“My goal/passion is not just to educate my students in Combat for the street and sport, but also to inspire and motivate them to be winners in life! Coaching not Instructing! Using the Martial Arts as a vehicle to live a more disciplined and respectful life which will ultimately create freedom.“ Coach Morne Swanepoel
Morné started his Martial Arts training in 1976 as an amateur wrestler and became a full time Martial Arts, Combatives, Functional Fitness and Life coach since 1990. Morne is certified as one of the most qualified High Performance Mixed Martial Arts, BJJ and Combatives coaches in the world today with an extensive list of qualifications and achievements. Travelling close to 100 times to International destinations since 1995 and featuring in numerous public and social media across the globe the past couple of decades, Morné has become one of the leading figures in the Martial Arts today and is also known as one of the pioneers of Jeet Kune Do, MMA and BJJ in South Africa!
Morné has trained with some of the top Martial Artists, Fighters and coaches in the world today such as: Demian Maia, Erle Montaigue, Richard Bustilo, Rigan Machado, Rodrigo ‘Comprido’ Medeiros, Octavio Couto ‘Ratinho’, Daniel Duby, Brian Mitchell, Burton Richardson, Baret Yoshida, Marcello Garcia, Matt Thornton, Leo Vieira, Felipe Costa, Roger Gracie, Chris Haueter, Sgt Jim Wagner, Eddie Jardine, Pikkas Windell, Patrick McCarthy, Kisho Inoue, Shinghai Shihan, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Tom Sotis, Ricco Rodriquez, Abner Pasa, Roberto Atalla, Kelly McCann, Thiago Thavares, Nazarino and Olavo Abreu.
Morne has conducted more than 400 seminars/workshops since 1990 visiting and training in countries such as South Africa, USA, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Australia, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Seychelles, Brazil, Taiwan, Japan,China, Singapore, Thailand and the UAE.
“The importance of a coach is not what you coach, it’s that what happens in others when your coaching starts changing their every day lives!” –
Morne Swanepoel
“Many years of extensive travelling throughout the world, training and teaching, I am very pleased to announce that after years of intense training with JKD Unlimited, Morné Swanepoel is now one of the best and most dynamic Functional Jeet Kune Do instructors in the world today!” – Burton Richardson, President JKD Unlimited Hawaii USA
RESPECT
DISCIPLINE
INTEGRITY
RESPECT
DISCIPLINE
INTEGRITY
Morné was the only South African invited by the French government to represent SA and train with the World’s best Kick boxers and to build ties between SA and France in the French art of Kickboxing (Savate).
Morne has trained amateur to professional MMA/JiuJitsu/Thai Boxing/Karate athletes and has produced several amateur and professional champions. Morne has been involved in one of the most prestigious MMA tournaments in the world, EFC Worldwide (Extreme Fighting Championship) since day one and also produced the first Pro Champion of this promotion, Wentzel Nel in 2010. Morne has also been involved in other promotions such as UAE Warriors, FightStars, MFC, Fight Force, Fight Club, Shido, AFL etc.
Morné has hosted more than 50 International seminars since 1995 bringing top Martial Artists, Fighters and Coaches to South Africa such as: Burton Richardson, Chris Haueter, Sgt Jim Wagner, Baret Yoshida, Felipe Costa, Wally Simpson, Patrick McCarthy and Roberto Atalla
Morné has spent more than 25 years in the security industry working with SA specialized forces, debt collecting, VIP protection, Anti Hijacking units and night club security just to name a few.
Morné is one of the pioneers of MMA in South Africa having met and trained and starting journeying with Burton Richardson in 1996. Morné became one of the most qualified functional Jeet Kune Do (early MMA) coaches/fighters worldwide under the strict guidance of Burton Richardson. Morné also hosted one of the first MMA tournaments in South Africa ‘Its Hell Its Humbling’ in 1998 and grappling tournaments called the Extreme Submission Challenge in partnership with World Champion JiuJitsu and Hall of Famer Baret Yoshida.
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MEDIA CONTRIBUTIONS
Morné contributes articles and columns and has featured on hundreds of websites, magazines and TV shows such as:
BlackBelt magazine
Budo International
Samurai
Inside Kung Fu
Martial arts Masters
Combat Magazine
Kung Fu QiGong
People Magazine
FHM
Mens Health
Shape Magazine
Do it Now Magazine
Natural medicine
Seventeen Teen mag
SA Martial Arts illustrator
Fair Lady
The Citizen
The Star
Sunday Tribune
Sunday Times
Rapport
South Coast Sun
Beeld
Daily News
5fm
Radio 702
SAFM
Radio Lotus
RSG
Radio Oranje
East Coast Radio
Mnet Supersport
eTV
SABC
Seychelles TV SBC
Radio Sapphire Coast
www.fighttimes.com
www.fullcombat.com
durbs.kwazulunatal.com
www.usadojo.com
www.health24.com
www.getfit.co.za
Mauritius National TV MBC
Mauritius National newspapers
Mauritius Radio Plus
google for more
CREDENTIALS
- Brazilian JiuJitsu 3rd Degree BlackBelt Certified Instructor under Chris Haueter, USA. Morne is the Head Coach and Director for Combat Base Africa CombatBase.com
- Jeet Kune Do Full Instructor Certified by Burton Richardson JKD Unlimited, USA Appointed Representative for South Africa jkdunlimited.com
- International Certified Adult MMA Coach
Certfied by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) - International Certified Youth MMA Coach
Certified by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) - Professional MMA Coach for Amateur and Professional Athletes
- National Technical Director for Mauritius MMA Federation
- 5th Degree BlackBelt Katory Yama Ryu Jujutsu
- 5th Degree BlackBelt Polish Federation of Martial Arts + LifeTime Membership Award
- 5th Degree BlackBelt World Martial Arts Federation
- Representative and Executive Committee member for MMA/BJJ South Africa Pro and Amateur division
- South African Amateur Wrestling Champion
- South African Karate competitor and title contender
- 25 years VIP Protection
- Training of specialized units in Police, Military, security and VIP Protection units
- 2022 MMA/BJJ coach of the year for the International Fight Week Show
- Transvaal Karate Team Manager
- Provincial + National Karate Judge, Referee and arbitrator
- Coached Martial Arts at Wits University for 10 years
- South African representative and Vice President for Savate
- MMA South Africa Provincial and National team coach
- Life member for International Kory Bujutsu
- Director for the World United Marts Arts Federation
- Representative and Board member for the World Free Fighting Organisation
- Representative and Bord member for the World Martial Arts Confederation
- South African Director for Practical Martial Arts
- Member and Representative of the International Kung Fu Federation
- Served 2 years on a specialized anti hijacking unit
- Served 3 years on a specialized undercover unit in Johannesburg/Hillbrow
- MMA Coach of the year martialinfo.com
- Reality Based Personal Protection Full Instructor Certified by Sgt Jim Wagner, USA Appointed Director for Africa jimwagnerrealitybased.com
- Training For Warriors Full Instructor Certified by Martin Rooney, USA trainingforwarriors.com
- Tai Chi Full Instuctor Certified by Master Erle Montaigue, UK South African Representative for World Taiji Boxing Association taijiworld.com
- AMOK! Combatives Trainer Endorsed by Tom Sotis, USA TomSotis.com
- 4th Degree Koryu Uchinadi BlackBelt Certified by Hanshi Patrick McCarthy in Australia
- Shihan ‘Master’ title obtained by the International Karate Research Society
- 3rd Degree Yuishinkai Kobujutsu BlackBelt Certified by Hanshi Kisho Innoue in Japan
- Goju Kai Karate Black Belt Certified by Shihan Pikkas Windell
- Rio Grappling Club Black Belt Instructor and Representative Certified by Roberto Atalla, Brazil
- Tai Chi Full Instuctor Certified by Master Erle Montaigue, UK South African Representative for World Taiji Boxing Association taijiworld.com
MY COACHES
I am proud, honoured and so grateful to call these Warriors my Coaches.
Thank you for believing in me, training and mentoring me forging me into the man and Martial Artist I am today.
Last but not the least to all my students who continuously motivate me.
Thank you!
Chris Haueter
CombatBase BJJ
I met Chris in March 2008 and hosted him several times for seminars and personal training in South Africa. Chris is one of the most dynamic coaches i have ever trained under. He has a very unique and dynamic coaching method and sense of humor 🙂 I am honored to be associated, recognized and apart of Chris Haueter and his Combat Base ™
Burton Richardson
JKD Unlimited
My involvement with Burton since 1996 has been a life changing experience. It was thanks to Burton that i found new goals in the Martial Arts by searching for more functional and dynamic training methods and techniques. He has been a pillar of strength by sharing his knowledge not just on a fighting level but by improving my coaching standards and being one of my life coaches. We have traveled the world together conducting seminars in Africa, Reunion, Spain, Italy, UK and USA. I am proud and honored to be noted as one of the first fully certified Instructors for JKD Unlimited.
AMOK! I first met and trained with Tom in 1999 during his first visit to Durban South Africa. My first experience was the classical Filipino blade master with a host of fancy moves and disarms. Since 1999 i have trained with Tom on several ocassions and every time it became the obvious why he has become one of the leading experts with the blade in the world today. His knife fighting system (AMOK) evolved into a total street combative system with dynamic offensive and defensive tactics, techniques and training methods. I continue studying and learning from this humble warrior.
Jim Wagner
Reality Based Personal Protection
I met Sgt. Jim Wagner in New York, June 2006. I attended his week long Instructors course and was blown away with what he had to offer in terms of military, security and personal protection. It was also after i was certified in New York that Jim appointed me as the director of South Africa for his system Reality Based Personal Protection. Jim visited South Africa for the first time in March 2007 where we conducted seminars in Durban and Johannesburg.
Erle Montaigue (1949 – 2011)
World Taiji Boxing Association
I started corresponding with Master Erle in 1995 and had the great honor of finally meeting and training with this legend in 1999 at a training camp in Australia. Since then i have trained with Master Erle extensively even following him to other camps in countries like Germany. Master Erle was one of the most humble, gentle and kind Martial Artists one would ever meet. I’m honored to have spent the time i did with him and privileged to being personally certified and appointed as his SA Representative. His Taiji will forever live on.
Demian Maia – UFC Fighter
BJJ Black Belt World Champ
I met Demian in 2005 during a 2 week training camp in Brazil. Besides being one of the best fighters on the planet, Demian is just as good coach and person. What a privilege to live and train with such a master for 2 weeks!
Pikkas Windell
Goju Kai Karate Master
I have known Shihan Pikkas for many years from my early childhood karate days to my adult karate days. One of the toughest Karate practitioners out there with such a loyalty to Goju Kai Karate. I’m privileged to still have him involved in my life up until today.
Soke Kisho Inoue
Yuishinkai Kobjutsu
Every Karateka’s dream is to train in Japan. I was fortunate enough not just to train in Japan but also to spend 2 weeks with great masters in traditional kobudo. Here i am with ‘Hanshi’ head of Yuishinkai Kobujutsu who i trained under for 10 years. Very humble and extremely knowledgeable!
Felipe Costa
BJJ Black Belt World Champ
I met Felipe in 2005 during a 2 week training camp in Brazil. I also hosted Felipe several times in South Africa for seminars and personal training. Felipe is an amazing coach and fighter. I spent allot of time and gained so much knowledge from this dynamic BJJ specialist! What an honor and privilege to be part of the Brazilian BlackBelt BRASA team!
Roberto Atalla
Rio Grappling Club
Met Roberto in 2014 when i hosted him for seminars and personal training. Roberto is a high quality coach and heads one of the most dynamic grappling associations in the world today, Rio Grappling Club. I was honored to be appointed head coach and representative for KwaZulu Natal. Roberto is one of the most humble and friendliest guys you will meet.
Sensei/Sifu Winkin Leong
Yuishinkai Kobujutsu
After almost 15 years in sport karate and amateur wrestling i was finally exposed to Tai Chi and traditional more practical Karate – Kobudo thanks to Sifu/Sensei Winkin Leong. After a couple of years i trained and assisted Winkin at his Robertsham and Wits University training groups. I was later asked to take over the Wits University training group. It was thanks to Winkin that my Tai Chi and Karate/Kobudo/Aiki Jitsu was taken to a new level by introducing me to Eddie Jardine. I will forever be grateful to Sifu/Sensei Winkin for his knowledge, guidance and positive influence.
BJJ Black Belt World Champ
BJJ Black Belt World Champ
BJJ Black Belt World Champ + ADCC Hall of Famer
BJJ Master & Black Belt World Champ
Yuishinkai Kobujutsu
Also known as the last Samurai in Japan. Shinghai Shihan is my most favorite traditional martial artist i trained with in Japan. I learnt so much from this true master of Kobudo. I was also blessed to be able to train with him in South Africa during a International Yuishinkai Kobujutsu training conference.
BJJ BlackBelt Coach
BJJ Black Belt World Champ
I met Comprido in 2005 during a 2 week training camp in Brazil. Comprido is an amazing coach, fighter and real funny guy. He is well respected in the BJJ circles and also known as UFC Fighter, Brock Lesnars coach. Truly blessed to have been able to spend so much time training and living with a BJJ legend.
USA Muay Thai + JKD Coach
I met Brian in 1997 during one of my many trips to USA. I spent 2 weeks at his Prodigy Martial Arts Center in Richmond training Muay Thai under him. Brian is top level Muay Thai coach and a really nice guy!
Koryu Uchinadi
I represented Mr McCarthy’s IRKRS and Koryu Uchinadi in South Africa for several years. I also hosted Mr McCarthy for seminars and personal training in South Africa. He is known as the encyclopedia of Traditional Martial Arts.
The father of Savate in USA
I met Daniel in 1997 during a trip to Reunion Islands. Daniel is a world famous Savate (French Kick Boxing) instructor. It was a great honor to train with Daniel at a JKD seminar and get to do some private training at his house! What a legend!
14x Boxing World Champ
I met Brian in the mid 90’s. Was very fortunate to reside in the same area as Brian and be able to meet and train with this boxing legend. Brian and myself also appeared on MNET SuperSport TV show together where we discussed training and fighting during a live interview.
Yuishinkai Kobujutsu + International Tai Chi Society
I trained with Sifu/Shihan Eddie Jardine for a decade and became one of his senior instructors for the International Tai Chi Society and Yuishinkai Kobujutsu (Traditional Karate/Kobudo). My first trip abroad was with Eddie Jardine to China and Japan. This gave me a good base and understanding of the Internal and External Martial Arts. Shihan Eddie is an amazing person and was a humble father figure in my eyes.
Chinese Martial Arts Master
I met Dr Yang in the early 90’s and attended several of his seminars in South Africa. It was a great experience meeting and training with one of the world’s leading Internal Martial Arts masters. I studied Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Chin Na under Dr Yang.
Savate Technical Director
I was fortunate to have trained in French KickBoxing under the guidance of the legendary Michel le Roux from France. Hosted him for training seminars in South Africa after which i was chosen to represent South Africa at the Olympic training camp in Paris. Spent two weeks of intense training which was a once in a lifetime experience where i could train with the worlds best KickBoxers and share notes with the best coaches.
I met Kelly in 2014 during his visit to South Africa. I was privileged and honored to host Kelly at my gym for a 3 day intense training camp. Kelly is known as one of the most respected high risk combatives Instructors today. Look forward continuing training with this legend.
- Matt Thornton (Straighblast Gym, USA)
- Roger Gracie (Brazilian JiuJitsu, UK)
- Ricco Rodriques (Mixed Martial Arts, USA)
- Master Abner Pasa (Filipino Kali, Philippines)
- Janette Schulz (South African Self Defence)
- Sensei Neil Lindsay (Goju Karate – South Africa)
- Sensei Dennis Watson (Funakoshi/Goju/JKA Karate South Africa)
- Shihan Johan van Niekerk (Goju Karate South Africa)
- The Knight’s (Ronald, Andrew, Kenneth, Gavin and Frank) Ridgeway Amateur Wrestling