About Raz Chan

Confidence Builder, Teacher, Trainer, Healer, & Champion

Raz’s Why!

My story began in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first 6 years of my life can be described as happy and joyful. During this time we lived with our grandparents who were both healthy. When I was seven my parents had moved into their own home and my life turned for the worst. Money was always an issue in my house and my parents often argued until the early hours of the morning. I remember pulling my bed covers over my face crying and wishing they would stop, wishing I had money to get us out of this mess. By 1979 my father’s financial burden became too much and he declared bankruptcy. As a nine year old I was completely devastated. Where would we live? How are we going eat? What is going to happened to me?

The following year my beloved grandma Chan passed away. She battled diabetes and a host of health issues. It was very difficult for me as this was my first experience seeing a love one wither away in a hospital. My grandmother did not live the healthiest lifestyle. I started to question whether something could have been done to prevent this from happening? I became curious to how the body and the aging process could be slowed through proper exercise and nutrition.

As we entered the 80′s my parents arguments around money worsened. Our house was full of negative energy and my parents often took their frustrations out on me both verbally and physically. My self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth was shattered.

My school years were very difficult. I was grossly underweight and being one of the few Chinese Canadian minorities living in a pre-dominantly Caucasian area I became a target for racial slurs and neighbourhood bullies a regular basis.

A childhood friend introduced me to team sports. This provided me with an temporary escape from my home life. I was not the best at my sport in fact I was most often the worst. Once again I became a target of bullies on the team.

My parents did not support sporting activities. They often berated me as a waste of time. The constant negativity and household financial constraints led me to quit sports. I ended up working non-school days often 14 hours per day to help with the family finances.

Upon entering university I wanted to study physical education and recreation. My parents would have none of it and told me my options were medicine, law, or accounting. I chose the accounting route and moved to Vancouver in 1993.

During this period I worked long hours and spent little time on my health. My whole life I battled low-self esteem and body image issues. I grew tired of people bullying me, tired of them making rude comments about my body, tired of waking up each day miserable. I began to question my existence on earth. Why did my life end up like this? Is this what my life going to be till the day I died? I vowed from that day on I was going to do everything in my power to change.

In 1995 I walked into a local gym. Embarrassed about my body I wore sweat pants and a sweat shirt two sizes too big. I made my way to the scale and slowly stepped on. I was almost 6 feet tall but weighed only 130lbs. Thoughts began to rush through my head. Were people in the gym staring at me, making rude comments and laughing behind my back. I told myself to start slowly and work myself up each day. Within six months I was close to 180lbs of muscle. Since then I never looked back.

 

In 2003 I rekindled my love for the martial arts particularly the mixed martial arts and went on to become an international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion and 2x world silver medalist. Something my father who was a martial arts instructor never achieved. I discovered how my life changed for the better, how people perceived me, and my gift to connect with people and inspire others.

Unhappy and feeling unfulfilled with my corporate career I left and started Raz Chan Fitness & Sport Performance Therapy in 2005. I wanted to start a business to tap into my passion for fitness and martial arts where I can make an impact and help touch the lives of ordinary people. Particularly women and children who many said would never measure up, doubted their own self-worth and existence on this earth.

Our services have grown to include women’s & corporate kickboxing, functional group & personal training, & fascial stretch therapy.

My experiences helped defined who I am and WHY I do what I do. I’ve come to realize I was put on this planet to help the underdog reach their dreams and goals to live a long happy healthy life. My grandmother’s battle with health issues inspired me to help others so they can grow older free of preventable diseases. My own battle with insecurity, low self-worth, confidence, and body image inspired me to help others around the world overcome these very same challenges.

I consider myself a social entrepreneur who wants to use my business to help improve the society we live in. We created the Champions For Charity program where we donate a portion of our sales from each cardio kickboxing registration we receive three times a year to feed elementary school children from low income families.

My name is Raz Chan and this is my story.

Our mission will always be Ordinary People, Extraordinary Results, Join In Our Journey Together.

Competition Highlights

International Achievements

• 2012 World Masters Seniors Jiu-Jitsu Championships Featherweight Silver Medalist
• 2012 American Nationals Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championships Middleweight Tournament Champion
• 2012 American Nationals Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championships Open Weight Bronze Medalist
• 2012 American Nationals Jiu-Jitsu Championships Light Weight Bronze Medalist
• 2011 US Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Senior Light Weight Tournament Champion
• 2011 US Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Senior Open Weight Tournament Champion
• 2011 Pan American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Bronze Medalist
• 2010 World No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Silver Medalist
• 2010 Las Vegas Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship Senior Light Weight Tournament Champion
• 2010 Las Vegas Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship Senior Open Weight Bronze Medalist

Crendentials

• Certified MMA Conditioning Coach
• Certifed Can-Fit Pro Personal Trainer
• Certified Self-Defense Defendo Instructor
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt under Todd Nathanson (3rd Degree Jean Jacques Machado Black Belt)
• BJJ Lineage: Matsuyo Maeda >Carlos Gracie Sr. >Carlos Gracie Jr. >Jean Jacques Machado >Todd Nathanson > Raz Chan
• Certified Fascial Stretch Therapist, Level 1
• Active Isolated Stretching Foundations Certificate
• Diploma Of Osteopathic Manual Practice
• Member of the International Osteopathic Association