Phil Dunlap

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With over three decades in combat sports, Phil Dunlap is a veteran martial artist, coach, and founder of The Asylum Fight Team and White Rhino MMA & BJJ. Known for his grit, technical depth, and unwavering resolve, Phil has trained and developed fighters across MMA, Lethwei, Muay Thai, and Submission Grappling, building successful teams and producing competitors for more than 25 years.

Phil first established The Asylum Fight Gym in the New York metro area, where he coached countless fighters in MMA, Submission Grappling, and Thai Boxing. After being forced to close the school due to severe health issues, he relocated to Las Vegas in 2014, regained his health, and returned to teaching — offering free classes to the public until 2021, staying true to his belief that finances should never prevent someone from pursuing martial arts.

In November 2021, Phil moved to Lexington, Virginia and opened White Rhino BJJ after discovering there was no place to train within an hour’s drive. What began as a small, tight-knit training club quickly grew, fueled by the dedication and character of the local community.

For the first few years, White Rhino functioned as a grassroots, community-driven academy — humble, authentic, and built on real passion for the art. By November 2025, due to the overwhelming response and rising demand for structured training, Phil expanded operations and brought in Coach Jeff to establish a full schedule and make high-level instruction accessible throughout the week.

Phil is the recognized lineage holder of the Kachin fighting arts from Northern Burma. He was trained by his grandfather William “Wild Bill” O'Shaunessy, who received the lineage from Duwa Thein Naw during WWII while living and fighting alongside the Jinghpaw people. After his passing, Phil became the designated lineage holder, preserving a rare and respected warrior tradition.

Raised in this culture, Phil was expected to fight from an early age and went on to compete in:

Myanmar (Burma) •  Thailand • Laos •  Cambodia • Japan • China • United States

A veteran of 119 professional fights across Lethwei, Muay Thai, and Thaing (Kachin MMA), he represents one of the most unique combat traditions in the modern martial arts world.

Phil competed professionally from age 16 until a catastrophic car accident left him with a broken neck shortly before his 26th birthday. Told he would never train again, he refused to accept it. He rebuilt his body, opened The Asylum Fight Team, and eventually returned to competition — headlining vs. Pride FC and Reality Superfighting veteran Juan Mott at GSO 3 in Atlanta at age 36.

After later battling cancer, he returned once again — this time to grappling competition. In 2015 at age 52, Phil began competing in No-Gi and BJJ tournaments, often as the oldest competitor in the bracket. Since turning 53, he has competed in over 250 matches, including professional grappling shows, winning numerous tournaments and proving that discipline and resilience beat odds every time.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have three careers — coming back twice after doctors counted me out.”
— Phil Dunlap

Phil is a master of:
✅ Lethwei (Burmese Boxing)
✅ Naban (Burmese Grappling)
✅ Thaing / Kachin Fighting Systems
✅ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — 2nd Degree under Black Belt under Ricardo Cavalcanti

BJJ Lineage:
Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Carlson Gracie → Ricardo Cavalcanti → Phil Dunlap

Phil’s approach blends old-world warrior discipline with modern martial arts methodology.

Core Values:

• Train hard
• Stay humble
• Support your teammates
• Protect the tribe
  

“Martial arts should build people — not break them.”

At White Rhino MMA & BJJ, students learn to be technically sound, humble in victory and defeat, and stronger in every aspect of life.