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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.