Committed to the spirit of the martial way, Steve personally trains three days a week. He first took to Kyokushin in his early teens, and returned later in life, grading for his Black Belt in December 2018. Having traveled the journey of training to Black Belt level, and guided by the examples of some great sensai like his Shihan, Barry Johnson, Steve enjoys the process of passing on his training to others who are also committed to the martial way.

Mario San Giorgio is a 5th Dan Black belt in Karate and a Brown Belt in BJJ Mario San Giorgio has been teaching in and around the Sydney area for over 20 years. As a senior coach at the Integrated Martial Arts Academy in Peakhurst and Canterbury in Sydney Mario brings a wealth of knowledge and not just from the Karate discipline. As a supporter of lifelong learning and continuous improvement, Mario also trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in which he holds a purple belt, and is a Certified Kru (instructor) in Muay Thai. The early days for Mario included training in Tang Soo Do, and Jow Gar kung Fu, but these days focusses his teaching skills on the physical and mental benefits of Karate Kickboxing and BJJ. Mario believes martial arts is about learning effective self-defence, embracing self-discipline, demonstrating respect and humility. Strength of the body comes only from hard work, resilient mind and spirit comes from your desire to succeed, and when it can be done in a safe and friendly environment the task is made a little more achievable. Mario understands that inspiration and motivation should come from his training, and on the competition mats he wants his students to love their art and use each experience in competition or training as a steppingstone to positive improvement and personal success. “Per se balen” Strength in oneself – is a motto that Mario stands by! Its reasonable to say that anyone who has experienced profound life changes through martial arts is usually the best person to pass on that knowledge to others because no delivered course can give you the necessary knowledge required to connect with students. Mario San Giorgio has that experience necessary to impart the necessary formula that that enriches the lives of the students at the “Integrated Martial Arts Academy!” As a martial arts practitioner and coach, Mario is focussed on always providing a professional training environment for kids and adults. Students need motivation and inspiration to learn, by mixing fun, variety, and strong leadership he is able to help students to set and realise goals more easily.

JIlly Cole is a 4th dan black belt in Karate. Jilly has been training with the Funakoshi Karate International Australia for since 2008 . Sensei Jilly has been on the competition circuit for 11 years and currently runs junior age classes as well as Women's only class for over 16 years. Sensei Jilly loves training and competing in both Kata and Kumite, and of course as a teacher, (Sensei) she also love's to share her knowledge and experience with others especially with the younger students. Sensei Jilly believes in the benefits that martial arts brings to the lives of people from all age groups and is know she is making a big difference to the lives of the young. Sensei Jilly understands where the future lies, in children! You can find Sensei Jilly at the Funakoshi Dojo in Terang Victoria.

Nick Wyborn - Kapap - Krav Maga - Israeli Jiu Jitsu Australian Representative, Avi Nardia Academy Nick is a L3 Kapap / Krav Maga Instructor under Master Avi Nardia and is one of the highest ranking Kapap Instructors in Australia. He operates his school ‘Nick Wyborn Practical Martial Arts’ in Mulbring, NSW. He has been graded in Israel and is a Krav Maga Law Enforcement Instructor (Krav Maga Worldwide - Force Training Division), and a 1st Dan Black Belt in Israeli Jiu Jitsu under Sensei Avi Nardia. Nick holds a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Bujinkan Ninjutsu, 1st Dan Black Belt in Taiho Jitsu, and 1st Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. He holds other instructor-level qualifications in Modern Defendo, CQC, Police Judo, FMA, FAST Defense, RBPP, Combat Hapkido, Floro Fighting Systems and others and is a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Avi Nardia. Nick is a former NSW Police Operational Safety Instructor (Defensive Tactics/Firearms), and served in the WTTU (Weapons & Tactics Training Unit), a specialist unit within the NSW Police Academy. During this time Nick received specialist tactical training becoming ‘Basic SWAT Certified’ in the USA through the National Tactical Officers Association, as well as becoming a Police & Civilian Response to Active Shooter Instructor. Upon leaving the NSW Police Force Nick became a Security Trainer, specialising in Defensive Tactics, Batons & Handcuffs and Conflict Resolution. Nick currently also works in the community services sector as a senior youth worker working with children with challenging behaviours due to complex trauma, and is also a mental health/first aid trainer. He is trained in occupational first aid, mental health first aid, psychological first, suicide prevention and intervention and is a registered instructor for Stop The Bleed. He is a published author of the book ‘Defensive Tactics for Security Professionals - a comprehensive guide for staying safe in the security industry’ and was recently interviewed as a special guest Defensive Tactics SME on the ‘Managing Violence Podcast’. Nick is regularly engaged to teach courses and seminars around the country.

Louise is a 1st Degree Black Belt with the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Louise is an instructor with Denrai Freestyle Tae Kwon-Do under Chief Instructor George McTaggart. Louise teaches and trains in the Brisbane! Coach Louise' martial arts journey began in 1987 with Goshin Ryu Karate but moved to Taekwondo one year later finding her niche. Louise chose Oh Do Kwan Taekwondo and then Rhee Tae Kwon-Do and has been training with Denrai Freestyle Tae Kwon-do since 2020. Louise is a Tae Kwon-Do gold and silver medallist competing in Self Defense and Patterns International competitions. Coach Louise specialises in training children and special needs classes through the Denrai Adaptive programs and enjoys training, learning, and extending her knowledge to share with her students.

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.