This Kelowna gym is where a retiring champ got his start

Before becoming a trail-blazing fighter who competed on the world stage to sold out arenas, Rory 'Red King' MacDonald was a 14-year-old teenager attending Kelowna Secondary School.

A soon-to-be mentor taught a martial arts class at his school that his brother attended. They went to the gym together and it kickstarted a legendary career.

“He was a small kid. He was lacking purpose, he was lacking direction, and he found us,” founder and head coach at Toshido Mixed Martial Arts, David Lea told Kelowna10.

“It just clicked for him. Something that he could really understand, something that came natural to him, and he never looked back.”

MacDonald’s progression was rapid. By 15 he was defeating adults in grappling tournaments. At 16, he competed professionally. Due to his age, his parents had to sign on his behalf.

By 18, he was the youngest King of the Cage champion before signing on to the UFC as its youngest member of the roster.

For many years, MacDonald continued training out of Toshido and Lea stood in his corner for many of his fights worldwide.

Lea was ringside for one of MacDonald’s most talked about performances when he fought the then welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler, for five bloody rounds. Both fighters had to be rushed to hospital after the bout.

“For me, it’s a very stressful experience,” Lea said. “I put a lot of work in with these guys. I’ve got a lot of emotional attachment to their well-being. And so, for me it’s a very anxiety- driven experience.”

The story of MacDonald’s career is told on the walls of the gym. Newspaper clippings chronicle his meteoric rise to the top of his weight division. Signed gloves are framed near the office and patrons walking in are greeted to the sight of championship belts on display.

But now the former UFC top contender and Bellator champion is hanging up his gloves. Lea talked with him about it and felt it was probably a good time.

“He’s only 33 but he’s been fighting professionally since 16. That’s a lot of mileage for a fighter,” Lea said. “The grind was just losing its luster and when you start losing your motivation, this sport is not a halfway-in type of sport. You’re either all the way in or all the way out.”

The gym owner explained how MacDonald is now focused on being a father. He leaves behind a legacy as a humble and stoic fighter who stayed true to himself.

Following in his footsteps, Toshido continues to produce high-level competitors and still trains everyday Kelowna residents with self defense in mind.

“I love Rory, he’s family. He’s never done anything that I haven’t been proud of and supported,” Lea said.

“He didn’t fall into any of the trappings of celebrity and never got full of himself, stayed humble, worked his ass off, and that was Rory.”