belt, then found Muay Thai a few years later and never looked back. I trained obsessively, fought my first bout at 14, turned pro at 20, and spent years training in top camps in Thailand. I became one of the first professional Muay Thai and MMA fighters in North Carolina, finishing a 40-fight career with a 9-7 pro MMA record and a 7-3-1 pro Muay Thai record. I was known for being technical, with fast, accurate leg kicks.

I won the USMTA Lightweight Professional Muay Thai title in 2009 and the Circle of Fury World Welterweight title, made it on as an alternate for Season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010, and in 2012 became one of the first Muay Thai fighters ever to fight at Madison Square Garden. I retired in 2013 and received an award from the USMTA for my years in the sport. In 2015 I earned my black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Cesar Pereira (5th degree, Carlson Gracie), later advancing to 3rd degree. I'm also a certified instructor through the USMTA and the World Professional Muay Thai Federation, with black belts in Karate and American Combat Jujitsu as well.

I opened Eight Points on January 4th, 2010, not with some grand plan, just a place for my training partners to join me for the last few fights of my career. But teaching had always been a passion, and after retiring I found a new love in coaching. Helping others reach their goals fulfills me more than fighting ever did, and that's the mission at Eight Points — give everyone the chance to train like a world-class fighter.

Over the years that's taken us from Winston-Salem to Brazil, Thailand, and Scotland, producing over 150 national and world champions for organizations like the WKF, ISKA, USMTA, WMO, WBC, WKA, IKF, Bellator, Lionfight, Glory World Series, and Warriors Cup. In 2019 I was named head coach of the WKA United States Muay Thai and Kickboxing Team, leading them to 27 gold and 15 silver medals in Bangkok, including two Eight Points fighters who made the team. I got the call again in 2024 to head coach Team USA in Scotland, bringing four Eight Points fighters. All four came home world champions.

I started Muay Thai Chris because there's so much mystery around martial arts. People don't know what's real and what's just movie stuff. I wanted to demystify it. Mix my passion for Muay Thai and martial arts with my other big love — all things 80s.

My goal is for this to be your go-to spot for fight tips, technique breakdowns, workouts, and inspiration; but also a place where we call out the myths and urban legends floating around martial arts and set the record straight, all while keeping it fun and keeping that vintage 80s energy alive.