Fight Corps Australia is the newest fight company in the Far North, tapping into the world’s fastest growing sport, MMA, to bring the most explosive fights, world-class promotions and hottest action straight to you.
Based right here in FNQ, the Fight Corps team is a versatile blend of fighters, coaches, promoters and business people, with more than 50 years fighting experience between them and a quarter century of successful fight promotion and business under their belts as well.
Headed by former South Pacific Champion, certified fitness and muaythai instructor and self-made businessman Vince Parkes, former World Champion, jiu-jitsu and muaythai instructor, world-class referee and Tableland personality Pete Brindhouse and journalist, photographer, muaythai fighter and promotions expert Sarah Martin, the tight-knit team are dedicated to growing the world super-sport of MMA in the Far North.
Vince’s passion for martial arts began with zen do kai over 20 years ago, and quickly progressed to muaythai under the tutelage of Australian super-coach Joe Hilton at the Sunshine Coast Thai Boxing Centre. Vince retired shortly after winning the ISKA Australian and WKA South Pacific titles in 1996, starting Full Boar Thai Boxing in his hometown of Cooktown the following year and going on to hold over 20 successful fight nights across FNQ.
He began his plastering business the same year and has completed numerous projects including the Hope Vale hospital, Cooktown Events Centre and Cook Shire Council offices. Vince is a certified personal trainer, fitness instructor and WMC trainer, referee and judge.
After several years of Wing Chun training, Pete became one of the trailbreakers of Australian muaythai in the early 80s, taking on the Thais at their own game - he was one of the first foreigners to fight live on Thai TV - and winning the ISKA South Pacific, WMC Intercontinental and WMAC World titles on the way. He was one of the Far North’s first promoters, holding over 20 fight nights in his hometown of Atherton and across FNQ since the mid-80s, while running his own fight gym and concreting business.
FNQ Concrete Contracting has been involved in the Cooktown Events Centre, Earlville Shopping Centre and Lotus Glen Prison, to name just a few. Pete is one of the longest-standing WMC referees and judges in the country and also trains in jiu-jitsu and long distance running.
Sarah’s love affair with the written word began with devouring every horse related novel from the age of 5, and developed into a fully-fledged journalism career in her early 20s, writing and photographing for the Cooktown Local News, The Cairns Post and the World Muaythai Magazine.
She has covered the 2007 WMC and IFMA muaythai world championships in Thailand and the 2008 championships in Korea and the 2009 Arafura Games. Muaythai is her second love, and she has been training and fighting since the age of 14, was a founding member of the Full Boar Thai Boxing Club and managed the club’s promotions since 2002.
Her career highlights include meeting Adam Gilchrist, John Howard and Troy Cassar-Daley and winning gold at the Arafura Games.