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!
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.
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.
Pablo Cardenas is a Sifu in Wing Chun kung Fu. Sifu Pablo trained in Wing Chun under the legendary Grandmaster William Cheung of which he represents in North Queensland. Sifu Pablo has been serving the community of Townsville since 2005, offering traditional Wing Chung Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA training. . Sifu Pablo is the owner and principal instructor of UMF Academy, formerly NQ Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy. Sifu Pablo began his training at age 14 and has been a devotee of the art ever since. In 1984, Pablo enlisted in the Australian Regular Army and in his 21 years of service he was selected for an exchange program with the UK Ministry of Defence and was deployed to East Timor as part of the UN peacekeeping task-force. Sifu Pablo has trained with numerous military units around the world, including the US Army, US Marine Corps and the Gurkhas. Sifu remains active in the Australian Army as a reservist and is at UMF Academy instructing full-time. through his understanding of martial arts and military life Sifu Pablo has been able to change the lives of hundreds of students that have trained in his school, Sifu Pable is dedicated to the betterment of his students ohysically, mentally and morally.
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.
Dr Richard Bradford, 9th Dan Karate, Hanshi Richard Bradford is a well respected karate pioneer who was the first in Australia to establish a full time professional organisation. Hanshi Richard started his martial arts training in 1959 in Judo, Jujitsu and boxing. In 1963, he formally started his Karate training and in 1966 started teaching the art. Shihan Bradford was the Austrailan Karate Federation National Coach from 1977-1993 and produced many champions, the most prestigious being World Heavyweight Champion Brian Peakal (1992), Australia's 1st ever senior male world title. Goshin Ryu Karate is the most successful Karate club in the government recognised Australian Karate Federation. Karate is a great person development system teaching life skills that develop self confidence, self esteem and discipline, as well as being a great deal of fun! Goshin Ryu Karate was first registered world-wide in Sydney, Australia in the late 1960's by Shihan Dr. Richard Bradford and other leading instructors from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Asian countries with Chan Keng Wan from the Shaolin Temple Double Dragon school in China as the Head Instructor and Master. Developed from the 'Shotokan' style, an original martial arts style from Okinawa, Japan, Goshin Ryu today is made up of two essential martial arts styles, Shotokan Karate and Double Dragon Shaolin Kung Fu. Hanshi Richard Bradford is heavily engaged in the development of Karate in China through one of the country's largest organizations. As a senior coach and adjudicator Hanshi Richard Bradfords influence is world wide and he is responsibe for grading and curriculum for many tens of thousands of student in China and Australia. Hanshi Richard Bradford is committed to ongoing professional development of all martial arts coaches. He has been heavily involved in the education and development for his organisation and other organisations with his involvement in Nationally Recognised Training via the International College of Kenshusei and the Australian College of Sports Development.
