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
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.
Dr Richard Bradford, 9th Dan Karate, Hanshi Richard Bradford is a well respected karate pioneer who was the first in Australia to establish a full time professional organisation. Hanshi Richard started his martial arts training in 1959 in Judo, Jujitsu and boxing. In 1963, he formally started his Karate training and in 1966 started teaching the art. Shihan Bradford was the Austrailan Karate Federation National Coach from 1977-1993 and produced many champions, the most prestigious being World Heavyweight Champion Brian Peakal (1992), Australia's 1st ever senior male world title. Goshin Ryu Karate is the most successful Karate club in the government recognised Australian Karate Federation. Karate is a great person development system teaching life skills that develop self confidence, self esteem and discipline, as well as being a great deal of fun! Goshin Ryu Karate was first registered world-wide in Sydney, Australia in the late 1960's by Shihan Dr. Richard Bradford and other leading instructors from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Asian countries with Chan Keng Wan from the Shaolin Temple Double Dragon school in China as the Head Instructor and Master. Developed from the 'Shotokan' style, an original martial arts style from Okinawa, Japan, Goshin Ryu today is made up of two essential martial arts styles, Shotokan Karate and Double Dragon Shaolin Kung Fu. Hanshi Richard Bradford is heavily engaged in the development of Karate in China through one of the country's largest organizations. As a senior coach and adjudicator Hanshi Richard Bradfords influence is world wide and he is responsibe for grading and curriculum for many tens of thousands of student in China and Australia. Hanshi Richard Bradford is committed to ongoing professional development of all martial arts coaches. He has been heavily involved in the education and development for his organisation and other organisations with his involvement in Nationally Recognised Training via the International College of Kenshusei and the Australian College of Sports Development.
Glen Gibbons is a 7th Dan in Karate Shihan Glen Gibbons is a career martial artist who has been providing quality martial arts in Australia's Capital City, Canberra. Shihan Glen began training in martial arts in 1982 and began his Kyokushin journey in 1986. It wasn't long before he knew he wanted to make his passion a larger part of his life. Canberra Martial Arts has been a leading dojo in the region for close to 20 years. During this time many thousands of students has passed through its doors with many going on to achieve black belt and achieve national recognition in the various competition circuits supported and directed by Shihan Gibbons. Shihan Gibbons has a philosophy of training where he believes strong karate is the way to a more fulfilled life and as a consequence, he has been changing the lives of many Canberra practitioners lives for the better and has plans to carry this through for many years to come.
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.
Mr. Joseph Walker has always been known as Joey Walker is the Grandmaster of the Kifaru Karate Jitsu organization. Grandmaster Joey Walker is a retired Police Lieutenant from the Reno Police Department and he has served with distinction as Watch Commander, Detective Sergeant in Internal Affairs, Instructor to Defensive Tactics Instructors, Honor Guard and DARE officer. He has served in the Dignitary Protection unit, providing sole responsibility for the safety of President Gerald Ford, Merle Evers-Williams, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III. Mr. Walker has received numerous advanced law enforcement credentials from the FBI, LAPD, Los Angeles Sheriff, and developed, with FBI approval, the Washoe County School District’s School Violence Preparedness program. Master Joey Walker has extensive martial arts training and holds two World Championship Karate titles. He has served as an expert witness in Martial Arts and Use of Force cases in both Civil and Criminal cases. Mr. Walker provides outstanding instruction in the martial arts, with a unique perspective on the true practical applications in the use of force. Joey Walker’s interest in the Martial Arts began from watching the television series The Green Hornet starring Bruce Lee whose fighting style captured his interest. Joey started training in Shotokan Karate and Tae Kwon Do in December of 1970. In 1971, Joey Walker met and began training with Alexander Archie who taught classes in a friend’s living room and at that time taught under the banner of Shudo-Kan Karate. From that time forward, Joey became a loyal and consistent student of that discipline. It was Archie’s belief that students should have the opportunity to incorporate any practical movement from any system. Alexander Archie frequently took his top students to other schools and disciplines to measure their skills and abilities and to see what if anything those other disciplines had to offer. Joey Walker quickly rose through the ranks and by 1974 attained his 3rd Kyu Brown Belt. It was at that time that Joey was introduced to Master Byong Yu of the Moo Duk Kwon Tae Kwon Do system. All of the advanced belts directly under Alexander Archie began periodic training under Master Yu. Joey also met a musician and martial artist named Chip Steen (then a student of Steve Sanders of the B.K.F.) who instructed Joey when Chip’s band “The Checkmates” came to the Reno/Lake Tahoe area. By June of 1975, Joey achieved his first degree Blackbelt in Shudo-Kan Kifaru Karate. Having heard of the reputation of the Black Karate Federation from Chip Steen as well as watching their tournament Karate champions, Joey Walker was very anxious to train with members of the system. In July of 1975, Joey travelled to Los Angeles, California to train with the founders of the B.K.F., Steve Sanders and Donnie Williams. In May of 1977, Joey attained his first degree Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do and Chinese Kenpo from Master Donnie Williams. To this date, Joey maintains a close and personal relationship with Master Steve (Sanders) Muhammad and Master-Pastor Donnie Williams. Joey Walker began his tournament career on a less than consistent winning record. From principles learned from Alexander Archie, Stanford McNeal, Steve Sanders and Donnie Williams, Joey has won numerous State, National, and World Karate Championships competing against and beating Tournament champions and personalities: Alvin Prouder, Billy Blanks, Johnny Gyro, Mel Cherry, Mark Foster, Luther Secrease, Tony (Satch) Williams, George Chung, and Danny Bonaduchi. Joey has written his newest book, Shots Fired under the name Joseph B. Walker. This survival guidebook delivers techniques and tactics that will help you survive an active shooting.