The name of Damien Chauremootoo is engraved on a commemorative plaque in the province of Henan, China. Erected on the occasion of the great return of Wing Chun to the Shaolin Temple. This sculpture also includes the names of Robert Downey Jr. and William Cheung, Grand Master of the traditional Wing Chun and direct disciple of the legendary Ip Man. It was under the tutelage of Grand Master William Cheung that Damien Chauremootoo perfected his mastery of Wing Chun Kung-Fu and became an instructor. Damien Chauremootoo, a native of the Republic of Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, was a student of Sensei Alain Uppiah, Sensei Kooram Venkamah and Judex Jeannot, who passed on to him the knowledge of karate, aikido and kick boxing. At age nine Damien's passion for martial arts became infectious as he began watching films of the great Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal, which his father gifted him. Since then, he has continued to cultivate this passion and dedication ingrained in him. Damien Chauremootoo worked as an Operations Manager and Chief Instructor at the headquarters of the Global Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association in Melbourne, Australia. Sifu Damien demonstrates great initiative and passes timeless lessons learned over his years to many followers and students around the world. Within the academy, Damien, along with other masters, including the great Grand Master William Cheung, trains around five hundred people per week. These including doctors, police officers, security guards, school groups and young children. Damien's career to date has been perfectly balanced with extraordinary skill, discipline and dedication. As well as friendships formed Damien has countless business affiliations with practitioners from various disciplines, including Shihan Hiroo Mochizuki, Master Joe Sayah, Master Eric Oram, Scott Adkins, Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Michael Jai White and many more. As an international lecturer, Damien Chauremootoo for fills his passion to share his knowledge with martial artists and civilians to help to perfect their skill and awareness on a global stage. One of Damien's great loves is to encourage people to realize their dreams and arm them with the skill and belief to accomplish them.
Dan Flint is a 9th Dan in taekwondo. Dan runs his own full time martial arts centre and has been teaching the art of Taekwondo for over 40 years. As chief instructor to many thousands of students in his network, Dan is held in very high regard amongst all his peers and students alike. Dan Flint runs a martial arts family with both daughters and son training and working in his centre. As a caring and innovative coach, Dan Flint continues to churn out champions as he has done year in year out for many years.
Kaicho Narker is the Chief Instructor and Director of Ashihara Karate South Africa and the Ashihara Karate International Organisation. Kaicho Narkers’ experience, expertise and training history positions him well as a world authority in his unique and effective martial art style. It comes as no surprise to the international martial arts fraternity Kaicho Narker is now such a prominent figure in the world of martial arts. The technical ability, historical knowledge combined with a rare modern scientific approach to training places him as a world leader in karate. Hoosain Narker began his training at a young age and drew extensive knowledge from several martial art styles including Kyokushinkai, Shukokai and Taekwondo. Ashihara Karate is a modern style, with a new and dynamic approach to training. Although modern, it retains the positive aspects of traditional karate, such as Kata and Kihon and of course, discipline. The Kata’s are all fighting oriented and more importantly, functional. Kaicho Hoosain Narker is a man who has changed the lives of many thousands of practitioners around the globe, his passion for the benefits that traditional karate brings as well as his influence, leadership and guidance will ensure the Ashihara style will continue to have a positive influence on many lives for years to come.
Kon Papaioannou is a high performance martial arts coach! Kon Pappy's martial arts career spans over 30 years. He has competed at National and International levels in Wrestling, Sports Jiu-Jitsu, Pankration, Sambo, MMA and Boxing. Kon has successfully trained over 20 state and national champions. He is the current coach for the World Federation Pangration Athlima and a former 4-time World veteran's champion. Well respected among all his peers and community, Kon leads buy example, both on and off the mats. As a practitioner and coach, Kon can be described as a true master in a variety of martial arts systems which has helped him to offer one of the best martial arts training facilities around. Kon is owner and chief instructor at the “Fight Lab” in Tempe, Sydney New South Wales. Kon began his martial arts journey at a young age and grew to become a well-known competition fighter participating in competition circuits all around the world including India, USA, Europe, other countries in Asia and Australia were all countries where Kon was able to successfully compete and hone his skills to become one of the best inter-style martial artists around. Kon fights, MMA, Muay Thai, Koshiki, Kyokushin, BJJ and wrestling, something very rare in the world of martial arts, securing a place for him as a real legend of the industry. Kon's life experience’s is one of the reasons he is such a popular coach. The most important of Kon’s qualities certainly must be the care and personal attention he offers all of his clients. As a qualified sports coach and personal trainer Kon can provide effective programs that range from weight loss, general fitness, strength and conditioning, self-defence, martial arts from beginner to high performance. Through Kon’s talent as a coach he has been able to enrich the lives of many thousands of students, privileged enough to have passed through his doors. Kon Papaioannou is a coach who understands how to take any individual to the top of their game!
Nick Noordink is a 3rd Dan in Karate. Sensei Nick is a well known and highly respected martial arts teacher from Brisbane Australia. Sensei Nick began his martial arts journey in early 2000 and after grading for Shodan (1st Dan) he decided to make karate an even bigger part of his life by teaching and becoming involved in the largest tournament circuit in Australia, the National All Styles – NAS. Sensei Nick’s approach to training clearly reflects tradition, hard work, and integrity. Sensei Nick is a highly proficient martial artist who believes that when teaching is grounded and systemised you have a much greater chance of establishing success with students and as a result have a program rich in providing positive community values. In Sensei Nick’s own words – “We strive to create an environment that supports parents and helps children to grow and develop their character. We encourage families to train together, saving precious time. A safe and enjoyable atmosphere, where everyone is welcome.” It is well documented how Karate trains the body and the mind and provides tools for life! At Sensei Nick’s Dojo “Bonsai Karate” he has established programs that reach out to all members of the community, from classes for children all the way to older adults, and raw beginners to high performance, Bonsai Karate has it all. All of Nick’s gradings have been conducted under the highest scrutiny via the Kenshinkan International Karate Organisation directed by Australian Budo Karate legend Shihan Jim Casey. Bonsai Karate is situated in Albany Creek, which is a suburb of the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland.
Sharelle Iversen is a 1st Dan Black belt in Karate. Sempai Sharelle began training in 1995 and proved to be a committed and strong individual. After several years of absence due to having children whe returned to fulfill her original goal of achieving her Black belt. This she did with focus and courage and now she leads as an example to others who look for a trustworthy leader. As a martial arts practitioner, Sharelle is a formidable foe, as a teacher she is a compassionate and empathetic teacher who guides her students from the heart, and as a person Sharelle, is committed, loyal and focussed. Sempai Sharelle has gained great respect from her peers and is a very popular and accomplished member of the Teshinkai karate team. Sempai Sharelle now operates regular classes and has become a favoured instructor to many students that call her their teacher.
