Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas Frey.
Douglas, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was a former folkstyle wrestler who turned into a professional MMA fighter and had an extensive competition career before setting my sights on coaching.
In 2016 I began coaching full-time, while my wife was climbing the MMA ranks and had her sights on becoming a world champion. This is the same year that I was introduced to 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu by my mentor, Curtis Hembroff.
From 2017- early 2020 I was coaching a world-class MMA team and was consistently traveling all over the world with my fighters in the UFC, Bellator, and Invicta FC. During this time, my wife, Jinh Frey, won 3 world championship fights (2018, 2018, and 2020) and solidified herself as one of the very best atomweights of all-time. Then covid hit.
I spent the first half of 2020 trying to figure what my next move was. I had always worked for a gym, but never had my own. So, in August of 2020 I went out on a limb and started my own martial arts school where the initial focus would be entirely on adults who wanted to be fighters. Subsequently during this time my wife was signed to the UFC as I was also working towards my 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu black belt.
In 2022, 2 years after building my gym up, I got the call that I needed to make plans to be at Eddie Bravo’s gym in December. I booked my flight and went to Los Angeles where I would receive my black belt in front of all the other 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu black belts and gym owners. It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment.
The very next month, in January of 2023, Eddie Bravo asked if I wanted 10th Planet Fort Worth. I jumped on the opportunity and rebranded my school from Frey MMA to 10th Planet Fort Worth. A decision that brings us here now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, owning and operating a martial arts gym was not smooth at all in the beginning. But, like I’ve done with all things in my life, being consistently positive and having a firm belief that if kept working hard and evolving my business strategies I would find success. And it worked.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I teach/coach Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA. I’m known for developing fighters who have successful careers. My proudest moments are being part of the 3 world championship fights that my wife won.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Childhood was rough. My parents were split and I was a kid who moved around a lot, lived in trailer parks, and was a recipient of welfare Christmases. However, my mother always found a way to keep me in sports. I played soccer, football, basketball, baseball, ran both track and cross-country, and wrestled. The competitions were my favorite part of growing up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.10thplanetfortworth.com
- Instagram: @10thplanetfortworth
