Amelia Zarb is a 4th Dan Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. Dai Shihan Amelia is a senior martial arts coach who has dedicated most of her adult life to providing traditional and, professional martial arts progrms to her community via her business "The Arts of Defence" which she runs with her husband, renown karate-ka Shihan David Zarb. Dai Shihan Amelia has travelled the world many times over the years to gain the knowledge and affiliations to ensure her students are given the best credentials available. . Dai Shihan Amelia and Shihan David have both notched up an impressive number of years 30 in fact, dedicating their lives to teaching martial arts and changing the lives of many thousands of students that attend their sessions in Sunbury and bacchaus Marsh in Victoria. Traditional martial arts that emphasise human values is important for Dai Shihan Amelia, her training in Tai Chi Chuan (an internal Chinese martial arts practiced for defence, health and meditation) reflects her passion for the wholistic benefits that martial arts bring. Dai Shihan Amelia believes in the theraputic benefits that her martial art brings to individual clients and communites, and she is able to eloquently blend a mix of the hard and the soft techniques of martial arts to create a balance that only few understand. The strong following and longevity in the martial arts that Shihan Dai Amelia has gained over the years is clear testament to her popularity as a teacher and mentor. Dai Shihan Amelia believes the martial arts to be a life changing programand, and also believes it should be taught via professional coaches. Dai Shihan Amelia advocates ongoing professional development for martial arts practitioners and has been responsible for helping many of her student gain nationally recignised and industry recognised qualifications. She believes that we all have a responsibility to train our young correctly to prepare them for the modern world of coaching, and eventually a career path, just like she has enjoyed.

Mr. Joseph Walker has always been known as Joey Walker is the Grandmaster of the Kifaru Karate Jitsu organization. Grandmaster Joey Walker is a retired Police Lieutenant from the Reno Police Department and he has served with distinction as Watch Commander, Detective Sergeant in Internal Affairs, Instructor to Defensive Tactics Instructors, Honor Guard and DARE officer. He has served in the Dignitary Protection unit, providing sole responsibility for the safety of President Gerald Ford, Merle Evers-Williams, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III. Mr. Walker has received numerous advanced law enforcement credentials from the FBI, LAPD, Los Angeles Sheriff, and developed, with FBI approval, the Washoe County School District’s School Violence Preparedness program. Master Joey Walker has extensive martial arts training and holds two World Championship Karate titles. He has served as an expert witness in Martial Arts and Use of Force cases in both Civil and Criminal cases. Mr. Walker provides outstanding instruction in the martial arts, with a unique perspective on the true practical applications in the use of force. Joey Walker’s interest in the Martial Arts began from watching the television series The Green Hornet starring Bruce Lee whose fighting style captured his interest. Joey started training in Shotokan Karate and Tae Kwon Do in December of 1970. In 1971, Joey Walker met and began training with Alexander Archie who taught classes in a friend’s living room and at that time taught under the banner of Shudo-Kan Karate. From that time forward, Joey became a loyal and consistent student of that discipline. It was Archie’s belief that students should have the opportunity to incorporate any practical movement from any system. Alexander Archie frequently took his top students to other schools and disciplines to measure their skills and abilities and to see what if anything those other disciplines had to offer. Joey Walker quickly rose through the ranks and by 1974 attained his 3rd Kyu Brown Belt. It was at that time that Joey was introduced to Master Byong Yu of the Moo Duk Kwon Tae Kwon Do system. All of the advanced belts directly under Alexander Archie began periodic training under Master Yu. Joey also met a musician and martial artist named Chip Steen (then a student of Steve Sanders of the B.K.F.) who instructed Joey when Chip’s band “The Checkmates” came to the Reno/Lake Tahoe area. By June of 1975, Joey achieved his first degree Blackbelt in Shudo-Kan Kifaru Karate. Having heard of the reputation of the Black Karate Federation from Chip Steen as well as watching their tournament Karate champions, Joey Walker was very anxious to train with members of the system. In July of 1975, Joey travelled to Los Angeles, California to train with the founders of the B.K.F., Steve Sanders and Donnie Williams. In May of 1977, Joey attained his first degree Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do and Chinese Kenpo from Master Donnie Williams. To this date, Joey maintains a close and personal relationship with Master Steve (Sanders) Muhammad and Master-Pastor Donnie Williams. Joey Walker began his tournament career on a less than consistent winning record. From principles learned from Alexander Archie, Stanford McNeal, Steve Sanders and Donnie Williams, Joey has won numerous State, National, and World Karate Championships competing against and beating Tournament champions and personalities: Alvin Prouder, Billy Blanks, Johnny Gyro, Mel Cherry, Mark Foster, Luther Secrease, Tony (Satch) Williams, George Chung, and Danny Bonaduchi. Joey has written his newest book, Shots Fired under the name Joseph B. Walker. This survival guidebook delivers techniques and tactics that will help you survive an active shooting.

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.

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

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.

Glen Gibbons is a 7th Dan in Karate Shihan Glen Gibbons is a career martial artist who has been providing quality martial arts in Australia's Capital City, Canberra. Shihan Glen began training in martial arts in 1982 and began his Kyokushin journey in 1986. It wasn't long before he knew he wanted to make his passion a larger part of his life. Canberra Martial Arts has been a leading dojo in the region for close to 20 years. During this time many thousands of students has passed through its doors with many going on to achieve black belt and achieve national recognition in the various competition circuits supported and directed by Shihan Gibbons. Shihan Gibbons has a philosophy of training where he believes strong karate is the way to a more fulfilled life and as a consequence, he has been changing the lives of many Canberra practitioners lives for the better and has plans to carry this through for many years to come.