The four Founding Instructors we have a wide variety of experience in traditional martial arts and modern combative systems for twenty five years each. They have all trained extensively in Australia, Japan and internationally. They have all have received 5th dan black belt certification directly from Ohtsuka Sensei, along with the coveted Bubishi masters text 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 in Australia.

The background of each Founding Instructor:

John Forza

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 been graded to his 5th dan black belt from Sumarac Sensei in 2005 and 5th dan black belt from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan in 2007. John is also at Yudansha (black belt) rank in Shotokan. John has received the rare Bubishi text and Shidoin teaching license form Ohtsuka Sensei. John holds official registration as a senior instructor with the Japan Goju-Ryu Federation.

Frank Gullone

Frank began his karate training in 1975. Frank has received his 1st dan black belt in Goju Kai in 1981. He later joined Goju Kensha in Australia and received his 5th dan black belt from Sumarac Sensei in 2005 and 5th dan black belt from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan in 2007. Frank has received the rare Bubishi text and Shidoin teaching license form Ohtsuka Sensei. As other Founding Instructors, Frank 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 experience in Ba Gua and other related Chinese styles.

Richard Kay

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 received 5th dan in 2005 from Sensei Sumarac, and in 2007 received 5th dan from Ohtsuka Sensei, along with a Bubishi masters text, Shidoin teaching license, and official registration 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.

Les Potter

Les commenced his training in in Goju Kensha in 1985 at Latrobe University. He received his 5th dan black belt form Sumarac Sensei and 5th dan black belt from Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan in 2007. Les has received the rare Bubishi masters text and Shidoin teaching license from Ohtsuka Sensei. 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.

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