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.

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.

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.

Ram Maharjan is a 4th Dan Black Belt in Karate. Shihandai Ram is the Nepal Branch Chief of the Teshinkai Karate Organisation Asia. Shihandai Ram is resonsible for training many champions in the region and was selected by the Teshinkai organisation as based on his community values, expertise in the art and understanding of the benefits that budo Karate brings to individuals and communities. Shihandai Ram has worked diligently over many years to bring to the people of Nepal quality martial arts for the benefit of his community. It takes many years of diligent and hard training to reach the point where you can call yourself 4th Dan. Shihandai Ram has shown he has what it takes physically and spiritually, but its the moral qualities of Shihandai Ram that sets him apart from others. We will here much more from Shihan Dai Ram as he expands his Karate style throughout the Napal region. Shihandai Ram Maharjan, Teshinkai Nepal, Godawari Mancipality, Nepal

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.

Grant Banister is Founder and Chief Instructor of Bukido Karate. Shidoshi Grant Bannister (shidoshi meaning, stable and independant leader) started his training in Martial Arts in 1974 under the San Chi Kai Karate group led by Shihan Mal Lomax. Shidoshi Grant has spent most of his adult life teaching karate for the benefit of his students of which many have gone on to earn their own successes in Australia and Internationally. Shidoshi Grant Bannister is responsible for changing the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of students through his heartful and articulate approach to martial arts. Grant believes in the profound effect that a well balance martial arts program has on the community when taught correctly. Shidoshi Grant Bannister has spent most of his career fefining what he considers to be his most important students, children! Grant knows that when when a child learns the value of respect for others, and committing to healthy practices early in life, their lives will be on track early and the best possible life changes are in motion. As a master of the traditional aspects of Karate and Kobudo (weapons) Shidoshi Grant bannister is able to deliver the best martial arts training around and possibly the best childrens program in the industry. Bukido Karate is located in Lilydale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.