About Coach Sonny

Introducing Coach Sonny Brown, a seasoned martial artist whose journey began on the Northern Beaches in 2007. Starting with Shoot Fighting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), and wrestling simultaneously at Langes MMA, Sonny trained under BJJ world champion and Australian MMA pioneer, Coach Anthony Lange.

In those days, Sonny juggled his intense training with a full-time role as a network administrator in the I.T. field. His dedication bore fruit when he stepped into the ring for his first amateur MMA bout with Shooto Australia. The thrill of competition ignited a new passion in Sonny, propelling him to regularly participate in professional Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions.

Sonny’s competitive spirit led him to astounding victories, earning him three MMA titles and making him a three-time Australian Mixed Martial Arts Champion in the lightweight division. He holds the unique distinction of being the only person in Australia to secure an MMA victory via a Gogoplata choke. His prowess extended to No-Gi Grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions, where he medaled in state and national competitions at every belt level.

The journey from the cage to academia took Sonny to the University of Sydney, where he transitioned to a career in teaching, earning a Bachelor of Education in Health & Physical Education. This shift sparked a new phase in Sonny’s life – he started using his I.T. skills to create technical video analyses of MMA bouts for educational purposes and shifted his focus towards coaching.

Sonny’s hunger for knowledge led him to experiment with Tae Kwon Do training at the university, even competing in the art. In 2017, his dedication to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was recognized when he received his Black Belt from his coach, 4th Degree Black Belt Anthony Lange. Sonny continued to train, teach, and compete in grappling competitions, earning his first degree and rekindling his interest in American Folkstyle wrestling.

Today, Sonny is a Level 1 Folkstyle Wrestling Coach with The Wrestling Foundation, under the tutelage of his wrestling coach Gary Jones. He has refereed in the first-ever folkstyle wrestling tournament held in Australia and competed in Folkstyle Wrestling.

Sonny’s technical analysis videos have gained recognition within the martial arts community, earning him praise from notable figures like Randy Couture, Matt Lindland, Karo Parisyan, Phil Davis, and others. In 2019, he launched “The Sonny Brown Breakdown” podcast, offering insights into the training, teaching, health, and education aspects of mixed martial arts.

Join us at Apex MMA, and let Coach Sonny Brown guide you on a path of continuous growth and development in martial arts.