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.

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.

Hugh Doherty is a 7th Dan Black Belt in Ju Jitsu and holds black belts in a variety of other systems. Shihan Hugh and his wife Elizabeth own and operates Qi (Chi) Martial Arts and Fitness Gym in Bayside Melbourne. Qi Martial Arts and Fitness is a beautifully presented traditional style dojo that offers various forms of martial arts as well as other health and fitness services including weight training and massage. Hugh is a pioneer of Martial Arts in Australia having travelled yearly for the past 20 years to expand his knowledge into the various martial art systems. The training he received was right from the source; Jujitsu, karate, Sword and Filipino Martial Arts of Escrima were all styles that make up the range of disciplines that he teaches. Hugh became National Representative of 4 of these disciplines ensuring himself a place as one of the original multi style masters. As well as a life-long commitment to martial arts, Hugh Doherty has been an advocate for ongoing professional development. Training undertaken and completed includes but not limited to Diploma in Fitness, Diploma in Sports Coaching, Diploma in Sport Development, Level 3 Sports Coach, Instructor Trainer in Scuba (NAUI,) undergraduate and post graduate qualifications in Health and a certified OHS professional by AIHS. Its easy to see that Hugh Doherty doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk and is an industry leader dedicated to the continuance of tradition and integrity in the systems he dedicates himself. Hugh Doherty and his wife Liz are committed to serving the local community by providing the best martial arts program around. School groups, women’s self-defence, fitness, kickboxing, jujitsu and karate, cover just about every sector which is an indicator of the knowledge and expertise held within the facility.

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.

Shihan Marcus Hinschberger is a 5th dan in Shotokan karate Shihan Marcus renown karate champion who is a career martial artiist, teaching traditional Shotokan Karate from his dojo in Sacramento California. Shihan Marcus is an industry leader who offers training and professional development to martial arts coaches around the world through his online education portal karatecoaching.com. His passion for delivering high quality curriculum is evident in his own school as he draws students from near and far with his exemplary and innovative style. Shihan Marcus' dedicated students have excelled in their progress with many going on to become champions in their own right and for rest assured in knowing that they are recieving an undiluted martial art that will stand the test of time. Shihan Marcus Hinschinberger is committed to the mental, physical and spiritual development of his students through the practice of traditional Shotokan karate.

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.