He is the founder of Australia’s first Muay Thai Gym and is still going strong - Mark Pease of Strikeforce on the Gold Coast has almost 40 years of unwavering dedication to the sport, along with a global reputation as one of Australia’s most respected trainers.

From training himself with mates, to years of immersion in Thailand, and now blending traditional Muay Thai techniques with cutting-edge sports science earned through his Sports Coaching degree where he majored in Sports Psychology; His fighters are not just physically ready—they are mentally conditioned to thrive.

Mark’s contributions to Muay Thai have been instrumental in shaping Australia’s golden era of the sport. His deep understanding of Muay Thai’s cultural roots and his innovative approach to training has twice earned Strikeforce Gym the Aus Muaythai Gym of the Year award (2022, 2023). Mark’s impressive roster of world-class athletes speaks volumes about his impact on the sport:

• Ben 'Pixie' Burton: IMTPO Welterweight World Champion
• Aaron 'TS2' Leigh: IMTPO and WKBF Bantamweight World Champion
• Taneira Terry: WKBF Super Welterweight World Champion
• Chadd 'Shark' Collins: WMC, WMO, two-time WBC Super Lightweight World Champion, and RISE 65kg World Champion (Japan)
• Jayden Eynaud: WBC and two-time WMC Cruiserweight World Champion
• Jaga Chan: XFC Muay Thai 65kg World Champion

Individually, Mark was honoured with the WKBF Hall of Fame award in 2018, recognising his lifelong contributions to Muay Thai.

Part one of Shannon F16 Forrester’s podcast interview offers a glimpse into Mark’s mind and his journey in the fight scene. He opens up about the challenges of early training, some personal challenges including the influence of a devastating car accident on his path, and his transition from fighting to coaching with a focus on sports psychology.