Shihan George Kolovos is one of Australia's most influential martial artist leaders. He commenced his martial arts career in the Kyokushin discipline of Karate in 1975. George trained at the then head quarters of Kyokushin Karate, he swiftly progressed through the ranks, obtaining a black belt in two and a half years, a process which ordinarily takes at least 5 years. By this time George had felt it necessary to create his own centre focused solely to martial arts. He had several styles of martial arts in his arsenal and various national titles for both Kyokushin Karate and Kickboxing. From humble beginnings renting a room at Melbourne City Baths, Melbourne Martial Arts now operates as an internationally renowned independent training organisation. In 2004 George brought Muay Thai into Melbourne by running fight night promotions called Brute Force. Fighters from across Europe, China, Thailand and Japan have all competed in his shows. In 2014 George and other leading Victorian promoters of the combat sport industry created what is now the only Amateur Association in Victoria called VAMAA (Victorian Amateur Martial Arts Association) responsible for developing the sport from the junior level. He has staged the Victorian Kyokushin Karate Championships since 1987 every year without fail. And every 3 years the Australian Kyoskushin Championships. In 2015 when the Victorian Government legalised the cage for MMA, George was the second promoter to hold an MMA show in Victoria.
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
Michael Quin is an 8th Dan in Karate! Kyoshi Mike Quin established his martial arts school “Firestorm Martial Arts” in 1991 after many years of training in the Zen Do Kai karate System. The school has grown significantly over the years as providing consistent and high-quality martial arts to his community. The same spirit and enthusiasm that the Firestorm School was built on still exists today and this being evident in the strong and loyal following that the organisation is renown. Mike Quinn is a committed martial artist who is passionate about ensuring the quality of training provided over the past 30 years continues well into the future. Together with his team of black belt coaches he intends to continue to build a strong martial arts program that provides community benefits for years to come. In his own words' "I am committed to providing a supportive and challenging environment that acknowledges and caters to members capabilities and capacities and encourages members to seek out a greater self-concept and to hone potential!" Mike Quin #MartialArtsBayswater #KarateBayswater https://www.firestormmartialarts.com.au
For over 40 years Sifu Rick has trained in and developed the Wing Chun he learned from William Cheung (Bruce Lee’s senior training partner and Ip Man’s live-in disciple), integrating a sophisticated kicking game and Will/Machado Brazilian Jiu Jutsu into what you could now consider to be a complete Wing Chun Martial Arts System. The classes are structured to cater for all levels of experience. Beginners to advanced students are welcome in all classes. We have a strong concept of pressure testing all that we do so we can have real confidence that what we are practicing will be effective in a high stress situation. Sifu Rick is a former World Champion Full Contact fighter and our school has nurtured many individuals into talented martial artists that have competed and won on many platforms. We don’t have a fight program at our Sydney school, our interstate schools are currently flying that flag for the organisation. We do however have a strong sparring curriculum and that proves to be challenging enough for the majority of our students. For those who want to compete we do of course support them. Our instructors are experienced martial artists. Some have a background purely in Red Boat Wing Chun and Will/Machado BJJ, others have Boxing, Muay Thai, Tai Chi, Hsing-I and Karate backgrounds on top of their many years of training in Red Boat Wing Chun. The school’s values are that of Family, Honour and Loyalty. We welcome all students as if they are family and expect everyone to treat each other with the care and respect that you would expect from such a relationship. Our duty is to provide a place that nurtures your path toward excellence in martial arts, and for those who have embraced this culture their lives have changed for the better as well.
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.
Sensei Shayne Findlay is the Chief Instructor for Senshido Martial Arts. He is highly qualified as an experienced Black Belt across multiple styles of martial arts and has trained extensively in Senshido, Karate, Kenpo, Muay Thai, Boxing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Hapkido, Taekwondo, Aikido, Kobujutsu and Kendo. Sensei Shayne currently holds the below Black Belt certifications: - 2nd Dan Black Belt - Senshido - 2nd Dan Black Belt - Zendokai Karate - 1st Dan Black Belt - Freestyle Martial Arts. Sensei Shayne has 26+ years of martial arts industry experience, and is the Founder and Group CEO of Senshido Australia Group which is the parent organisation for three of his companies; Senshido Martial Arts, SenshiTac Combatives (Senshido Tactical), and Senshido Training & Consulting. In 1996, at the age of nine (9) years old, Sensei Shayne began his martial arts journey under the direct instruction of Renshi Glenn Rushton before Shihan David Reid undertook him as his Uchideshi at the age of ten (10) years old. In 2004, after eight (8) years of training, having now completed his 1st Dan Black Belt, and with a desire to expand “The Way” in which he had been taught, Sensei Shayne launched his first Dojo in July 2004 based on the Gold Coast. Findlay's professional profile includes extensive security and personal protection experience, delivering training and consultation services on an international level to a number of security organisations and registered training organisations both as an instructor and educator and as a security operator. Findlay specialises in security & risk management and the continuation of studies in martial arts across a diverse range of styles, strategies and methodologies. Findlay is highly regarded as an industry expert in Security with 19+ years’ security service in Australia and Internationally. Findlay has an eclectic wealth of experience in the industry and has worked major events, security & risk management consulting, armed protection, investigations, surveillance, crowd control and close personal protection (bodyguard) for a variety of high profile celebrities and clientele. In addition to his security and martial arts experience, Findlay is an experienced Security Instructor and, Firearms & Defensive Tactics Instructor. He was directly contracted by GOLDOC in 2018 as one of only a small group of eight industry experts within Australia, tasked with training all guards, supervisors and managers of the security specific requirements and procedures for the Commonwealth Games here in Australia. Findlay facilitates a range of seminars/ workshops covering topics such as; Specialist Tactical Security, Close Quarter Combatives, Edged Weapons, Firearms & Defensive Tactics, and Self-defence/Self-protection and the difference between the two. He teaches martial arts and security risk management seminars to beginners, intermediate, advanced, and instructor levels, and is widely considered as one of the industry's best in teaching Tactical Combatives with real world application, execution, and strategy that is relevant in today's society. Complimenting his in-depth experience within the security and martial arts industries, Findlay is an internationally certified personal trainer and fitness trainer with FISAF International (The Federation of International Sports, Aerobics and Fitness), and Fitness Australia. Sensei Shayne is surrounded by a highly skilled, experienced team of Instructors and is incredibly passionate in leading his team as the Chief Instructor for Senshido Martial Arts. His goal, and that of his Instructor panel, is to provide highly advanced, quality martial arts instruction in an environment that is fun and safe. They seek to continuously develop and foster a culture of friendship, respect, and discipline that lays the foundation for and enhances the development of positive life skills in all Senshido students.