Anthony is the head coach and owner of Phoenix Gym; which opened in 1996 as a full time Combat Sports training facility. Anthony was the first of Phoenix’s NSW and Australian Champions at Kickboxing. He has trained thousands of regular Canberrans to become champions in life through the Phoenix System. In order to grow the strength of Phoenix and the quality of the people that train here; Anthony has never stopped training, learning and sharing his knowledge. This is possible through a great team of coaches who are part of Team Phoenix. People who have developed their skills and experience by progressing through the Phoenix system from student, to athlete, to coach, and beyond.
When he was 14, Anthony started training in Karate at the local school hall. He continued progressing and testing himself by taking on harder and harder martial arts; until he discovered the reality, effectiveness and truth of Muay Thai. Always following martial pursuits and testing the reality of them; Anthony opened Phoenix to continue, and share, his passion. Anthony has over 35 years of coaching and competition experience at Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, and MMA. As a demonstration of his athleticism, mental toughness and stubbornness; Anthony has been a national endurance ‘24hr’ Mountain Bike Champion (in his 40’s). He has represented Australia as an athlete, a coach, an Army Officer and a security specialist. Plus, he has a wide variety of martial experience, from punch up’s to gun fights.
A short doco on Anthony
Anthony is a disciplined, demanding and direct coach who focuses on achievement through effort, diligence, sacrifice, teamwork and fairness. Anthony puts his soul into Phoenix and delivers his wealth of fighting, coaching and life knowledge to every student. You can rely on Anthony to cut through the complexity and tell you what is needed to succeed, whether you like the answer or not. As a coach, he likes to see ordinary people develop into something extraordinary. He believes your training should develop your character, with a balanced approach to physical and mental strength. Anthony’s true passion is for hard, disciplined training that is always challenging, physically tough and innovative; but above all, effective. Anthony follows a ‘shut up and train’ principle; which ensures people earn every achievement through hard work in a team environment.
Anthony has cornered over 800 fights for TEAM PHOENIX; including Muay Thai, Kickboxing, MMA and Boxing. Anthony has amazing success with children’s training; developing and delivering an incredible kids’ program, which breeds success in life and ensures Phoenix is growing and improving for the future. Anthony was also Muaythai Australia President, the peak body for Muay Thai in Australia. This includes leading Australian teams, to numerous Junior and Senior World Championships, as a Coach and Manager. Team Phoenix has had numerous gold, silver and bronze medalists at World Championships and numerous state, Australian and a few world champions that all started by walking in the door and training!
I was an active kid into every sport. I have been doing martial arts since I was 13, that is over 40 years! Everything I have done has been towards the goal of being a martial artist that is competent, lives by an honourable code and is very fit and healthy. My martial skills of striking and grappling were enhanced by Army Officer training that taught me how to lead, plan, organise and kill, in combat and in self-defence. I have had to use my skills and knowledge as a professional and in self-defence. I have competed extensively and coached others to success. I have tested what I know and shared everything with others.
As a lifestyle martial artist, I have specialised in striking and being very fit, spending the last 20 years focusing on Muay Thai as a platform to develop fighting competency and solid fitness. During this time, I have had 14 reconstructive operations, broken my spine, my nose, both feet and elbow and had complete knee and hip replacements. (no injuries from Muay Thai) and I have always returned to training and over come every injury and set back. I have failed, fallen and been to dark places. I have had failed relationships, been divorced, been betrayed by people close to me, lost job’s, lost friends, had people close to me pass away, seen people die horrifically, had mental challenges, had anxiety, been depressed, been forlorn and still I keep training and wanting to live a great life. Discipline is key.
I keep coaching to inspire and share and I keep training because it is what keeps me centred, gives me purpose and how I cope with everything that happens in life. You do not get to choose your greatest challenges. I am content, I have a great life, a great farm and a fantastic wife. I know great people and have done great things, I see none of my challenges as a reason to lose hope, be angry or stay depressed. That is because the training works, the lifestyle code works, and I am grateful for what I have and what I have done, and who I have shared it with.
I have coached 1000’s of people, most have benefitted from it, and it has enhanced their lives. I have been an athlete that have represented my state and my country at more than one sport. I have coached and managed national teams, plus state and national champions.
The people I like to work with are the ones right in front of me who turn up to do their best. I still train to be as fit as I can and will continue to pursue challenges that seem beyond my capabilities because it isn’t a challenge if success is known, it isn’t life without risk, and you don’t achieve without sacrifice. I train mostly alone, to suffer alone because that is where you know your soul. My spirit is one that keep’s going no matter what, is grateful for the life I have and have someone one to share it with.
Anthony Manning
Anthony is a 42nd Dan Master, of the non-contact, long range, chi death touch in silent bullshitzu. He holds a 14th Dan in 33 secret lethal fighting arts and an 11th Dan in no touch street wise modern ninja, jedi master tricky shit. He is a 4th degree 8th level sifu Khru in psychological warfare, pickafightjitsu and a white belt gold sash at escalating verbal smack talk.
Anthony has minor superhero powers including being able to detect bullshit at 5m and pick the ending to most movies within 10 minutes of the start. Anthony holds master sifu 17th Dan Black Belt levels at all martial arts with an Asian sounding name invented since 1989. He can silence you at 300m in a single shot or choke you out in your sleep after breaking 12 defenseless pieces of wood.
He holds the world record for the longest non punctuated sentence of all time – What Phoenix is NOT. He is the highest graded black belt in Thai pad holding in Mitchell and has over 32 rubber knife fighting championships belts. He can hold onto a grudge like his life depends on it due to the patience he learnt in sniper training; which he secretly wants to use. Anthony has no time for part-time over weight never was non contact, guru wannabes martial art McDojo clubs or people that fall for the bullshit.
Seriously. I started Karate when I was 12 years old. I have trained all my life and live as a martial artist. I was a 3rd degree black belt by 18 and part of ‘culty’ rubbish Karate Club that does everything in the air, then I found Kickboxing, Mick Spinks, and started on a real path to learning to fight and develop true competency. I graduated from the Royal Military College and spent 10 years in the Army in Military Police and Intelligence Corp. I then worked for Attorney Generals and DFAT as a security specialist and in Iraq as a Regional Security Manager while building Phoenix. I moved to Thai Boxing as the toughest and most proven striking art in the world. I have spent the last 25 years training at it and sharing it as best I can. I had 20 professional fights at Kickboxing/Muay Thai and dabbled at MMA and Boxing professionally. I started late, not competing until I was 28. I have coached numerous state, Australian and a few world champions. I ran the peak body for the sport for many years but now I focus directly on my own members. I still Train every day and I still learn and share everything I know. I lead by example and develop people as best I can utilizing my experience in life, competition, gun fights and war zones to help people live a better, stronger life.
As a lifestyle martial artist, I have specialised in striking and being very fit, spending the last 20 years focusing on Muay Thai as a platform to develop fighting competency and solid fitness. During this time, I have had 14 reconstructive operations, broken my spine, my nose, both feet and elbow and had complete knee and hip replacements. (no injuries from Muay Thai) and I have always returned to training and over come every injury and set back. I have failed, fallen and been to dark places. I have had failed relationships, been divorced, been betrayed by people close to me, lost job’s, lost friends, had people close to me pass away, seen people die horrifically, had mental challenges, had anxiety, been depressed, been forlorn and still I keep training and wanting to live a great life. Discipline is key.
I keep coaching to inspire and share and I keep training because it is what keeps me centred, gives me purpose and how I cope with everything that happens in life. You do not get to choose your greatest challenges. I am content, I have a great life, a great farm and a fantastic wife. I know great people and have done great things, I see none of my challenges as a reason to lose hope, be angry or stay depressed. That is because the training works, the lifestyle code works, and I am grateful for what I have and what I have done, and who I have shared it with.
I have coached 1000’s of people, most have benefitted from it, and it has enhanced their lives. I have been an athlete that have represented my state and my country at more than one sport. I have coached and managed national teams, plus state and national champions.
The people I like to work with are the ones right in front of me who turn up to do their best. I still train to be as fit as I can and will continue to pursue challenges that seem beyond my capabilities because it isn’t a challenge if success is known, it isn’t life without risk, and you don’t achieve without sacrifice. I train mostly alone, to suffer alone because that is where you know your soul. My spirit is one that keep’s going no matter what, is grateful for the life I have and have someone one to share it with.
Anthony Manning