Dubbed “Francombat” by his peers, Franco Richard is one of the most high-profile combat instructors teaching in North America today. Franco has been studying martial arts since the age of seven, and by the age of fifteen he already earned a black belt in Karate. During his late teen years he began training in Wing Chun, Judo, and other martial arts systems. By age twenty, Franco started training in Kuoshu, a particular type of full contact fighting contest derived from an old Chinese tradition of constructing a raised platform called in Chinese “Lei Tai” and challenging anyone to step forward and fight. This art would become his life’s passion.

A two-time Lei Tai Gold Medalist Franco has participated in many Lei Tai tournaments all over the world, compiling an overall amateur record of 11–3. In each one, he has always ranked as one of the best in the Light Heavyweight division, thanks to his determination, incredible skills, and combative spirit. This background as a competitor give him a deeper understanding of the mental aspects of the fight game. Practicing martial arts and fighting experiences allows him to obtain the most intricate details in every facet of the combat sports.

Few men have dedicated their lives so completely to the development and perfection of martial arts training as Franco. Since the cultural differences between the East and the West, he had formulate a combat training program for westerners to built up a devoted corps of combatants who truly love the challenge of stepping onto the Lei Tai and testing themselves to the limit. 

With over 30 years experience, Franco Richard is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s foremost authorities on Lei Tai, and has gained international recognition for his knowledge and leadership in perpetuating the art, training methods, and philosophy developed by the elders. Today, he is in a unique position; carrying the legacy of the generation of the old masters and possessing a deep understanding of the ancient way of Kung Fu training to form a new breed of “Lei Tai Fighter”.

A Teacher of teachers, Franco spent much of his time conducting seminars around the world, as well as assisting in the training of his contracted combat athletes from Canada and other countries.