Head Instructor
Stephen
Kamphuis
5th Degree BJJ Black Belt. 7x World Masters Champion. President of the Philippine BJJ Federation. Building the sport in the Philippines for over two decades.
7x
World Masters Champion
30+
Schools Nationwide
20+
Years in Philippines
5th
Degree Black Belt
The Journey
From New Zealand to the Philippines
Stephen Kamphuis started his martial arts journey at 14 in New Zealand, when a Judo demonstration at his school changed his life. Training under Coach Ivan Willis — who would go on to become an Olympic Judo Referee — he quickly rose through the ranks, representing New Zealand at both junior and senior international level.
By 20, he had earned his Judo Black Belt, fresh off a runner-up finish at the Oceania Young Adults Championships. He went on to win the Oceania Adult Judo Championship, cementing his place as one of New Zealand's top judoka.
At 22, he moved to Australia and added boxing to his repertoire. In 1997, at age 36, he walked into Anthony Lange's gym in Sydney — one of Australia's first BJJ schools — and discovered the art that would define the next chapter of his life.
He competed immediately and never stopped. Within a year he was NSW State Champion at white belt. By blue belt, he was winning the NSW Absolute and Pan Pacific titles. By the time he earned his Black Belt in 2004 — awarded jointly by Anthony Lange, John Will (Machado lineage), and Master Fabricio Martins — he had already won Absolute gold in Brazil at brown belt.
Stephen arrived in the Philippines in 2004 and has been based in Makati ever since, dedicating over two decades to growing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu across the country.
Coaching at KMA — passing the art to the next generation
Competition Record
Never missed a year
From his first white belt tournament in 1999 to World Masters gold medals — Stephen has competed every single year since he started BJJ.
BJJ World Titles
- • 7x World Masters Open Weight Champion (Gi & No-Gi, 2007–2016)
- • 3x International Masters Open Weight Champion (Brazil)
- • 2x Grand Slam Champion — 4 golds in Worlds Gi and No-Gi in a single year
- • Ranked No. 1 in the World, Masters 5, No-Gi Division
- • Undefeated in his division in Brazil for five consecutive years
Judo & Other Titles
- • Oceania Judo Champion (Adult division, representing New Zealand)
- • Runner-up, Oceania Young Adults Championships
- • Represented New Zealand internationally (New Caledonia, Hawaii Pacific Rim)
- • IBJJF World & Pan Am Referee — first non-Brazilian in Asia-Pacific to officiate at both
Black Belt Results
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | World Masters (Gi) | Gold Division, Bronze Absolute |
| 2016 | World Masters (No-Gi) | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2015 | World Masters (Gi) | Gold Division, Bronze Absolute |
| 2015 | World Masters (No-Gi) | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2014 | World Masters (Gi) | Silver Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2014 | World Masters (No-Gi) | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2013 | World Masters (Gi & No-Gi) | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2012 | Asian Open (Japan) | Silver Division |
| 2011 | No-Gi Worlds | Gold Division, Bronze Absolute |
| 2010 | No-Gi Worlds + International Masters | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2009 | No-Gi Worlds | Silver Division |
| 2008 | No-Gi Worlds + Dumau International (Japan) | Silver Division, Gold (Japan) |
| 2007 | No-Gi Worlds + International Masters | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
| 2006 | International Masters (Brazil) | Gold Division, Gold Absolute |
Building the Sport
Philippine BJJ, from the ground up
When Stephen arrived in the Philippines in 2004, competitive BJJ barely existed. He didn't just open a gym — he built an entire ecosystem for the sport.
As President of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation of the Philippines, he organized the country's first BJJ competition, worked alongside Carlinho Gracie to establish the Philippines as the first official IBJJF Federation in Southeast Asia, and built competition events that now draw thousands of spectators.
His partnership with SM Super Malls — the Philippines' largest shopping center group — brings BJJ to the public stage, with competition audiences sometimes exceeding 10,000 spectators per day. He also runs the annual ADCC Philippine International Open, one of the longest-running ADCC events in Asia since 2010.
For the 2019 Southeast Asian Games hosted in Manila, Stephen served as Competition Manager for Jiu-Jitsu. Under his guidance, the Philippine team hauled in 5 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals — a dominant performance on home soil.
He continues to serve as head coach and technical adviser for the Philippine national jiu-jitsu team at international competitions including the Asian Games.
Through Team Fabricio Philippines, he has grown the KMA network to over 30 affiliated schools across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — plus an international affiliate in New Zealand. 70–80% of KMA members compete in local competitions, a testament to the competitive culture he's cultivated.
First
IBJJF Federation in Southeast Asia
First
Fabricio team outside Brazil
First
Non-Brazilian IBJJF referee in Asia-Pacific
Next Generation
Raising coaches and competitors
Stephen has been teaching children martial arts since he was 19 years old — over three decades of experience shaping young athletes. At KMA, he personally teaches most of the children's classes, working with kids from age five and up.
His approach goes beyond technique. Through structured programs that include anti-bullying training, he focuses on building discipline, focus, confidence, and character. He has particular experience working with children with autism and ADHD, adapting his teaching to meet every student where they are.
"One of the classes that has the most impact on lives is the children's class. It is a great sense of achievement to see them develop both their character and skills."
But it doesn't stop with children. Stephen has promoted multiple students to Black Belt — the highest mark of trust a BJJ coach can place in a student. Each promotion represents years of dedicated training, competition, and personal growth under his guidance.
Teaching the next generation — kids class at KMA
Homegrown Black Belts
Romeo John Alfred Raphael
Black Belt promotion — years of dedication culminating in the highest rank, awarded at a Team Fabricio Gathering.
Ian Michael Roces & Marc Alexander Lim
Double Black Belt promotion at the Team Fabricio Gathering, Ayala Malls Circuit. Two more coaches ready to carry the art forward.
Lineage
The line from which we come
Train under Stephen
Stephen teaches regularly at KMA in Salcedo Village, Makati. Drop in for a class — beginners are always welcome.
Train with us