Kancho (Founder of School) Ino Maquirang is a 7th Degree Black Belt in Karate with over 45 years of international experience in the martial arts. Kancho specialises in developing his students over many years - he has started teaching children as young as 4 years old and mentored them even after their university studies. He has successfully competed in over 250 tournaments all over the world and has developed and coached students of all ages to compete at the highest levels. He has instructed and participated in demonstrations and seminars in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, England, Italy, South Africa, Hong Kong/China and throughout the United States, and has appeared in several instructional videos and books. In 1997, he was inducted into the Blitz Magazine Hall of Fame as the Outstanding Kata Competitor of the Year. He received his Masters from New York University (1994) and his Bachelors from Georgetown University (1987). Kancho Ino founded Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do after teaching and observing many students, refining his teaching approaches, and further developing his personal philosophy of karate-do. Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do represents his personal experiences and journey in karate which he and his family now wish to share with others.
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!
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.
The name of Damien Chauremootoo is engraved on a commemorative plaque in the province of Henan, China. Erected on the occasion of the great return of Wing Chun to the Shaolin Temple. This sculpture also includes the names of Robert Downey Jr. and William Cheung, Grand Master of the traditional Wing Chun and direct disciple of the legendary Ip Man. It was under the tutelage of Grand Master William Cheung that Damien Chauremootoo perfected his mastery of Wing Chun Kung-Fu and became an instructor. Damien Chauremootoo, a native of the Republic of Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, was a student of Sensei Alain Uppiah, Sensei Kooram Venkamah and Judex Jeannot, who passed on to him the knowledge of karate, aikido and kick boxing. At age nine Damien's passion for martial arts became infectious as he began watching films of the great Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal, which his father gifted him. Since then, he has continued to cultivate this passion and dedication ingrained in him. Damien Chauremootoo worked as an Operations Manager and Chief Instructor at the headquarters of the Global Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association in Melbourne, Australia. Sifu Damien demonstrates great initiative and passes timeless lessons learned over his years to many followers and students around the world. Within the academy, Damien, along with other masters, including the great Grand Master William Cheung, trains around five hundred people per week. These including doctors, police officers, security guards, school groups and young children. Damien's career to date has been perfectly balanced with extraordinary skill, discipline and dedication. As well as friendships formed Damien has countless business affiliations with practitioners from various disciplines, including Shihan Hiroo Mochizuki, Master Joe Sayah, Master Eric Oram, Scott Adkins, Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Michael Jai White and many more. As an international lecturer, Damien Chauremootoo for fills his passion to share his knowledge with martial artists and civilians to help to perfect their skill and awareness on a global stage. One of Damien's great loves is to encourage people to realize their dreams and arm them with the skill and belief to accomplish them.
Sharelle Iversen is a 1st Dan Black belt in Karate. Sempai Sharelle began training in 1995 and proved to be a committed and strong individual. After several years of absence due to having children whe returned to fulfill her original goal of achieving her Black belt. This she did with focus and courage and now she leads as an example to others who look for a trustworthy leader. As a martial arts practitioner, Sharelle is a formidable foe, as a teacher she is a compassionate and empathetic teacher who guides her students from the heart, and as a person Sharelle, is committed, loyal and focussed. Sempai Sharelle has gained great respect from her peers and is a very popular and accomplished member of the Teshinkai karate team. Sempai Sharelle now operates regular classes and has become a favoured instructor to many students that call her their teacher.