Our experienced coaches bring years of experience in martial arts to our students. With diverse martial art backgrounds and excellent teaching abilities, our coaches teach you the best skillset.
Gail King
Head Coach
Bio:
Gail was born in Northumberland, England, where she started her martial arts journey. She didn’t take up Taekwondo until she was 21 but fell in love with the discipline immediately. She trained in England & competed for 11 years in the sport, reaching 3rd Dan Black Belt during that time.
After moving to Canada in 2008, Gail made the switch to kickboxing. Initially, the draw to kickboxing was purely for fitness, but after much deliberation, she decided to start competing in the sport. After her first fight she was hooked. She started attaining success through her passion! Over the years, Gail fought on a provincial, national & international level where she won many awards including Gold at the Arnold Classic. At the height of her fighting career, Gail represented Canada at the World Championship in Italy where she won.
Now happily retired from fighting, Gail’s focus has moved solely to coaching. From helping clients who want to get fit, to fighters aiming for competitive success of their own, her vast amount of experience always brings the best results regardless of the overall goal. To ensure every person receives the best training Gail is always improving her skill set and is currently studying for a diploma in sports & fitness nutrition. Gail is looking forward to passing on her passion for the sport as a coach along with building an amazing team at Valhalla MMA.
Credentials:
- WAKO Canada Kickboxing Certified Level 2
- Boxing Canada NCCP Certified Level 2
- First Aid & CPR Certified
- Police Record Check (CRC, E-Pic, LPI, VSC)
Bradley ‘B Smooth’ Hamil
Boxing Coach
Bio:
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see” -Muhammad Ali
Bradley AKA ‘B Smooth’ grew up admiring the great Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Lennox Lewis igniting his interest in the sport of boxing. As a teenager Bradley was drawn to many sports such as basketball, football, and track and field. One evening surrounded by a group of friends watching a high-profile boxing match, a young ‘B Smooth’ announced he was going to be Professional Boxer. The next day he joined the local boxing gym and within a few weeks won his first amateur fight. Through hard work and dedication, he went on to have an impressive amateur career which led to becoming a Professional Heavyweight Boxer. Bradley is hoping to pass on his knowledge and experience in the sport of boxing that he has received from his elite coaches throughout the years. Coaching has a way of drawing from our strengths and our ability to acknowledge our flaws. Bradley has always been passionate about helping people of all ages and fitness levels to achieve their health and fitness goals. ‘B Smooth’ hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams.
Credentials:
- Boxing Canada NCCP Certified Level 2
- First Aid & CPR Certified
- Police Record Check (CRC, E-Pic, LPI, VSC)
Anthony Irimies
Coach
Bio:
Born into the tough spirit of an Eastern European family, Anthony quickly found his place in competitions which soon lead him into the exciting world of Mixed Martial Arts. His journey started young, at just 15 years old, driven by his love for competition and his will to win. Training in kickboxing and boxing, Anthony modeled his style after big names like Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. He loved to spar, pushing himself harder and further every chance he has and trying to compete with himself in every single session. Committed to his training, Anthony consistently strives to be among the top performers in the room. Training alongside experienced athletes and emerging talents in Ontario, he maintains a pace that allows him to keep up with the strongest competitors. His unwavering work ethic serves as an inspiration to those he trains, encouraging them to push themselves to new heights.
His coaching talent came to light as he saw those he trained getting better and stronger. With two years of coaching experience now, Anthony has helped in countless fights, showing his dedication to bringing out the best in others. As a coach, Anthony believes in hard work, grit, and sharp technique and knows the importance of fitness, and makes sure his students do too. His goal is to bring the best out of each member.
Anthony keeps up his tough training schedule. He leads by example, whether in the MMA gym, the weights gym, or on the road, Anthony always makes sure to get the miles in. Anthony also brings academic pedigree to his coaching as studying biology, chemistry, and psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, gaining a deeper understanding of how the body works, how the mind works, and how to use that knowledge to lead each individual. With the likes of boxing coaches and Head Coach Gail King, Anthony seeks to pursue in their footsteps and help each member find their place at Valhalla MMA.
Credentials:
- WAKO Canada Kickboxing Certified Level 1
- First Aid & CPR Certified
- Police Record Check (CRC, E-Pic, LPI, VSC)
Mariam Lami Petrenko
Coach
Bio:
Mariam fell in love with kickboxing at the age of 15. It was exciting, fun, and it challenged her more than anything she’s done before. She had trained for just over a year before moving to Canada and getting caught up in school. She kept longing to get back into the sport that made her so happy, and finally did in 2016.
Originally just wanting to get a great workout in, Mariam wasn’t interested in sparring or competing, but she kept wanting to push herself and develop in the sport, so she jumped in the ring and fell in love with kickboxing all over again. She’s been competing since 2017 and has won a WAKO National Championship belt in 2023.
She continues to strive to improve her skills as a fighter and share her knowledge with her teammates so they can continue to grow in the sport together, regardless of experience and goals.”
Credentials:
- WAKO Canada Kickboxing Certified Level 1
- First Aid & CPR Certified
- Police Record Check (CRC, E-Pic, LPI, VSC)