Our story - Our Mission Statement – Our Core Values

Once upon a time… 2015… Mohsen stepped in to teach a class as a substitute for a friend who was coaching wrestling at the same gym where Ilina was training Muay Thai. Mohsen noticed her and decided to ask her out—not once, but several times over 14 months. One day, a coffee date turned into a dinner, then into a relationship, and now, into a family.

With so much love and passion for Martial Arts from both of them, it wasn’t long before they started talking about opening their own gym. In 2018, they finally settled on a name, and POUNDFORCE MMA was born. Within minutes, Ilina secured the business name and domain—no time to waste.

Like all great things, turning an idea into reality takes time. The world soon shut down, and everything came to a standstill. Amidst the pandemic, they celebrated the birth of their first child, a daughter. Then, due to personal circumstances, they moved to regional New South Wales, opened a wrestling gym, and made lifelong friendships. However, two years away from Melbourne was a long stretch, and with their second child on the way, they knew it was time to return and bring their vision to life.

Shortly after, their son was born, and they began the search for the perfect location. It took nearly two years—because you can’t rush perfection—and on August 4th, 2025, the doors finally opened. This achievement was the result of tremendous effort by Mohsen, Ilina, and the few people who truly supported them, including their mentors.

“We came to this beautiful country with different dreams. Ilina, at 18, and Mohsen, at 31, with a suitcase of belongings—or, in Mohsen’s case, nothing at all. One was seeking better opportunities, and the other was looking for freedom of choice in life. Both determined, hard-working, passionate, and brave, we overcame all kinds of obstacles. Language and culture were first on the list. We’ve both been through very difficult times in life—before and after coming to Australia—just like many of you within your own stories. And the pain we carry sometimes becomes too heavy to bear.

Broken mental health has touched both of us, and among other things, Martial Arts have been a primary reason for turning our struggles, situations, and circumstances into positive outcomes. It’s not just about mental health—physical health, community, belonging, connections, dreams of competing and fighting—these are all benefits that come from these sports, and sports in general. The list of benefits is very long, for both adults and children.

It takes courage and strength to step outside your comfort zone, but we promise it’s worth it. You matter—whoever you are, and whatever your reason for reading this, you matter! Your goals, ambitions, and wishes matter. If you’re a parent, your children matter.

POUNDFORCE MMA is more than just a martial arts gym—it’s a second home for many. Our goal is to build a community where students feel seen, that they belong, and where staff and the team foster positivity and motivation—a space to learn and grow. This journey has been monumental and life-changing for us, and we genuinely hope to inspire the same positive experience for our students. We created this space grounded in the values we hold dear and live by. Most importantly, we want to teach our daughter and our son the importance of kindness and humanity. Our ultimate goal is to make them proud of who we are as their parents and the good/positive things we do for our community.

We invite you to visit us and be part of our story.”