Bella Johnston is a 4th Dan Dan in Karate. Shihan-Dai Bella Johnston is a talented Karate technician and coach. Bella took up karate at the age of 5, so its fair to say that she has spent most of her life being involved in martial arts in one form or another. Shihan-Dai Bella is particularly recognised for her extra-ordinary work with children and people with disabilities. Shihan-Dai Bella has taken on many senior roles in her career including children's program coordinator, disables persons coach, personal trainer, and centre manager of her home town's largest gym FIT Republic. Bella has extended her learning and has qualified as a Vet nurse, where she thrives based on her compassion and intellect. Caring for both native and domestic animals at her clinic, Bella loves her work regardless of the capacity it comes. This is why she has always been a popular and respected martial arts coach . Shihan-Dai Bella is an administrator for the International Sabaki Karate-do TESHINKAI, where she assists in the day to day administration of the organisation.

Bob Jones is a 10th Dan in Karate (Zendokai) Soke Bob Jones is known as the man who changed the face of martial arts in Australia forever, for the better. As a practitioner of a variety of martial art styles including Goju Kai Karate, Taekwondo, Arnis, and Kickboxing, Soke Bob founded his own independent style called Zendokai. His martial arts organisation grew rapidly and become one of the martial arts industries greatest success stories. Tens of thousands of martial arts practitioners experienced the Zendokai training and many thousands went on to gain black belt and operate their own martial arts programs under Soke Bob;s guidance and support. Soke Bob is a purist in his thoughts on martial arts, his philosphy is to ensure that what he teaches is actually not only practical in real life situations but effective and realistic. He is well qualified to provide guidance on the practicality of martial arts, afterall he was one of the worlds leading bodyguards to the stars in the 70's and 80's. Zendokai is still making significant diffence in the Australian martial arts scene, many students continue to practice the styles and systems embedded in the organisation. Zendokai under the leadership of Bob Jones is a significant force that continues to change the lives of so many practitioners.

Edji Zenel is a 5th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. Edji began his karate training in 1974 in Melbourne, Victoria. Today he is the chief instructor of Thornbury Dojo (Club) which was established in 1977. Edji is passionate about karate and has devoted his life to martial arts. Training is the integral part of his daily routine. He has traveled extensively around the world to train under renowned karate masters in the pursuit of expanding his knowledge. Edji was first graded to black belt (1st dan) in July 1978. In January 2008, he was graded to 5th dan black belt. The Japan Karate Association (JKA) Internationally certifies his qualifications. The JKA is one of the world’s largest traditional karate organisations clearly defining itself as 'The keeper of karate's highest tradition' with member organisations in over 100 countries across all continents around the world. The standards taught are of the highest level in keeping with the technical requirements set by JKA Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Over the years, Sensei Edji’s passion and commitment has led to his personal involvement in competing, judging, and coaching in competitions. He competed in several AKF (all styles) and JKA competitions and won gold medals in their National & State competitions. Edji first opened his own karate club in July 1977, and has coached State, National and International Champions. But more importantly he has seen many students excel in their personal life, in which, many of those students attribute their success because of their karate training and the discipline it provides. Edji has completed and passed level 1 and 2 “General Principles” and “Karate Specific” coaching courses which are Government approved. He is dedicated to promoting the art of karate-do as well as spreading the philosophy and spirit of Shotokan Karate.

Waleed Al Merie is a 9th Dan in Karate (Hanshi) Kancho (Director) Waleed is highly respected by his peers all around the world. Kancho Waleed resides in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and oversees his martial arts organisation the "World Riyu Jitsu Karate-do Organisation." Kancho Waleed is a well known and highly respected martial arts leader from the UAE. His influence cannot be understated when many thousands of loyal students both past and present can attest to the positive influence his martial arts teaching has had on their lives. Kancho Waleed initially studied and gained his black belt in Kyokushinkai Karate. As a competitor he stood out at the now famous 2nd World Championships for Full Contact Karate in japan run by the Kyokushinkaikan of Mas Oyama. It was from this connection that Kancho Waleed developed his network became branch Chief for Kyokushinkai in UAE but after the passing of Sosai Mas Oyama, Kancho Waleed decided to become an independent organisation. Kancho Waleed is a man of integrity and truth, his coaching style has produces many world class competitors that also includes his own son, champion full contact karate and MMA fighter Khalid Al Merie.

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

Marco Mazzanti is a 6th Dan Black Belt in Karate. Sensei Marco has been involved in martial arts for most of his life, beginning his training in Judo at the age of 8 in Rome, Italy. His experience spans a number of martial arts including judo, karate, taekwondo, kickboxing and Brasilian jiu jitsu. Sensei Marco began his formal training in karate (Shukokai) under Sensei Alan Murdoch at the age of 14 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 Shigeru Kimura, to Nidan (2nd Dan) by Sensei Tommy Morris, Sandan (3rd Dan) by Shihan Max Fabris, Yondan to Rokudan by Sensei Tommy Morris. Also a passionate and committed student of Brasilian jiu jitsu, Sensei Marco was graded to black belt in BJJ by Peter deBeen in 2015. Sensei Marco, was one of Australia’s top competitors between 1989 and 2001, winning several Australian Karate Federation (A.K.F) National and Victorian titles as well as numerous non-contact, semi-contact and full-contact events in karate, kickboxing and Brasilian jiu jitsu. He was a prominent member and captain of the Australian Karate Team, winning both Oceania individual and teams gold in 1999, placed top 16 at the 1992 and 2000 World WKF Championship and placed 4th at the 2001 World Cup held in Akita, Japan. In 2001 Sensei Marco retired from active competition to focus on the development of his students and the Kimekai organisation. He is the current Victorian AKF head sparring kumite coach as well as a senior AKF National senior coach. He also is the chair of the National Coaching Group. Sensei Marco continues to be strongly committed to developing the best karate and martial arts students in Australia. The Kimekai Group to which Marco is Director and Chief Instructor has built a reputation of quality and professionalism over the past 25 years. Kimekai's popularity has opened the demand for growth and now the organisation has grown to an impressive number of Dojo's located in Berwich Chelsea, Cheltenham, Highett in Melbourne Victoria and Hobart in Tasmania. Enquiries are welcome by contacting Kimekai.com.au.