Colleen Augustin is a dynamic athlete, dedicated coach and passionate mentor. From competing on international stages in MMA and Spartan races to guiding the next generation in martial arts, her journey reflects resilience and purpose. In an interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Colleen shares the experiences that have shaped her path. She opens up about the challenges she faces and how she’s using her skills and values to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the children she teaches.
Colleen Augustin works as a Kids’ MMA Coach and a Women’s Personal Trainer. “I coach Kids’ MMA and Kids’ Muay Thai at Baekho Martial Arts Academy. I also coach Kids’ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Beginners’ Muay Thai at Central MMA,” she says excitedly.
Colleen holds a high school diploma, along with a certification as an ACE Personal Trainer and a newly added Pre & Post Partum Certificate. “I started working at 16, taking on various roles—from teaching English to refugee children to working as a Web Content Assistant,” she shares.
Staying active has always been a part of Colleen’s life, thanks to her parents’ strong support. “I’ve done various martial arts growing up, sticking to Aikido from ages 10 to 17 before switching to MMA, BJJ and Muay Thai. I also did ballet from age 6 to 17 and played basketball competitively from the age 10 to 17.”
Her athletic career took off when she began competing and training in MMA for a couple of years, even getting the opportunity to compete at one of the highest amateur levels of MMA. In 2019, she earned a gold medal at the IMMAF-WMMAA Asian Open strawweight division and bronze medal at the IMMAF-WMMAA World Championship strawweight division.
Colleen also excelled in endurance sports. At 16 and 17, she competed in 10km trail and road races, and later in Spartan obstacle course races. “I was blessed to be sent around Asia for the Spartan APAC Championships in 2017, where I placed 3rd overall, and the Spartan SEA Championship Series in 2018, where I placed 1st. I also competed in the Spartan World Championships in both years.”
Today, Colleen continues to train and compete in BJJ and has also embraced a new sport—American Flag Football, which she started three years ago.
Colleen credits much of her achievements to her parents’ support and the values they instilled. “They were always supportive and pushed me to become a better version of myself. They encouraged me to pursue my passions and told me, “If you do what you love, the money will follow.” They taught me how to deal with losses, failures and work hard for what I want.”
As an athlete, balancing work, training and life is her biggest challenge. “Juggling two sports is still a struggle, and many have told me to stop because I risk overtraining, especially with my injury history. But I can’t find it in my heart to give up. So, I’m still working through that,” she says with a smile.
Coaching brings its own set of lessons. “The most challenging part is understanding each child’s individual needs. Every child learns differently, and I sometimes struggle to find the right words to communicate with them,” she explains.
Colleen is learning on the job as she is still new to teaching 4 to 6-year-olds. “Teaching martial arts to young kids involves lots of games and creative methods. I’m currently learning from other coaches and exploring better teaching methods. It’s very much a trial-and-error process. I’m grateful to work with gyms that allow me to grow, and I’m surrounded by people who offer great advice and input.”
Colleen firmly believes in staying true to herself and doing everything with passion. “Trust the process – God has a plan,” she says. “For me, success as an athlete means being able to compete long-term, keep improving, and reach higher levels. I never want to be stagnant.”
“As a coach, success is when the kids I teach are able to apply the values they have learned through martial arts in life. Personally, it’s about being able to give back to those I love – being there for them without hesitation when they need me.”
Her heartfelt advice for those just starting out in her field is, “Kids sense when you’re not genuine. Stay true to who you are, be patient with yourself and the kids. It’s okay to laugh at mistakes. It’s a learning process for both sides. Just be the person you wished you had around when you were a kid – that’s a good place to start.”