Art of Kickboxing: Our Story
Kickboxing That Grows With You.
Art of Kickboxing is Richmond, BC's most welcoming martial arts striking academy, and was founded with a passion to create martial arts classes and training programs where beginners can start with confidence and dedicated students can grow into skilled martial artists and competitors.
We provide a safe, respectful, welcoming, bully-free and intimidation-free, structured space where you can learn kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) properly from the beginning, and comfortably no matter the athletic level, ethnic background, gender, young or old. Our goal is to ensure that every student gains practical, lifelong self-defence skills, rather than feeling misled, with affordable memberships
Our specialty is high-quality striking, with expert training in kickboxing, boxing, and Muay Thai. From beginner fundamentals to advanced and competition-level training, our programs provide a clear pathway to help you build skill, confidence, fitness, and discipline. For members looking to expand their training, MMA is available as a secondary pathway – built on a strong foundation in striking.
Train hard, progress with purpose, and become part of a supportive community at Art of Kickboxing.
Meet Our Team
Kris Tsang
Team Head Coach
Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA Instructor & Personal Trainer
Kris is the Founder and Team Head Coach at Art of Kickboxing, with 10+ years of experience as a martial arts coach. He learned from top Vancouver coaches while working as a kickboxing coach, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) coach, and certified personal trainer at gyms including UFC GYM, Vandal, Gracie Barra, Checkmat, Anytime Fitness, and BLK BOX GYM.
With over 10,000 coaching hours, including one-on- one personal training, he has helped both youth and busy professionals develop their self-defence skills and improve their athleticism through bodybuilding and martial arts.
Achievements
Competed in Kickboxing, Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Won silver in a Canadian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.
Federation (Gi) in Light Featherweight. Fought 20 pounds above his weight class in the Be First Championship (Lightweight).
Competed in Merge Combat Fury V (Bantamweight).
Earned Bronze in the ISKA Canadian National Championship (Welterweight).
Earned a silver medal at the Compnet Western Canadian Championship (Middleweight, Gi, and No Gi).
Speaks English, Cantonese.
Jimmy Tu
Kickboxing Coach
Allen Chan
Kickboxing Coach
Heidi Tang
Kickboxing Coach
Jeevan
Kickboxing Coach
Donald Zhou
Kickboxing Coach
Chris
Kickboxing Coach
Tiger Zhou
Kickboxing Coach
John
Kickboxing Coach
Daniel
Muay Thai Coach
Tristan Connelly
UFC Veteran Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Coach
UFC Veteran Coach Tristan Connelly is the lead instructor for Thursday Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes at Art of Kickboxing in Richmond, BC, bringing real UFC-level experience and over a decade of professional MMA competition and coaching to our program. Tristan Connelly is a professional mixed martial artist and UFC veteran from Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, best known for his upset unanimous decision win in his UFC debut and a long competitive career across multiple regional and international MMA promotions.
Tristan began his pro MMA career in 2010 without an amateur background and compiled numerous championships in regional promotions – including Cagesport, Unified MMA, and Rise Fighting Championships—before joining the UFC featherweight division, where he earned a Fight of the Night-level performance in his debut.
Achievements
F ormer UFC competitor who won his first Octagon fight on short notice Multiple-time Regional MMA Champion (Featherweight & Lightweight) Lightweight champion in CageSport, Unified MMA, and Rise Fighting Championships 2nd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 9 professional submission victories
Joe
No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Coach
Coach Joe is the lead instructor for No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes at Art of Kickboxing in Richmond, BC, and brings over a decade of elite experience in both competition and instruction. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and multi-time champion, Coach Joe specializes in teaching teens and adults the fundamentals of BJJ grappling, submissions, and self-defence in a safe and welcoming environment at Art of Kickboxing.
His teaching approach focuses on patiently teaching advanced technical skills, step-by-step, making Coach Joe the ideal coach for beginners looking to start Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu in Metro Vancouver. His classes are the perfect entry point for students interested in self-defence, skill development, or future competition in BJJ.
Achievements
Three -Time NAGA Champion (2013, 2014, 2015) IBJJF Pan American Champion (2014) IBJJF World Champion (2015)
Speaks English and Tagalog