Carlo Meister

Head MMA Coach

Carlo started his study of the martial arts whilst a student at Hamilton Boys High School. A student of BJJ, Kickboxing, Sambo, Wrestling, Japanese Jujitsu & Karate, he has an equal appreciation of both grappling and striking arts - which helps him balance our MMA team. Check out some more information about Carlo and the History of CORE MMA.

As well as being a national team coach for both Mixed Martial Arts and Sambo, Carlo has coached at four of the biggest professional MMA promotions in the world, including the UFC, ONE Championship, PFL and Bellator.

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blackbelt (2nd Degree) under John Will
  (Head coach of Will-Machado BJJ Australasia)
• Kobukan 1st Dan Karate Blackbelt under Phil Beale - 2012
  (Head of Kobukan Martial Arts)
• NZMMAF MMA Coach for the IMMAF Amateur World Championships (2015-Present)
• NZ Team Head Coach for the UWW Junior World Championships 2025
• NZ Team Head Coach for the SAMBO Fias Asian Championships & Junior World Championships 2025
• Master of Sambo (1st Degree, awarded in Moscow 2024)
• Koryu Uchinadi Karate Blackbelt under Patrick McCarthy & Kurt Graham - 2010
  (Koryu Uchinadi and the IRKRS)
• BJJ Blackbelt Open Weight Champion
  (NZ Grappler 2022 Nogi Nationals)
• BJJ Blackbelt National Champ
  (NZ Grappler, Nogi u86kg 2021)
• BJJ Blackbelt Nogi 1st Equal (NZ Grappler 2022 Season)
• Represented New Zealand at the Sambo Asia-Pacific Championships - Lebanon 2022
• NZ MMA Coach for the WKA World Championships 2022 Wales
• 4 * Abu Dhabi Pro BJJ World Cup NZ Trials Medalist
  (Gold 2009 White, Bronze 2010 Blue, Gold 2011 Blue, Silver 2012 Purple u83)
• 2 * Will-Machado Australasian Gathering Medalist
  (Gold 2010 Blue, Silver 2011 Blue)
• ADCC NZ Open 2021 Bronze Medalist (Professional u91)
• Silver Medal - ICON NZ BJJ Tournament
  (Purplebelt Open Weight)
• Gold Medal - New Zealand Free Fighting 2012
  (Light-Heavyweight Seniors Division)
• 2x Gold Medal - Full Force Fight Co. Sub Only BJJ Tournament (Advanced Division 2016, 2017)
• Gold Medal - Full Force Fight Co. South Island Open BJJ Tournament 2021 (Blackbelt Division)
• Gold Medal - Brownbelt Division, ABJJA Open Tournament 2017
• Waikato Wrestling Champ 2021 (Senior u86)
• IMMAF Certified Level 1 MMA Coach
• MMA coach for Luke Jumeau at UFC Fight Night Tokyo, Michelle Montague for UFC Perth, and Ethan Brockett for ONE Championship Friday Fights 145
• Recipient of the Hamilton City Council '30 under 30' Award
  (June 2015)

Hamilton City Council '30 under 30' Video Profile