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.

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!

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

Andrew Cheung is a Sifu (master) of Wing Chun Kung Fu. Sifu Cheung is a lifelong practitioner training under the tutelage of his father Grand Master William Cheung. Sifu Chief Instructor at Cheungs Wing Chun Academy and at his young age has delivered traditional Wing Chun training to thousands of practitioners in Australia and international. Sifu Andrew Cheung leads the next generation of Wing Chun training with strength, commitment and dedication to this important and significant martial arts system. Sifu Andrew Cheung conducts workshops to enthusiasts all around the globe and is sought after as an expert in his field, and with experience in teaching private groups, school groups and women's self defence, is it any wonder that the popularity of the effective art of Wing Chun is alive and growing around the world. Wing Chun Melbourne; Martial arts Melbourne; kung fu Melbourne;

Dan Flint is a 9th Dan in taekwondo. Dan runs his own full time martial arts centre and has been teaching the art of Taekwondo for over 40 years. As chief instructor to many thousands of students in his network, Dan is held in very high regard amongst all his peers and students alike. Dan Flint runs a martial arts family with both daughters and son training and working in his centre. As a caring and innovative coach, Dan Flint continues to churn out champions as he has done year in year out for many years.

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.