Meet The
Coaching Team.
World-champion led. Credential-backed. Every coach at Maddog brings genuine competitive experience and certified expertise to every session. For the premium client, coach credentials are a purchasing decision — not just a nice-to-have. This is the coaching team that produces champions.
Amanda “Maddog” Lino is one of the most decorated female combat sports athletes South Africa has ever produced. A 2× EFC World Champion, IMMAF Featherweight World Champion, Africa’s first female double-division champion, and BJJ Purple Belt — she began her MMA career simply to get fit, and went on to change the sport on the continent. She founded Maddog Performance Institute to bring world-champion level coaching and recovery to the KZN North Coast.
Her coaching philosophy is shaped by everything that made her a champion: relentless preparation, technical mastery, mental fortitude, and the conviction that recovery and nutrition are as important as the session itself. She founded Maddog Performance Institute to build the performance environment she wished had existed when she was coming up — and to give the KZN North Coast access to world-class coaching it had never had before.
Amanda holds coaching certifications across MMA, striking, and grappling disciplines. Her fight camp preparation methodology is informed by 15+ years of training under some of Africa’s most respected coaches, refined through two world title campaigns at the highest level of African MMA. She is also a vocal advocate for women in sport and youth empowerment through martial arts — running subsidised self-defence programmes across the North Coast in partnership with local schools.
Specialisations: MMA — All Ranges | Fight Camp Preparation | Striking & Clinch | Grappling & BJJ | Fight Strategy | Mental Conditioning | Women’s MMA | Executive Performance Training
Amanda Wren Kobus is Maddog’s in-house Registered Nurse and Strength & Conditioning Coach — a rare combination of clinical expertise and elite competitive experience. A Proteas-selected Master 1 athlete and current KZNPLF Master 1 record holder, she competes at provincial and national level while simultaneously coaching, directing, and practising. Her dual role as a medical professional and performance coach makes her one of the most uniquely qualified practitioners on the KZN North Coast.
As Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Powerlifting Association and a certified Coach and Referee under the South African Powerlifting Federation, Amanda Wren brings institutional knowledge and elite competitive experience to every strength session she leads. Her clinical background as a Registered Nurse informs every training prescription — she understands the body not just as an athlete, but as a medical professional.
A mother of three, Amanda Wren brings a deep understanding of the female body, real-world demands, and the mindset required to build strength around life’s responsibilities. Her coaching approach — available in-person at Maddog and through online and hybrid programmes — combines medical precision with performance strategy to build strong bodies, resilient minds, and results that last.
The Coaching
Staff.
Every coach at Maddog brings certified expertise and real competitive experience. Credentials are listed clearly — because for a serious athlete or a premium client, who coaches you is the single most important decision you make.
- Experienced MMA Competitor — transitioned into high-impact coaching
- MMA — All Ranges: striking, grappling, clinch
- Kickboxing Fitness — beginners through to advanced
- Youth & Adult Coaching — kids and adult programmes
Lucky is an experienced MMA coach who stepped out of competition and into coaching, bringing the intensity and technical precision of a competitive athlete to every session he runs. Specialising in MMA, kickboxing, and kickboxing fitness for beginners, Lucky works with both kids and adults across all experience levels.
His coaching style is hands-on and high-energy, with a sharp focus on real skills, solid fundamentals, and building genuine confidence from the first session. Whether you are brand new to combat sports or looking to sharpen your game, Lucky's classes are designed to challenge you, develop your fitness, and produce measurable results — fast.
- 20+ Years in Boxing — Amateur Through Professional
- Head Chairman, KZN Professional Boxing Trainers & Managers Association
- Developed National-Level Champions & Elite Youth Athletes
- Full Fight Preparation — Technical, Tactical & Conditioning
Coach Marcele is a highly experienced boxing coach, trainer and mentor with more than two decades of involvement in the sport. His career has been built around developing fighters from the foundations of boxing through to elite amateur and professional competition. His approach combines traditional boxing fundamentals with modern conditioning, tactical preparation, discipline and fight intelligence, with a strong emphasis on developing the complete athlete rather than simply preparing someone to compete.
Throughout his coaching career, Coach Marcele has worked with athletes across multiple levels, from developing young boxers and aspiring amateurs to high-level competitive fighters and professional athletes. He believes there is no single formula that works for every athlete — his approach starts by identifying each individual's natural strengths and weaknesses, then building a training system around them, rather than applying the same method to everyone. His training methodology places particular emphasis on technical development, ring craft, movement, distance management, conditioning, defensive responsibility and tactical decision-making. He is known for preparing fighters to understand why they are doing something in the ring, allowing them to adapt under pressure rather than relying solely on rehearsed combinations.
One of Coach Marcele's greatest achievements has been his development of exceptional young talent. Through his coaching and mentorship, he has helped produce national-level champions and elite youth athletes, including Anton, a standout youth heavyweight who has remained undefeated, defeated national champions and gained valuable experience working alongside professional fighters. Coach Marcele has been instrumental in preparing Anton for the highest level of amateur boxing and the Olympic pathway, while continuing to develop a stable of fighters competing from lightweight through heavyweight.
Beyond competition, Coach Marcele believes boxing is a vehicle for discipline, confidence, personal development and opportunity. His work extends beyond the ring through youth development, community initiatives and providing access to boxing for people who may otherwise not have the opportunity. His vision is to build athletes with character as well as champions with ability. With extensive practical experience, a proven record of athlete development and a commitment to high-performance boxing, Coach Marcele represents a coaching philosophy centred on discipline, technical excellence, strategic intelligence and the relentless pursuit of greatness. Marcele is also the Head Chairman for the KZN Professional Boxing Trainers and Managers Association.
- Qualified Personal Trainer — certified and results-driven
- Specialises in individual performance and sustainable habit building
- Hands-on, tailored approach — every session built around the individual
Tristan is a highly motivated personal trainer who brings energy, passion, and genuine commitment to every session. With an impressive depth of knowledge in training, technique, and performance, he tailors each session to the individual — keeping workouts engaging, effective, and consistently results-driven. Tristan pushes his clients beyond their comfort zones, but always with the right balance of challenge and support. His focus is not just on short-term progress, but on building the sustainable habits, confidence, and stronger mindset that produce lasting change.
- BJJ Black Belt — awarded 2023 by world champion Penny Thomas
- Head Coach, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Maddog Performance Institute
- Martial arts background in Karate & Kickboxing; BJJ since 2005 at Novagen BJJ
- Kids BJJ Programme — launched 2025
York Lawrence is the Head Coach of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Maddog Performance Institute. With a lifelong foundation in martial arts, York transitioned from Karate and Kickboxing to the “gentle art” in 2005, beginning his journey at Novagen BJJ — one of South Africa’s pioneering academies.
In 2023, York reached a major milestone by receiving his Black Belt from multiple-time world champion Penny Thomas. His transition into coaching began during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a dedicated small group of students evolved into what is now Maddog's BJJ programme. Driven by the belief that Jiu Jitsu offers essential everyday skills and profound lifestyle benefits, York expanded his reach in 2025 by launching an engaging Kids Program — fostering a community where students of all ages can experience the discipline, resilience, and technical depth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
What Every Coach
Commits To.
Every session is prepared, purposeful, and held to the same standard that produced two world titles. No shortcuts. No passengers.
Coaching built on techniques tested inside professional cages and on competition mats. Not theory — lived, proven, and continuously refined.
Every member is seen as an individual. Coaching adapts to where you are, targets where you need to be, and holds you accountable to getting there.
Our coaching team holds recognised certifications and competitive credentials. Credentials are listed clearly — because they are a purchasing decision, not a detail.
Your First Class
Is Free.
No experience needed. No commitment required. Just show up and train under world-champion coaching on the KZN North Coast.