MMA

Inside Boa Martial Arts, the sound of pads being kicked echoes through the room while a young coach spectates closely from the edge of the mat. That coach is Antonio Gonzalez, and his journey to this small Canadian city began thousands of kilometres away in Mexico.

Growing up in Mexico, Gonzalez was surrounded by challenges that could easily lead any young person down the wrong path. As a teenager searching for direction, he stepped into a local gym with his father and discovered his love for mixed martial arts. What he found there was more than just fighting. Gonzalez learned discipline, structure, and a sense of purpose. Training became a regular occurrence shaping not only the athlete he was becoming but the person he hoped to be.

Determined to build a better future, Gonzalez eventually made the hard decision to leave Mexico and pursue new opportunities abroad. His path ultimately led him to Kamloops, British Columbia. Although Kamloops is far different from where he grew up, he knew that continuing to pursue the sport he loves would change his life.

Today, Gonzalez is a young MMA coach who spends his time mentoring athletes from all age ranges and backgrounds to help them grow both inside and outside the cage. For him, coaching goes beyond teaching punches or takedowns. Antonio believes martial arts can help build discipline and is just as essential as knowing how to swim. His number one teaching is to never be afraid of failing.

From the gyms of Mexico to coaching fighters in Kamloops, Gonzalez’s story is one of passion, sacrifice, and determination. Now, he hopes the lessons he learned through MMA will inspire the next generation to chase their own paths with the same dedication he has always had.

At just 19 years old, a Kamloops mixed martial arts athlete is quietly building a name for himself- not through flashy callouts or viral moments, but through discipline, sacrifice and an unwavering belief in his dream.

Growing up in Kamloops, Nick Shannon admits his life was heading in the wrong direction. “I wasn’t going down a good path,” he said. Shannon said he faced bullying as a child and struggled in high school as well. “I wanted to try something new and hope for the best.” That decision led him into the world of MMA – a choice he now credits with changing his life.

Shannon’s long-term goal is clear: the UFC. “That’s the top goal,” he said confidently.

What started as an outlet quickly became his passion. He found structure through training and mentorship with a strong sense of community. “I met a lot of great people, and it makes me more disciplined. Overall, it really changed my life.”

Shannon does most of his training at Boa Martial Arts in North Kamloops. He credits his coaches along with several other black belts – for shaping him both inside and outside the cage. “They’ve given me a piece of advice and shown me different aspects of the sport and life,” he said. “They all have their own way to teach.”

While he has earned gold medals at local tournaments, including one in Kelowna, he remains grounded. Losses in grappling matches have taught him resilience. “You have to accept it,” he said. “Look back, see what you did wrong, and fix it.”

As the Kamloops’ MMA community continues to gain exposure, Shannon hopes residents and TRU students will support fighters by attending events, tuning into pay-per-views and following regional MMA gym pages for updates. “Just watch and support,” he said. Shannon supports the idea of offering student discounts for TRU students wanting to watch on pay-per-view.

For teenagers and students considering stepping onto the mats for the first time, his advice is simple: “If you don’t try it, how do you know you won’t like it? Sometimes getting started is the hardest part.”

His hard work is now focused on a future grappling match on an amateur MMA card in Vernon on April 18. For this 19-year-old fighter, getting started may have been the hardest step – but it’s one that set him firmly on the path toward something bigger.