I was born in Toronto, Canada, and lived there
until I was 5. My parents then moved the family
back to their homeland, Chile, where we spent 3
years living in the coastal city of Viña Del Mar.
At the age of 8, my parents divorced and I moved
to the United States with my dad where we lived in
Queens, NY, for 6 years before finally winding up in
Seattle in 1985. Since the age of 13, I have studied
and trained in various combat arts including karate,
wrestling, jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. I'm now in my 30s
living in Seattle fighting and training as my
fulltime profession.

My family was expanded last summer when my wife had our
amazing son, “Little Ivan” and then in October, my long time
dream of owning my own gym was realized. Ivan Salaverry MMA
has become the premier Mixed Martial Arts facility in the Seattle area,
being recognized as one of “The Top Five Workouts” by Seattle Business
Magazine and having been featured in Seattle Magazine, Northwest Fight Scene
Magazine and Real Fighter Magazines.

I believe that everyone has the fighting
spirit in them. It's innate. It's genetic.
It's hard-wired into each and every one
of us. Through years of training and
exercise, I have tapped into and refined this
inner spirit, elevating my skills to a higher
ground along the way. The sport of Pankration
(no-holds barred, free fight, vale tudo, or
whatever it may be named across the world)
has enabled the fight game to have multiple
dimensions. We are no longer limited by one
style of pugilism (such as boxing, wrestling,
jiu-jitsu, or kickboxing), or held back by
senseless holistics or mysticism. Liberated by
rules and regulations of a new sport, we have
evolved to a new species of fighter incorporating
elements from martial arts, wrestling and various
other combative sports. With great passion I seize
the opportunity to educate and enrich my
colleagues in the fighting community and the general
public as a whole in the science and art of hand-to-hand
combat. Respect and devotion will be able to see me
through my journey.