Hamid Mostofizadeh is a 6thDan Black belt in Karate Renshi Hamid is the founder and President (Kancho) of the International Karate Daigaku Association Australia (IKD-Australia) Organization and recognised as Chairman and Chief Instructor of the IKD system in Australia. Renshi Hamid has been involved in Karate for most of his life, beginning his training in Karate at the age of 11 in Shiraz, Iran. Here he started his training in Shotokan and has since trained nationally and internationally with some of the most renowned martial arts teachers. He was graded to Shodan (1st Dan) by Master Keigo Abe (JKA) during his time in Iran. Later sensei Hamid was graded to Nidan (2nd Dan), Sandan (3rd Dan) and Yondan (4th Dan) by sensei Kagawa (JKS), to Godan (5th Dan) by sensei Alfonso Jiminez and to Rokudan (6th Dan) by Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai (IKD). IKD Gympie Honbu Dojo is the first independent IKD Club in Australia that from 1st of April 2017 on has direct affiliation with the International Karate Daigaku (IKD) in Canada. International Karate Daigaku Association Australia (IKD-Australia) provides traditional karate training (non for profit) for the community and its families. Sensei Hamid understands that karate is healthy for everyone and every age group. It improves people self-confidence, spirit, focus, concentration and physical health and is ideal for learning self-defence. Sensei has a mission to involve more people and children in sports/ self-defence. IKD-Australia is also a member of the Australian Karate Federation (AKF), Queensland Karate Association (QKA), World Karate Federation (WKF) and Oceania Karate Federation (O.K.F) which enables us to compete on state, national and international level in conjunction with our traditional art. Renshi Hamid is true to the original practice of the karate taught by Gichin Funakoshi, the Father of Modern Karate. Classes at the IKD-Australia headquarters are designed specifically for all age groups, from beginners to advanced, junior to senior. The minimum age at his dojo is 5 years and there is no maximum age. People who train regularly in karate develop improved motor skills, balance, self-awareness, confidence, self-defence and above all a great level of fitness. Karate training is widely known as the best form of all-round fitness. All dojo instructors are fully trained in the latest training methods, and use using correct bio-mechanical principles to ensure a safe training regime. Sensei Hamid is committed to his hometown community of Gympie and takes pride in the fact that he has, and will continue to change the lives of many thousands of students for the better. The physical and mental aspects of karate are extremely valuable in any community and Sensei Hamid, promises to deliver the best program around.

Emma was an elite Swimmer who began swimming at age 6 and came onto the national scene in 1996 by competing in the Commonwealth Games Trials as a 13 year Old. As well as swimming Emma competed in squad basketball for over 6 years and in her earlier years practiced Gymnastics and little athletics, running in state competitions. It was clear however that Emma belonged in the pool and Emma quickly concreted her place on the Australian Swimming Scene for over 8 years. Competing in the Olympic Trials, Pan Pacific Games, National and State Championships as well as local meets. Emma’s achievements include, Gippsland, Victorian Country and Victorian Multi Gold Medallist and Record Holder, Victorian Team Member from age 10 to 21, Pan Pacific Schools Gold, Silver and Bronze Medallist, National Finalist, member of the Telstra skins Australian development team and Gippstar of the year 1996. In 2004 Emma completed a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Medicine and Health science, Nursing with Honours and then went on to defer medical studies, to later study Chinese Medicine, Mineral Therapy. Emma is always looking to learn more about how she can positively influence her patients and clients and is currently furthering her studies in Nutrition and Dietetics. Emma’s passion and focus has always been around health, medicine, and fitness. Emma worked in medical suites and Nursing homes as a teenager and then major city hospitals, emergency departments intensive care units and operating suites post-graduation. After Emma’s swimming career ended due to a shoulder problem and subsequent operation, Emma concentrated on her university studies, travelled the world, and started a family. It was not long until Emma’s passion for sports was again sparked, and she took up Martial Arts in the form of Aikido and Wing Chun Kung Fu. Of key importance to Emma is addressing the issue of increased physical and emotional violence against women, by building an empire to support, educated and train women and children in self-defence, self-worth and awareness, to empower each individual and reduce the incidences of abuse and bullying. Emma delivers her EmPower programs across Victoria, to Victorian schools’ children, small and large corporate empires and through government bodies to allow individuals to build their own platform as a formidable force, pushing back against all forms of abuse, danger and bullying empowering individuals to focus on their strengths, improve their health and fitness and feel and be supported and nurtured on their journey

Con Lazos is a 7th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo and brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Con is the founder and owner of Fusion Martial Arts and Fitness and has established several locations around Melbourne with his headquarters being based in a state-of-the-art facility in Yarraville, Melbourne. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education, Outdoor Education and Mathematics giving the credibility for his role as a trainer and assessor in the delivery of nationally recognised qualifications. As a veteran in Taekwondo competition, Con has a string of titles to his name and is recognised as one of Australia’s finest martial arts talents. Clients from all over the world attest to his training, his clients range from Moto GP riders, actors, and other personal trainers -- all of whom follow his unique approach to the martial arts and life. Con’s skill and tenacity in martial arts is now being passed down to his own students at Fusion Martial Arts in Melbourne with his team always performing well at top level competition. Con Lazos has been training clients since 1992. At forty-five years of age, he is a sign of health and vitality. As a positive role model to others, he is often called upon to train children in schools, deliver corporate self defence programs and offer motivational health related talks to clients from all areas of the community.

For over 40 years Sifu Rick has trained in and developed the Wing Chun he learned from William Cheung (Bruce Lee’s senior training partner and Ip Man’s live-in disciple), integrating a sophisticated kicking game and Will/Machado Brazilian Jiu Jutsu into what you could now consider to be a complete Wing Chun Martial Arts System. The classes are structured to cater for all levels of experience. Beginners to advanced students are welcome in all classes. We have a strong concept of pressure testing all that we do so we can have real confidence that what we are practicing will be effective in a high stress situation. Sifu Rick is a former World Champion Full Contact fighter and our school has nurtured many individuals into talented martial artists that have competed and won on many platforms. We don’t have a fight program at our Sydney school, our interstate schools are currently flying that flag for the organisation. We do however have a strong sparring curriculum and that proves to be challenging enough for the majority of our students. For those who want to compete we do of course support them. Our instructors are experienced martial artists. Some have a background purely in Red Boat Wing Chun and Will/Machado BJJ, others have Boxing, Muay Thai, Tai Chi, Hsing-I and Karate backgrounds on top of their many years of training in Red Boat Wing Chun. The school’s values are that of Family, Honour and Loyalty. We welcome all students as if they are family and expect everyone to treat each other with the care and respect that you would expect from such a relationship. Our duty is to provide a place that nurtures your path toward excellence in martial arts, and for those who have embraced this culture their lives have changed for the better as well.

Barry Broughton Ph, D. is Grandmaster in Ju Jitsu and owner of AKT Combatives Academies. Grandmaster Barry Broughton, Ph.D. has applied his extensive training in the martial arts and years of practicing orthopaedics and sports medicine to create and found AKT Combatives-Jujitsu, a comprehensive reality-based martial arts system. Dr. Barry Broughton served on active duty in the US Army as a Combat Medic and a Battalion Medical Officer and holds black belts in several styles of martial arts. Additionally, he has been inducted into multiple Martial Arts Halls of Fame, the Worldwide Martial Arts Council, and has served on the Board of Directors of several martial arts organizations; he is currently the Northeast Regional Director for the American Sport Jujitsu League. His numerous accomplishments got him featured in The Martial Directory: International Instructors Edition. Barry Broughton is the owner of AKT Combatives Academy with several locations in New York State and is the head coach of Team AKT sport jujitsu team. He teaches his Self-Defense and AKT Combatives curriculum as Physical Education credit courses at a State University of New York (SUNY) college and teaches related seminars around the country. Drawing on his multi-faceted experience, Dr. Broughton has authored Beyond Self-Defense: AKT Combatives Reality-Based Personal Protection a concise text to include accurate references to human anatomy, valuable concepts, and effective techniques for real-life self-defense. His book can be used as a college text or for self-education in real-world personal protection. Additional training and experience includes Modern Army Combatives, Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, American Kenpo, Jujitsu, Tai Chi, Wrestling, French style classical fencing, Combat Knife Fighting Course (by the Pacific Jujitsu Alliance), Escrima Stick Fighting, Close Quarters Combat and much more… Barry Broughton is more than a martial arts coach, he is an educator who possesses the real life experience that qualifies only a few in the world of self defense. Barry is a popular and much valued instructor with his student body, but also a highly respected martial artist among his peers. A big call out and thank you to Dana Stamos from USA Dojo's (USAdojos.com) for your hard work in also recognising Barry Broughton and sharing your information with Coach Check.

Master Fari Salievski is one of Australia's most highly respected martial arts teachers who has been involved teaching in the business of martial arts since 1982. Master Fari has taught many thousands of students both young and old, with many going on to become high performance champions in their own right. Master Fari is endeared by his members and through his ongoing work in his community he has earned the reputation of community stalwart as a result of his concern with members of his local community regardless of religion, ethnicity or socio economic background. Internationally reknowned as a promoter and business leader, you can rest assured that you are in the right hands if your goal is to learn a martial art system that will set you up for life!