MMA Pro Fighters
Mitch Clarke
Mitch is a wrestler turned mixed martial artist training with the Hayabusa's Team Yokai in St. Albert, Alberta. Mitch started his training wrestling in high school and made the transition to wrestling for the University of Saskatchewan. After several years of wrestling, Mitch wanted to try a new challenge and became interested in the sport of mixed martial arts when his cousin showed him a VHS tape of Ultimate Ultimate 1996. Mitch inspired by the results the wrestlers were having in MMA decided to begin training and found a local gym and signed up.
Mitch had his first professional MMA fight in May of 2007 for the Extreme Cage Wars promotion against Jase Nibourg and on by submission due to strikes 89 seconds into the first round. Mitch eventually moved to Edmonton, AB and joined the reputable Team Threat consisting of many great Canadian fighter including Jeff Montemurro, Victor Bachmann, Luke Harris and Travis Galbraith Mitch's next big fight was in September, 2008 in the Evolution Fighting Championships inaugural show and was competing for the promotions welterweight championship, winning the bout and the championship belt in 3 minutes due to a modified guillotine choke in 3 minutes.
"Several years after his first professional MMA fight, Mitch is still training with Team Yokai and after 7 professional fights is still undefeated"
Eventually, Team Threat became amalgamated into the Hayabusa's Team Yokai combining itself with other prominent professional fighters out of Edmonton, Ab. Mitch would return to defend his title at EFC 2against the local favorite Paul Grandbois and defeated the challenger with an inverted armbar in the second round.
Corey Lautischer
Corey Lautischer is a professional mixed martial artist training in Edmonton, Alberta, with Hayabusa's Team Yokai. His father is a 5th degree Ketto Ryu japanese Jujutsu instructor and as such Corey has grown up around martial arts.
He began his training in Japanese Jujutsu at approximately 8 years old and kept it up for a little over a year. Around 12 years old he took up boxing, which he also only stayed in for around a year.
It wasn't until a string of bad choices left Corey considering the path he has chosen in life, and when he was around 18 years old he began studying the martial arts.
For a few years he spent the majority of his time reading, studying and practicing the martial arts on his own, inspired by the teachings of Bruce Lee and all of his students.
After 2 years Corey sought out actual instruction, and he began training in Ketto Ryu Jujutsu under sensei Trevor Tessier, one of his father's best students. In approximately 3 years Corey earned his black belt and began passing along the teachings he had learned. In addition, he also began his studies of submission grappling, and soon became very involved in the local tournament scene.
Through approximately 2 years of competition, Corey competed in the year long "series" tournaments held by Arashi-Do and won both 2007 and 2008 in the under 140 weight division, often weighing close to 130 pounds and even being bumped into higher weight classes due to a lack of competition.
When contemplating a third year of competitions, a student of his introduced the idea of taking an MMA fight, and shortly after Corey had his first fight lined up. This is also the time Corey began training with Team Yokai in preparation for his first fight, bringing in little other competitive experience other than his submission grappling.
Within a year Corey earned himself a 2-1 record, and is constantly striving to improve his stand-up, wrestling and jiu jitsu skills, as he continues to train full time with Team Yokai, and is quickly learning what it takes to make it as a professional MMA fighter.
Ryan Jimmo
Ryan Jimmo was born on November 27th, 1981 in Saint John, New Brunswick, and is no stranger to Martial Arts. He grew up in a Karate family, and is the youngest of four children. His father, a 5th degree black belt passed the sport onto Jimmo, and at the age of ten he did what he does with everything else in his life, he thirsted for more. As a child he was a victim of bullying, but as he progressed as a fighter and gained confidence through Karate, his fighting abilities demanded respect on the streets of Saint John.
His siblings use to test his balance while he walked across a two by four by shaking it. He spent night after night in his parent's basement, which was floored with brown shag carpet covered in tape to assist him with his foot work. He would practice the same kicks over and over again, perfecting every move until his feet were raw and dripping with blood. One weekend while his parents were away, ambivalent to any consequences, he sold their couch and television for $100 to make more room to train. His fathers only objection was that he didnt get more money for the couch. With his father as his Sensei, and his mothers unwavering support, Jimmo has over a 1000 Karate fights under his belt, presently holds a 2nd degree black belt, and is a Pan Am Silver and Bronze medalist. His Karate background continues to play a pivotal role in and outside of the octagon. Karate taught him not only great fighting techniques but great discipline, focus and work ethic.
"Its taught me to understand a system of fighting and understand how to learn it in a more efficient manner. The athleticism and physicality are great attributes. I found my kicks are a step above most MMA practitioners as well as my footwork. There are two sides to most karate systems, traditional and sport and both have attributes that warrant praise. My time in Karate has been invaluable in my life and I wouldnt be the person I am today without it.". - Ryan Jimmo
This 28 year old Big Deal MMA fighter has Big Dreams and limits his distractions by living a life free from extravagances; allowing himself to fully marinate in a vision, a vision to be at the top of this sport. A vision to be the best in the world. And his eat, sleep, train mentality is going to get him there, one opponent at a time. When he is not in the gym pushing his body to the limits, he is spending his time pushing his mind there. The only thing that comes close to his thirst for being the best in the world in the Octagon, is his thirst for knowledge. His brain is a sponge, constantly searching for more wisdom and new information to soak in. His collections of books range in subject from Quantum Physics, Chess, to Religion to enough books to complete an undergrad degree in Psychology. He can reference George Carlin, Stephen Hawkings, or W.C Fields (to name a few) without hesitation. In high school he was President of the Chess club as well as captain of the Football team. In 2004, he broke his leg in Karate, and to fill the time he took up amateur bodybuilding. After five short weeks of training he went on to win several championships. Ryan Jimmo is out to prove that he is a Big Deal in all venues of life, he defies the stereotypes and will always be mentally and physically prepared to get in the ring and deliver.
Jimmo originally moved to Halifax to train more extensively with Karate, and then began training further in Jujitsu, which started in Saint John for cross training. He became frustrated with the lack of opportunities for amateur sports in this country and decided that if he could become one of the best in the world in one sport, that he could put that same dedication and drive toward MMA and have more opportunities to open himself up as a fighter.
Three years after his first professional fight Jimmo is on a 13-1 winning streak, and is considered by some, to be the best in Canada for his weight class (205LB).
Last year 2008, Jimmo was the first Maritimer to appear on Ultimate Fighter, TUF8. His experience on the show, with trainer ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA and other like-minded fighters gave him a taste of what is to come. Shorty after his appearance on TUF8; Jimmo quickly secured 2 TKO wins, first against Chris Fontaine (Former TKO champ) and then Rick Roufus (6x World Kick Boxing champ), as well as a win over Jesse Forbes (Ultimate Fighter, Season 3). On February 4th, 2009 Jimmo was ranked 25th out of the top 100 Light Heavies by TopGun MMA . Shortly thereafter Jimmo realized that his training potential would soon plateau if he remained in Halifax. With the realization that he needed to access a deeper pool of talent, he made an important pivotal decision for his career and decided to move once again, this time to Edmonton, Alberta. July of 2009 Jimmo ventured across country with nothing in hand but the bag on his back, and it has since proved fruitful. Upon his arrival he signed a contract with MFC, found a home with Hayabusa Training Center and continued his winning streak against notable fighters, Marvin Eastman (UFC vet) and Emanuel-Newton. To be mentioned in the same breath as some of the best in the world, only three short years after his first Professional fight, confirms that Jimmo is proving himself to be the fastest rising MMA star in the country.
When it comes to training, Jimmo is a force to reckon with. This fighter is hungry. And he's a fighter to watch out for. Don't let his resume of deadly kicks and successes influence you to categorize him. Keep in mind, that he defies all stereotypes. His confidence does not supersede his humility. This is a fighter to love: for his fight, for his character and for his ability to deliver.. And lets not forget his signature move. Hes a 6"2, 205 lb MMA fighter who break dances and entertains with his smooth robotic moves after every win. Just more spotlight for this young fighter whose eyes light up at the thought of stardom. And its just around the corner.
Luke Harris
Harris began training in judo at the age of eight, steadily moving up the ranks and earning his black belt in his late teens. He competed on the Canadian national team but he made the decision to put competition on the back burner to concentrate on earning a university degree.After completing a technologist degree in landscape architecture in Edmonton, Harris transferred to Guelph University to complete an undergraduate degree. Continuing his education at Penn State where he went on to earn his masters degree, Harris began to feel the itch to compete again.
A few weeks after finishing at Penn State, Harris made the trek to Tokyo, Japan to learn from the top judo masters in the birthplace of the sport he had trained in for the better part of the past two decades. Studying at the Kodokan, Harris spent three months at the judo Mecca strengthening his skills. While he was there he decided that would see how far his training could take him.
Upon his return to Canada, he moved to Montreal to join members of the Canadian national judo team. Wanting to continue his evolution as a judoka, he decided to begin training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Gelinas Academy of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) under Brazilian Top Team Canada instructor Fabio Holanda. At the time, the Brazilian was training several up-and-coming MMA fighters including future UFC standouts Georges St-Pierre and Patrick Cote.
While on a trip to Brazil for an international judo competition, Harris decided that an extended stay in the South American country to train at the BTT academy might help his ground game. He says the experience not only helped his level of jiu-jitsu, it also pushed him one step closer to beginning a career in MMA.
Harris worked diligently to improve his stand-up game and wrestling and parlayed his growing skill-set into a four-fight win streak that garnered him the King of the Cage Canada middleweight title in only his fourth professional fight.
In January of 2009 Harris opened the Hayabusa Training Centre Ltd. in St. Albert, Alberta just outside Edmonton. Teaching several classes per week at the gym while maintaining his own twice-daily training regimen, Harris says that balance is the key to his continued success.
As far as his MMA career is concerned, Harris’ goal is to compete & win at the highest level.