Founding Instructors Each is a master instructor

The four Founding Instructors (i.e. Hanshi) of Yonshin Kai have a wide variety of experience in traditional martial arts and modern combative systems for at least twenty five years each. They have all trained extensively in Australia, Japan and internationally. They have all have received master rankings directly from Ohtsuka Sensei, including the coveted Bubishi Master rank and official Shidoin teachers' license in Japan. All are officially registered with the Japan Goju Ryu Federation. This combination and level of international experience in one school is extremely rare.

The background of each Founding Instructor:

John (Hanshi)

John commenced his karate training in 1965 at the age of 20 in European Karate. After trying some other styles he joined Sensei Paul Guerrilot from France in late 1965. Sensei Guerrilot was a student of French Shotokan. Sensei Guerrilot was a renowned master and the founder of the Australian Shotokan Karate  Association (ASKA) in 1974. He also became head of the Melbourne University Karate Club. John trained under Sensei Guerrilot for 27 years until his untimely demise in 1992. For a few years after 1992, John continued his training with many other masters including Patrick McCarthy Sensei. In 1996 John entered full time training as a private student James Sumarac Sensei. Training was wide and varied covering Goju Ryu and Shurite karate. He has also trained in Chinese Nei Chia, Tai Chi,Ba Gua and Hsing-i martial arts. John has received master instructor rankings from Sumarac Sensei in Australia and from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan. John is also at Yudansha (black belt) rank in Shotokan. John has received the rare Bubishi Master rank and Shidoin teaching license directly from Ohtsuka Sensei. He holds official registration as a senior instructor with the Japan Goju-Ryu Federation.

Les (Hanshi)

Les commenced his training in in Goju Kensha in 1985 at Latrobe University. He has received master instructor rankings form from Sumarac Sensei in Australia and from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan. Les has also received the Bubishi Master rank and holds a Shidoin teaching license. Les holds official registration as a senior instructor with the Japan Goju-Ryu Federation. He also trained in Chinese Tai Chi and Ba Gua martial arts.

 

Frank (Hanshi)

Frank began his karate training in 1975. Frank has received his Yudansha (black belt) rank in Goju Kai in 1981. He later joined Goju Kensha in Australia and received his master instructor rankings from Sumarac Sensei in Australia and from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan. Frank has received the rare Bubishi Master rank and Shidoin teaching license directly from Ohtsuka Sensei. Frank also holds official registration as a senior instructor with the Japan Goju-Ryu Federation. Having trained in Japan since 1991 he has gained a deep understanding of traditional and modern day martial arts. The karate training is complemented by training in Ba Gua and other related Chinese styles.

Richard (Hanshi)

Richard began his martial arts training in Goju-Kensha Karate in 1984 under Sensei James Sumarac. His primary discipline is karate, with supplementary disciplines of aikido, tai chi, ba gua, hsing-i, bojutsu, iai-do and Filipino knife combat. He has received master instructor rankings from Sumarac Sensei in Australia and from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan. Richard has also received the Bubishi Master rank from Ohtsuka Sensei and holds a Shidoin teaching license and official registration as a senior instructor with the Japan Goju-Ryu Federation. He has trained internationally on 9 occasions, including New Zealand (3), Switzerland (1), Germany (1), and 4 trips to Japan to train at the Goju-Kensha Hombu dojo in Tokyo. In 1990 he competed at the Australian Championships in Brisbane as a representative of the Victorian Karate Team. In addition to ‘traditional’ martial arts, Richard has studied and trained in several modern combative systems, including SAFTA (US Navy SEALS), Systema (Russian Special Forces) and Krav Maga (Israeli Defence Forces). He is 1 of only 2 qualified ASP instructor trainers in Australia (for batons, handcuffs & restraints), is a certified 3rd dan in CloQuBa Ha-Jutsu (Law Enforcement Combatives), has 3 PPCT instructor certifications (Defensive Tactics, Spontaneous Knife Defence & Violent Patient Management) and is a certified firearms instructor through Victoria Police. He travels overseas regularly to further his research and development on an international scale, where he liaises and trains with representatives from local and federal law enforcement agencies and specialist military and police units from America, Europe and Australasia.

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