Melody Johnson is a 6th Dan in Taekwondo Melody Shuman has over 25 years of experience in the Martial Arts. Melody earned her black belt in 1988 in New Orleans, and since then has achieved many accomplishments in her Martial Arts journey. She began working as a program director and instructor in Orlando, Florida at the age of 19. From there, Melody co-owned and operated 4 schools in south Florida for 6 years. During that time, she won the title of world champion and was a coach to one of the best competition teams in her organization with a combined total of 37 world champion titles amongst the entire team! Melody also dedicated a lot of her time researching and developing some of the best methods for teaching children. In 2000, Melody presented her first innovative program, the Little Ninjas, to the Martial Arts industry and today that program is operating in over 2,000 schools in over 25 countries. This program opened up many doors for Melody and launched a new destination in her Martial Arts career. Melody’s extensive consulting background includes a huge seminar demand, specifically her Children’s Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course, in which she has already certified over 5,000 instructors worldwide, including Chuck Norris’s organization the UFAF. Chuck Norris personally presented Melody with a special award in recognition for her contributions to teaching children in 2005. This was the first award that Chuck Norris has ever presented of its kind. Melody’s latest career move is the development of her age-specific curriculums branded as SKILLZ. This is the very first of its kind and is getting a lot of attention for her systematic approach to skill-based Martial Arts training. Endorsed by some of the nation’s leading child psychologists, including the late Dr. Ruth Peter’s, Melody has left a huge footprint on the Martial Arts industry with her age-specific programs. Currently there are over 150 licensed SKILLZ schools in over 9 countries. She also has an online drills website, which currently contains over 1600 age-specific drills, as well as teen, adult, and specialty drills. This website currently has over 125 subscribers in 6 countries.

Rob Schembri is a 7th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo (Kukkiwon) Robert Schembri is a well known and highly respected Taekwondo coach from melbourne Victoria. Rob has over 40 years of experience in Taekwondo and is still competing in Sparring, Poomsae, Breaking and other Technical events. Rob has won many State, National and Masters Championships along with competing in International events such as the 2010 International Korean Festival winning a Silver Medal against an International field in Divsion A. Rob owns and operates Schembri's martial arts in Bundoora, a suburb of Melbourne. The club has become very popular and grown significantly since opening in 1996. The club boasts more than 30 Black Belts and with over 200 junior and senior students regularly training. The club firmly maintains the traditional training aspect of Taekwondo as a formal marital art and is one of few clubs that still teach the ancient forms of Palgwe poomsae and incorporate these into our grading syllabus, along with the well know Taeguk poomsae, whilst encompassing and embracing the Olympic sport component. The club also maintains an excellent training facility and provides high quality training equipment to ensure students have a quality base to begin their personal training.

Nick Wyborn - Kapap - Krav Maga - Israeli Jiu Jitsu Australian Representative, Avi Nardia Academy Nick is a L3 Kapap / Krav Maga Instructor under Master Avi Nardia and is one of the highest ranking Kapap Instructors in Australia. He operates his school ‘Nick Wyborn Practical Martial Arts’ in Mulbring, NSW. He has been graded in Israel and is a Krav Maga Law Enforcement Instructor (Krav Maga Worldwide - Force Training Division), and a 1st Dan Black Belt in Israeli Jiu Jitsu under Sensei Avi Nardia. Nick holds a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Bujinkan Ninjutsu, 1st Dan Black Belt in Taiho Jitsu, and 1st Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. He holds other instructor-level qualifications in Modern Defendo, CQC, Police Judo, FMA, FAST Defense, RBPP, Combat Hapkido, Floro Fighting Systems and others and is a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Avi Nardia. Nick is a former NSW Police Operational Safety Instructor (Defensive Tactics/Firearms), and served in the WTTU (Weapons & Tactics Training Unit), a specialist unit within the NSW Police Academy. During this time Nick received specialist tactical training becoming ‘Basic SWAT Certified’ in the USA through the National Tactical Officers Association, as well as becoming a Police & Civilian Response to Active Shooter Instructor. Upon leaving the NSW Police Force Nick became a Security Trainer, specialising in Defensive Tactics, Batons & Handcuffs and Conflict Resolution. Nick currently also works in the community services sector as a senior youth worker working with children with challenging behaviours due to complex trauma, and is also a mental health/first aid trainer. He is trained in occupational first aid, mental health first aid, psychological first, suicide prevention and intervention and is a registered instructor for Stop The Bleed. He is a published author of the book ‘Defensive Tactics for Security Professionals - a comprehensive guide for staying safe in the security industry’ and was recently interviewed as a special guest Defensive Tactics SME on the ‘Managing Violence Podcast’. Nick is regularly engaged to teach courses and seminars around the country.

Rod Purcell is a 4th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate. Sensei Rod Purcell comes from a strong lineage of quality instructors within the Kyokushinkaikan (Organisation) such as Brian Ellison and Gary Viccars. Sensei Rod is a proud Kyokushin practitioner who believes in the life changing power that comes from hard training in the style. As the senior instructor of Geelong Karate INC, Sensei Rod operates the Norlane Dojo in Geelong ate the Waterworld complex and has developed a strong following over the many years of leading students. Kyokushin Karate has a reputation for being a hard style, and is well respected for its effictiveness in a real life self defence situation. Sensei Rod is true to the art and dedicated to providing all students with the opportunity to be the best they can be. Sensei Rod's longevity in the martial arts is testiment to his committment to deliver the best program around.

Paul Mracek is an 8th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, Taekwonjitsu as well as an International Coach – Defensive Tactics and Open Circle Fighting Method and a Reiki Master Teacher. Paul holds qualifications in Meditation, Mindfulness, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Bowen Therapy, Sports & Recreation, Training & Assessing and Coaching. He has developed defensive tactics syllabus for the Security Industry since 2011 for nationally accredited courses for thousands of students; as well training and assessing industry instructors. In addition, he is the head instructor at Nutaofit Martial Arts Academy since 2016, continuing the tradition of servicing the local community in the Bayside suburbs of Melbourne since 1985. Paul is a seasoned international CEO with qualifications in Engineering, Management, Business and Statistics running his own international consultancy and coaching company from 2007. He has also been an active advisor on training, education, and industry policy to both Government and academic institutions through senior roles with a number of iconic global companies. He continues with researching core teachings on pressure points and martial arts principles and integrating them into his syllabus and teachings to students.

Hamid Mostofizadeh is a 6thDan Black belt in Karate Renshi Hamid is the founder and President (Kancho) of the International Karate Daigaku Association Australia (IKD-Australia) Organization and recognised as Chairman and Chief Instructor of the IKD system in Australia. Renshi Hamid has been involved in Karate for most of his life, beginning his training in Karate at the age of 11 in Shiraz, Iran. Here he started his training in Shotokan and has since trained nationally and internationally with some of the most renowned martial arts teachers. He was graded to Shodan (1st Dan) by Master Keigo Abe (JKA) during his time in Iran. Later sensei Hamid was graded to Nidan (2nd Dan), Sandan (3rd Dan) and Yondan (4th Dan) by sensei Kagawa (JKS), to Godan (5th Dan) by sensei Alfonso Jiminez and to Rokudan (6th Dan) by Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai (IKD). IKD Gympie Honbu Dojo is the first independent IKD Club in Australia that from 1st of April 2017 on has direct affiliation with the International Karate Daigaku (IKD) in Canada. International Karate Daigaku Association Australia (IKD-Australia) provides traditional karate training (non for profit) for the community and its families. Sensei Hamid understands that karate is healthy for everyone and every age group. It improves people self-confidence, spirit, focus, concentration and physical health and is ideal for learning self-defence. Sensei has a mission to involve more people and children in sports/ self-defence. IKD-Australia is also a member of the Australian Karate Federation (AKF), Queensland Karate Association (QKA), World Karate Federation (WKF) and Oceania Karate Federation (O.K.F) which enables us to compete on state, national and international level in conjunction with our traditional art. Renshi Hamid is true to the original practice of the karate taught by Gichin Funakoshi, the Father of Modern Karate. Classes at the IKD-Australia headquarters are designed specifically for all age groups, from beginners to advanced, junior to senior. The minimum age at his dojo is 5 years and there is no maximum age. People who train regularly in karate develop improved motor skills, balance, self-awareness, confidence, self-defence and above all a great level of fitness. Karate training is widely known as the best form of all-round fitness. All dojo instructors are fully trained in the latest training methods, and use using correct bio-mechanical principles to ensure a safe training regime. Sensei Hamid is committed to his hometown community of Gympie and takes pride in the fact that he has, and will continue to change the lives of many thousands of students for the better. The physical and mental aspects of karate are extremely valuable in any community and Sensei Hamid, promises to deliver the best program around.