June 16, 2011 - THE BIG ONE - Thomas Fan is awarded his BLACK BELT!

Kylin BJJ Founder and Coach Thomas Fan began Brazilian Jiujitsu in the UK in 1996 under Professor Ze Marcello, after many years fighting full contact in kung fu tournaments. As a purple belt, he relocated to Hong Kong in 2002, and became the premiere force for establishing BJJ in Hong Kong with the founding of the Hong Kong Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association. Thomas and his students competed around Asia in a newly-developing BJJ community.

Kylin BJJ and Combat Club first officially opened in 2006 in Sheung Wan. There Professor Ze Marcelo made his first seminar in Hong Kong. In late 2007 Thomas traveled to Brazil to train with Professor Ze again. It was then that he was awarded his brown belt.

Thomas continued to teach and promote BJJ in Hong Kong with the opening of Kylin BJJ in it’s own gym - TRIQUEST MMA + Fitness - in 2009 with the addition of the Kali Brotherhood of Hong Kong, Muay Thai, Kettlebells and Krav Maga. Thomas also runs the BJJ and MMA program at Impakt. And a rounding off to this chapter of Thomas’ career would be the return of Professor Ze to Hong Kong for his second seminar.

On June 16, during the final gi day of the seminar, Professor Ze Marcello awarded Thomas Fan with his black belt. He began by noting that he does not give them easily!

Professor Ze said that he is proud to have Thomas as his first black belt in Asia.

This also makes Thomas the first Chinese black belt in China.

So begins another chapter in Professor Thomas Fan’s BJJ life.

On behalf of all of your students, OSSS Sifu!!!

A very special THANK YOU to Boyee Siu for again capturing such emotion with her amazing photography!