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!

Peter Hogath is a 2nd Dan in Karate Sempai Peter has been training in Kyokushin since 1973 under Hanshi Eddie Ermin and Shihan Peter Volke. Known as a passionate tournament competitor in his time fighting the tournament circuit in Australia from 1974 until 1977, Sempai Peter has recently returned to Shinkyokushin after a hiatus. He has dedicated himself to Shinkyokushin’s growth in South Australia by opening Ironside Dojo in his garage with the aim of producing top practitioners in the art. Sempai Peter’s ethos is on strong and focused training, with a rediscovered joy for the applications of karate in a self defence situation. With his focus on the junior class instruction, Sempai Peter provides a welcoming family environment for people of all races, nations, religions, creeds and identities. Sempai Peter has also worked in security, and was a serving member of the Australian Defence Force from 1970 until 1973. He is a qualified level 3 First Aid Responder and maintains a DHS Working with Children Check, as well as his internationally recognised judges and referee training.

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.

Geordie McTaggart is a 5th Degree Black Belt with the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Geordie is a Martial Arts Instructor and Personal Trainer who began his martial arts journey when he was just 6 years of age. Geordie has been interested in Martial Arts and Fitness training since he saw his first Bruce Lee movie. Geordies father also came from a martial arts background with experience as professional wrestler and a variety of other martial arts also, so t was inevitable that Geordie would begin at an early age. Early training consisted of Wrestling, Judo and Karate! This continued until 1988 when his little brother Duncan and he began Rhee Tae Kwon-Do together. Four years later Geordie received his first Black Belt and his quest as a serious beginner began. Geordie established his own martial arts school “Denrai Freestyle Tae Kwon-Do” in 2005, which is a mixture of Tae Kwon-Do and other arts in which he became skilled. Due to his nearly 15 year career in Security for the Department of Defence, he began private one on one lessons in his garage until demand increased and time allowed for classes to begin. This was October of 2013! Geordie’s business has now grown to become an international school with branches across Australia, as well as branches in New Zealand that are run by his brother Duncan. Geordie has also been working as a personal trainer since 2011. Geordie has studied and acquired rankings in various other Martial Arts along his 42 year Martial Arts journey. These include: Karate, Tai Chi, Ninjitsu, Krav Maga, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, Muay Thai, Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Goju Kalis, Kenpo 5.0 and even Fight Choreography for Movies. Geordie has also had the privilege of training with some of the worlds best including Grand Master Chong Chul Rhee, Chief Instructor John Ragonessi, Bruce Lee’s most senior student Guro Dan Inosanto, Simo Cookie Vassiliou, Guro Joel Clarke, Sifu Francis Fong, Master Jean-Jacques Machado, Hanshi Tino Ceberano, Master Richard Norton, Master Jeff Speakman and Master Michael Muleta as well as some others. Geordie is a Tae Kwon-Do multiple world champion and gold medalist competing in Self Defense, Breaking, Single and Team Patterns as well as Weaponry, Model Sparring and other events. He was inducted into the “2019 ITF Pioneer Awards” for Tae Kwon-Do Excellence. And inducted into the “2020 General Choi Hong Hi Hall of Honours” for Outstanding International Instructor. He was also awarded the Action Martial Arts Magazine “World Award” and inducted into the 2022 “Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honours”. Geordie looks forward to continuing to train and teach Taekwondo and ready to share his skill sets and expertise with new students.

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

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.