Damien Martin is kaicho (Chief Instructor) at Southern Cross Martial Arts. Damien has been training in the martial arts for over 30 years having initially commenced training in Judo in 1982 and then Karate in 1984. Over the past 30+ years he has extended his interest in and explored the history and practices of a variety of martial arts; modern and traditional. Damien has worked extensively with kids and young people both in and out of the Dojo. He started his registered Kidz Karate classes in the 1980’s and has spent decades researching, studying and improving the results. He has extensive qualifications in psychology, education, OH&S and risk management, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies from Griffith University. Damien still works regularly teaching martial arts to kids, some of whom have trained with him for over 25 years (obviously they are not kids any more). Continuing his interest in all aspects of the martial arts he has researched and implemented many traditional aspects into his training, holding a 7th dan in Goki-Kai Karate, a 6th dan in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, a 2nd dan in Ryukyu Kobudo, a 5th Khan in Muay Thai and is a 4th kyu Kudo Sempai and hold a Green Glove rank in Savate. Damien continues his own study and practice and regularly travels to Okinawa to train with his Sensei, Masaji Taira, Hanshi 9th dan, of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai; as well as in Kobudo with his Sensei Satoshi Kinjo, Kyoshi 7th dan, of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozonkai. He also trains in China in MingHe Quan (Singing Crane Boxing), a precursor art to modern Goju Ryu, with Master Yu Dan Xiu. Damien is a recognised branch of MingHe Quan and one of very few Westerners practising the art. Damien was inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame for services to the Martial Arts in 2005. Damien founded Goki-Kai Karate in 2008 when he started Southern Cross Martial Arts. Damien is also the co-founder of the Australian branch of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozonkai group under the auspices of the Kinjo family in Okinawa. Damien worked in the security industry for over 20 years where he was constantly exposed to some of the seedier and more violent characters in our society; an environment where techniques, tactics and training methods had to work! He has been lucky enough to travel the world with his work and has trained extensively in the US and the UK; he has also trained extensively in karate and Kobudo in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate; as well as researched the roots of Karate in Fuzhou, China. Through his experience running an internationally recognised Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Damien is considered to be a pioneer and expert in scenario based self defence training and has been developing and delivering this training within the national training system for over two decades. Damien is highly qualified in the martial arts and associated fields and holds instructor qualifications in Muay Thai Kickboxing and Docé Pares Eskrima; holds ranks in Judo, Kudo, Savate, and la Canne de Combat; and is a member of a number of internationally recognised martial arts organisations including the MingHe Quan Research Group and the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai. Damien continues to compete on a National level in kata and weapons kata. He no longer competes in sparring events due to recurrent injuries. Damien is a published author, having co-written a book on firearms and defensive tactics, as well as authoring a number of industry journal articles as a subject matter expert on use-of-force, restraint, restraint related deaths and, of course, martial arts. These articles have been published in Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine, Okinawa Karate News, Australian Hospital and Healthcare Bulletin, and Security Oz Magazine. Damien is also the course developer for the increasingly popular Martial Arts & Autism course, being delivered across Australia.

William Cheung is the founder and Grandmaster of the World Wing Chun Association. In 1951, at the age of ten, William Cheuk Hing Cheung started his training in Wing Chun Kung Fu under Grandmaster Yip Man. From 1954 to 1958 Cheung was a live-in student of Grandmaster Ip Man. It was during this time that he mastered the complete system of Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu. Between 1957 and 1958 Cheung won the Kung Fu elimination contests in Hong Kong, defeating opponents with many more years' experience. In early 1954 Cheung introduced Bruce Lee to Grandmaster Ip Man, and became Lee’s trainer. Throughout the four and a half years the two men developed a very close friendship, and Cheung passed on to Bruce Lee most of his techniques and helped developed his overall confidence and experience in fights. In later years he was to use these techniques in competitions, and also in his movies. Grandmaster William Cheung was Chief Instructor for the US 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan, and in 2012 was awarded the Distinguished Law Enforcement Community Impact and Life Achievement Award by Chapter 38 of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association in Delaware, USA. Grandmaster Cheung is a 1st generation master of the Wing Chun system of Ip Man, he is recognised in all parts of the world for his talents as a martial artist and has trained many people including dignitaries, celebrities, movie stars and every day citizens from all corners of the globe. Its fair to say that Grandmaster William Cheung is one of the true originals of martial arts, one who will go down in history as one of the worlds best. Kung Fu Melbourne, Wing Chun Melbourne.

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.

Melinda Baksi is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate. Sensei Melinda Baksi began her Kyokushin karate journey in 1987 in Hungary with Shihan Josef Borza www.borzakarate.hu and joined the Hungarian Army in 1997, fulfilling her childhood dream, and pursued her education at the Zrinyi Miklos National Defence University at Budapest. Melinda studied Kyokushin fighting with military self-defence & weapons under Major General (shihan) Furko www.haukis.com. Sensei Melinda was awarded the title of “Sport Officer”, due to her sporting achievements. When Hungary joined NATO in 1997, Melinda was the only woman to represent her country in a special joint exercise weapon demonstration to the NATO commanders and to the public. Sensei Melinda was required to demonstrate her self-defence and Karate skills against multiple armed attackers. Sensei Melinda trained new recruits in basic martial arts techniques as part of their training in the Army, she also underwent special military training as part of the ENSZ Peacekeeping Mission to Cyprus. Sensei Melinda Baksi holds a Personal Close Protection Officer licence, where her military and martial art experience benefits her greatly. She also enjoys shooting at her local pistol club. As a Marine Rescue volunteer Sensei Melinda has had the privilege of completing many different life saving courses including Advanced First Aid, Sea Survival, Fire Safety certified through Marine Rescue and is working with children checked. Sensei also attended special Uchi-Deshi live in training camps in Hungary, employing intensive physical training prior to competitions. Sensei Melinda was a member of the Hungarian National Championship team from 2003, winning several tournaments and also competed in Australia on a national level, with great results. In 2005, Sensei took part in a winter camp in Hungary, and she completed a 100 kumite (fight test), fighting with only men. Sensei Melinda’s extensive experience has given her the skills to train children to great success in competition in Hungary, where her team competed and won in both national and junior Olympic level competitions. Sensei Melinda attended an Uchi Deshi (live-in dojo) training program with Shihan Artur Hovhanissyan in Japan in 2018 and visited shihan again in 2019 full time, dedicating her time fully to the study and training of Kyokushin. Sensei Melinda began teaching in 1998 and her focus as an instructor is on technical proficiency, fitness and fighting techniques. She ran kids programs, teen and adult novice and intermediate programs overseas and Australia. Sensei Melinda has gained invaluable experience teaching kids with various physical and mental challenges such as ADHD, vision impairment, and mild autism (to name a few). Sensei Melinda is also approved to teach disabled children through the NDIS scheme. Sensei Melinda regularly attends international seminars and black belt conferences held in Japan and Australia, and has been trained by the highest levels of instructors from all corners of the Kyokushin World. She enjoy’s all aspects of Kyokushin karate and has particular interest in self-defence and the richness and discipline of the Japanese culture. Sensei Melinda’s Dojo and Organisation provides kids with competition opportunities in Australia as well as overseas. They also offer Kyokushinkai Karate camps during school holidays, as well as seminar weekends in Australia with local and international instructors, and for those children competing in Japan, also the privilege of attending the Kyokushin founder’s memorial ceremony at Mount Mitsumine Training Camp. www.portkarate.com

Sensei G. L. Inupa Uthsara Mendis is a 3nd Dan Black Belt in Teshinkai Karate! Sensei Inupa is Personal Assistant to World Director of Teshinkai and plays an important role in the expansion of the International Sabaki Karate Do TESHINKAI Organisation. Sensei Inupa began training in Karate 2004 under the instruction of his father Shihan Upali Mendis and soon found his passion within full contact karate because it offered what he believes to be a tougher training method that better develops ones character and resilience in all life's challenges. Sensei Inupa is currently assistant director of the Teshinkai International Karate-do organisation. Sensei Inupa is a Karate Champion who has gained an impressive swag of gold medals - 30 in fact, in competition throughout the Asia region. Sensei Inupa is a heavyweight competitor who has fought against some of Asia's toughest fighters. His iron will and determination makes him one of the worlds strongest up an coming fighters and his young age means that he still has much to achieve. Sensei Inupa is a community minded individual who believes in the power of martial arts training as a way to positively develop students of all ages. Whilst a fierce fighter on the mats, Sensei Inupa is gentle individual who cares for the welfare of those around him. Its for this reason that he was selected as Personal Assistant to the Teshinkai World Director - Kancho Barry Johnston from Australia. Sensei Inupa is committed to also assisting in the develop the the World along the side of Kancho Barry Johnston & Asia Region along side his father Shihan Upali Mendis. Together their job is to bring the budo martial art of Teshinkai karate do to all Countries and individuals regardless of race, religion, or socio economic circumstance. Contact Sensei Inupa if you are interested in becoming part of a new progressive martial art system.

John Will is a Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu One of the most influential Martial Artists of the past two decades, John Will’s accomplishments within the industry are prolific. In the seventies and early eighties he trained extensively throughout Indonesia, Thailand, India and Japan. He was a multi-style Black Belt back when such things just did not happen. In the 80’s he founded Blitz, Australia’s Leading Martial Arts Magazine, which has since grown to dominate the marketplace here in Australasia. In the late 80’s he switched focus to the USA, where he began training with the likes of World Kickboxing Champion, Benny ‘the Jet’ Urquidez, Gene LeBell and the Machado brothers. After several training trips to Brazil and numerous more to LA, he introduced the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Australian shores. The 1st Australian to be awarded his Black Belt in that art, he founded BJJ Australia, the largest single BJJ organization outside of Brazil. The last decade had seen him produce a plethora of books and dvd’s on the martial arts. He conducts more than 80 seminars a year both here and overseas for martial arts schools of all types. Mr Will is also contracted by various military and law enforcement groups to deliver up-to-date training to Defensive Tactics Instructor staff both here and overseas. He teaches regularly at the Australian Defence Forces Academy in Canberra, and at various police academies throughout Australia and New Zealand; even at Quantico (headquarters for FBI and Marines) in Virginia Each year he is also invited as special instructor to update Black Belt teams for Mr Chuck Norris, and other leading Instructors in the USA. Despite a huge demand for Mr Will’s professional services as a teacher of teachers, he is most often found at RedCat Academy, in his home-town of Geelong. As three time winner of the prestigious ‘Martial Arts – Instructor of the Year’ award, Mr Will consults for some of the best schools in the country. RedCat Academy is seen as a training Mecca for many of the countries leading martial artists; and it’s right here in at your very doorstep. So don’t pass up the opportunity to train with one of the World’s most professional and sought-after instructors.