Celie Zavetchanos is a 7th Dan in Judo Celie began her martial arts journey in the 50's, under the tutelage of her "to be" husband Ivan Zavetchanos. As a beginner Celie soon adapted to the rigours of the art and became hooked on the physical and mental challenges the art presented. It want long before Celie progressed through the ranks and went on to become Australian champion many times over. Celie Zavetchanos, together with her husband Ivan built a martial arts empire that changed the martial arts in Australia forever. Over the past 60 years Celie herself has been involved in the training of many Australian Champions as well as being mentor and tutor to literally thousands of judo enthusiasts. The renown Albert Street Dojo in Brunswick from which Celie and Ivan trained and taught became the spiritual centre of most martial artists in Australia. It was from here that not just judo was taught, it was also the first dojo for the Kyokushinkai Karate Association and home to other styles when they were first launched in the country. Celie Zavetchanos is well known and highly respected as being our own "Iron Lady" of martial arts who many thousands of parents entrusted their children, to instill fitness, discipline, and respect. It is fair to say that there are very few martial artists in the world that can match the fine record set by Celie, from Judo Champion to mentor to thousands, Celie will secure a place in our history books as one of the best and most respected Jodo-ka ever.
Billy Manne is an 8th Dan Black Belt (Zendokai) Kyoshi Billy Manne is a renowned Martial Artist and was for many years bodyguard to the Stars including Paul McCartney and the cast of Dallas. Billy is a Master Trainer of Kickboxers and an exponent of Aikido, Boxing, Judo, Kendo, and Grappling. He has been studying Martial Arts for over 50 years; since the tender age of six, including a stint in South Africa. However Billy did not truly began his Martial Arts journey until he came under the tutelage of the most famous Australian Martial Artist, Bob Jones. One of Billy’s great pleasures in life is seeing people evolve and develop as they progress through their Martial Arts career. Many regard him, in awe, as a truly gifted mentor. His past students include World Title Contender Sammy Soliman. He has trained, literally, thousands of students. Energym is owned and operated by Billy Manne and is a centre of excellence for any up and coming champion. The gym is a family oriented business where the owners are always close at hand. It is also a community hub from which many locals meet and train towards common goals. Billy Manne has a philosphy to change the lives of as many people as possible, so they too may experience the power of martial arts, just as Billy did as a young man, so many years ago.
Sempai Michael Kellow is a second dan black belt who has been studying martial arts for most of his adut life. Sempai Mick first began his training in Kyokushinkai Karate and later joined the ranks of Teshinkai Karate where he has proven himself a dedicated, proficient and popular instructor.
Adrian Delia is a 6th Dan Black Belt in Karate. Kyoshi Adrian is the Chief Instructor of Northern Goju Karate with over 33 years of Goju karate experience 14 in Arnis (Filipino Stick Fighting) and 28 years teaching experience. He is an NCAS Level 1 Coach (Nationally Recognised Coach, Accredited by the AKF), and has his Level 2 First Aid. He is also recognised as a certified coach by the MAA (Martial Arts Australia). Kyoshi Adrian is praised for his high level of motivational, communication and technical skills in 'Karate', 'Arnis', and 'Ground Awareness', whilst creating a fun and exciting class environment for all to enjoy. Kyoshi Adrian has instructed many students to the prestigious Black Belt grade, and higher levels, and has also trained many State and National Champions. Kyoshi Adrian's aim is to pass on his karate knowledge and to continually help students progress effectively through their karate journey in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere, whilst offering excellent knowledge in self-defence strategies and techniques, and to motivate our students to aspire to greater accomplishments in both karate and in their everyday lives. "...the human body is weak and only through dedication, perseverance and hard work can we attempt to make it strong..."
Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian born Gracie Jiu Jitsu Grand Master Grand Master Rorion, is a prominent member of the famous Gracie family where the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was first conceived. As a publisher, producer, lecturer, and co-founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship he has positioned himself as a world leader of the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rorion is the founder and Director of the Gracie University based in Torrance California. The State-of-the-Art Training facility is headquarters to thousands of Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners in virtually every country in the world. around the world. The Gracie University is also the first organisation to present their full curriculum online (interactive online platform) allowing practitioners from all around the world to remain current with their skills requirements. The university online provides a “linear curriculum” that allows a practitioner to begin at lesson one, then lesson two, then lesson three and progress as one should in any university environment. In most martial art schools, a beginner usually joins the main class and is expected to catch up. The online curriculum is a gamechanger in the world of martial arts and has set a standard for all other schools to follow. Rorion is the eldest son of Hélio Gracie and one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is widely recognized as one of the men responsible for introducing Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-jitsu to the United States and the world following the arrival of first cousin, Carley Gracie in 1972. Rorion started Jiu-Jitsu at a young age and was soon performing demonstrations and assisting in classes. He spent his youth learning how to teach under the tutelage of his father, Grand Master Hélio Gracie. In December 1969, he travelled to the United States for a vacation returning to Brazil in the end of 1970. He attended the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, graduating with a degree in Law. In 1978, Rorion Gracie moved to Southern California where he worked as an extra in movies and television. Attempting to spread Jiu-Jitsu culture, he laid some mats in his garage in Hermosa Beach and invited people he met to try the sport. In 1985, Rorion invited his 18-year-old brother, Royce, to move to America. Rorion was a technical adviser for the 1987 movie Lethal Weapon providing training to actors Mel Gibson and Gary Busey. The director Richard Donner wanted Gibson's character to have a unique style of fighting never seen onscreen before with the second assistant director Willie Simmons, who was interested in unusual forms of martial arts, choosing BJJ and two other martial arts styles to use in the movie. In 1988, Rorion produced the documentary Gracie Jiu-Jitsu In Action. In 1989, Rorion with brothers Royce, Rickson and Royler, opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. In 1991, he produced The Basics of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a five-volume training video series together with a special edition volume. Rorion was also a technical advisor, a fight scene choreographer for Lethal Weapon 3 in 1992, providing training to Rene Russo together with martial artist Cheryl Wheeler-Dixon and a Karate instructor. The Karate instructor immediately went on to rehearse spectacular ura-mawashi high kicks, which resulted in Russo pulled groin muscles the very first day, and was so frustrated with learning the technique, that Richard Donner asked Gracie not only to teach her, but also to attend the film set for filming sequence as a technical advisor. Gracie was so proficient and pliable in an uke role, that Russo refused to do the throw with whoever else excluding Gracie, and insisted him to step into the action as a stuntman for a fight scene. In 1993, inspired by countless exhibition matches termed the "Gracie Challenge", a tradition that started with his uncle and Gracie jiu-jitsu co-founder Carlos Gracie, Rorion teamed with promoter and business executive Art Davie in the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Davie had always dreamed of an inter-discipline contest, pitting various martial arts against one another to determine the most effective. Rorion was only interested in showcasing his father's style, and demonstrating its dominance. Through this pay-per-view spectacle, he hoped to show that, in a "no time limit - no rules" setting, Gracie jiu-jitsu was the only system of self-defence that would give someone a realistic chance of defeating a larger, more athletic adversary.[3] Davie recruited seven martial artists of different styles to participate in a single-elimination tournament. Rorion enlisted his brother Royce to represent the family style in the competition. Due to his smaller frame and relatively low body weight, Royce would be the smallest competitor, making an excellent example of the powers of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. In 1994, following UFC, a small group of high-ranking military personnel, from the most elite unit in the US Army Special Operations Forces, contacted Rorion and asked him to develop an objective hand-to-hand combat course based on the most effective techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The result was the Gracie Combative military course that was taught to US Special Operations Forces, conventional US military units and the CIA. In January 2002, the techniques were the foundation of the official US Army Modern Army Combative Program (MACP). The Gracie Resisting Attack Procedures for Law Enforcement (GRAPLE) was also concurrently developed with the combative course, following a similar request from law enforcement for a defensive tactics training course, that was adopted by virtually all US law enforcement. The two courses were later merged to create the Gracie Survival Tactics (GST), a combative and defensive tactics course, for both military and law enforcement.
Ragu mathew is a 5th Dan in Teshinkai Karate Born 15/04/1975 Shihan Raju Mathew is a 5th Dan in karate and is Branch Chief for India within the International Sabaki karate-do TESHINKAI. Shihan Raju's role within Teshinkai Karate is to bring inspiration, motivation and health through martial arts training to everyone, regarless of gender, race, religion or socio economic background. Recognised widely as a fine martial arts practitioner, Shihan Raju has the skills to bring out the best in all of his students and his track record of quality training within the Kerala distict speaks for itself. Many happy students have gone on to become champions in their own right and all attest to the hard work and commitment that Shihan Raju has provided to ensure that he always has the best interest of his students at heart. Shihan Raju is an advocate for the development of children through martial arts and consequentially he has dedicated much of his time providing martial arts based education programs in schools across his region, benefitting the lives of many thousands of students. Shihan Raju Matthew understands the importance of structure and goal setting for every individual. He believes that creating a happy and healthy life begins with the unity of mind, body and spirit (in Japanese this is known as "Kokoro") The philosophy of Shihan Raju teaches students strong, compassionate and gratful for all in life. Shihan Mathew is a martial arts leader who is ready to share the benefits of Karate to all!