DMK PERFORMANCE

Discipline. Integrity. Connection.

Dustan McKinnon DMK Performance Photo by Marcelo Woo at IBJJF Toronto

About Me

I’m Dustan McKinnon. My story has never been simple. I grew up moving between Alberta and BC, navigating instability, fractured relationships, and lessons that came the hard way. Betrayal, family wounds, and personal struggles tested me early, but they also built a drive to keep moving forward. From a young age, training became my outlet—a way to channel energy, find discipline, and build resilience. What started as a passion for movement grew into a lifelong pursuit of strength, clarity, and purpose.

Sobriety later became one of the turning points in my life. Choosing clarity over escape wasn’t easy, but it gave me the foundation to rebuild with integrity. Alongside that, I invested countless hours into counselling and self-development, learning to face myself honestly and grow through discomfort. I discovered that true performance isn’t only about the physical—it’s inseparable from mental health, emotional balance, and even spiritual growth.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sharpened those lessons. On the mats, you can’t hide—your ego gets tested, your weaknesses revealed, and your resilience shaped. Earning my purple belt after more than a thousand days as a blue wasn’t just about technique; it was about showing up consistently when life was heavy, competing with courage, and learning to embrace both wins and losses as fuel for growth.

Dustan McKinnon DMK Performance

Today, as a father of two daughters, a competitor, and a coach, I carry those lessons into DMK Performance. My philosophy is simple: pick your hard. Training is hard. Sobriety is hard. Fatherhood is hard. Growth is hard. But so is staying stuck, unhealthy, or unfulfilled. We don’t get to avoid the hard—we get to choose the one that transforms us.

When I coach, I’m not just teaching fitness or self-defence. I’m helping people build strength that goes beyond the gym: mental resilience, emotional stability, and spiritual alignment. My approach blends performance training, mindset work, counselling-informed awareness, and martial arts fundamentals, grounded in the values I live by: Discipline. Integrity. Connection.

At the heart of it all, I’m here to remind people of something I had to learn myself: you’re not broken—you’re building.

Dustan McKinnon DMK Performance at IBJJF Toronto by Marcelo Woo

Experience & Background

  • Being a Dad – leading by example through discipline, integrity, and resilience

  • IBJJF Competitor – Purple Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, living the grind on and off the mats

  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach – building bodies that endure, move, and perform

  • Mindset & Mental Health Coaching – alcohol-free and guiding others through their own sobriety journeys

  • First Aid & CPR Certified – trained to handle real-world challenges in the gym and martial arts settings

  • Community Involvement – giving back through IBJJF, Compnet, and Tiger Balm Internationals

  • Inner Work Advocate – countless hours of counselling, self-reflection, and personal growth

  • 15+ Years in Software Development & QA – leading high-performing teams, mastering accountability, structure, and continuous improvement — the same principles applied to training and coaching

  • Co-Parenting Support – navigating life’s toughest challenges with communication, emotional intelligence, and resilience

1:1 Coaching & Training Options

  • 1-on-1 Intro - 1 × 6 minute 1-on-1 Session: $79
    BJJ Fundamentals or Boxing Basics
    Safety-focused. No sparring required.

    Starter Pack - 4 × 60 minute Sessions: $279
    Beginner-friendly mix of BJJ, Boxing and Conditioning.

  • 8- Session Pack: $520 ($65/session)
    Skill development, conditioning, flexible focus depending on your goals.

    12-Session Pack: $720 ($60/session)
    Long-term progress, goal tracking, competition or self-defence.

  • Drop-In: $40/person
    Fundamentals, position work, optional light sparring.

    Monthly Options:
    1x/week - $160 | 2x/week - $280

  • Boxing Fundamentals, Strength & Conditioning, Mobility.
    Add-on: $30/session or included in packs

If you’re looking for a custom package that will support you in meeting your goals, reach out. We can mix and match elements to create a program that fits your unique goals and chapter in life. Every session is raw, real, and evolving, so you continue to grow in all areas — body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

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Dustan McKinnon DMK Performance at IBJJF Toronto

  • I have nothing but the best to say about Dustan at DMK Performance. He began our session with a thoughtful mental and physical check-in, which was unexpected but much appreciated and set the tone for the rest of our session. Dustan took the time to understand my specific needs and goals, and tailored the session to meet me exactly where I was at, making me feel focused, supported, and aligned with the process. We worked on strength and efficiency, and I found the experience professional, focused, and incredibly valuable. His ability to create a safe and professional space while still challenging me physically was exactly what I needed. I walked away feeling more confident, informed, and motivated. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dustan to anyone looking to improve their performance, mobility, or overall physical and mental health.

  • 2 months ago I found myself at what seemed like an impossible low. Out of shape, terrible diet and bad habits were taking a toll on both my physical and mental health. Over and over I tried to change things on my own. DMK Performance gave me the kickstart I was looking for. I'm now 3 weeks into a 12 week program with Dustan and I'm already noticing a massive shift in my focus and mindset. Dustan is helping me in the gym as well as providing coaching and support. I am now building strong and healthy habits. DMK Performance has been a total game changer for me.

    C. Williams

  • I've had the pleasure of working with Dustan as my boxing coach over the last 3 months and it's been a 10/10 experience. Being an athletic trainer myself, I noticed right away Dustan's unique approach in helping me get in the right positive mental frame before each session. He always finds ways to make me feel grateful, positive and in a healthy mindset during all of our sessions. This in itself has helped me big time. His weekly boxing conditioning sessions are not only intense and teaching me self-defence but he has also demonstrated the importance of appreciating life and staying grateful. He has a gift for connecting with his clients on a deeper level, this has already helped me push past self-doubt and past traumas. His genuine care for his clients' well-being is evident in every conversation and exercise. I highly recommend working with Dustan.

    Francis dos Santos

Contact

Interested in working together? Fill out the form and I’ll get back to you with a time to connect.

DMK Performance Conditioning and Performance Training