Goju Kai Karate Do  Sydney Australia - Archived

  Founder : PAUL STARLING  Hanshi  8th Dan - VICE PRESIDENT IKGA

Karate ka who train for approximately 12-15 or even 20+ years under the direction of a Shihan, Master Instructor, can reach the rank of 3rd Dan
Sandan
.This ranking leads to the qualification to Shidoin: Assistant Instructor. afterwhich the 4th Dan- Jokyo level may be gained through dilligent study.
Fifth Dan,  5th Dan Shihan  Renshi and above are ranks awarded to very few individuals.  Usually, recipients of such gradings have devoted the
majority of their life time to the study of Budo in various forms, and have made outstanding contributions to the chosen art concerned. 

   It has been stated that only the most dedicated and tenacious of students will reach the rank of 1st Dan, Shodan, the initiation, or the very
first level of the Black Belt ranking system. Only a handful of those will then go on to obtain the rank of 3rd Dan, even fewer will gain 4th Dan
Jokyo, however it is from the 4th Dan level of achievement that the few dedicated karateka who will eventually gain Master status are chosen.
 Within this ranking system is embedded a hierachial level of seniority regarding Shihan status. The highest of these is Hanshi usually awarded
 at 8th 9th or 10th Dan level of attainment and only  then to the very most senior members both in age and experience, of the Association or Dojo (School). In order of
seniority the rank of Kyoshi is the immediate predecessor to the Hanshi and is awarded usually to the most senior members of 7th Dan rank or above. Renshi Shihan
is the first level within the Shihan ranking system and can be awarded at 5th Dan, but is usually reserved for those of 6th Dan rank or above. Paul Starling Shihan was
graded in Japan in 1995 to 7th Dan Shihan Kyoshi, and then in 2014 to 8th Dan whereby in 2018 the title of Hanshi was awarded to him by Grandmaster Goshi Yamaguchi.

New South Wales & Victoria:
The most long standing Instructors with IKGA Goju Kai Australia are Paul Starling Hanshi, 60 years (since 1963) ; a Vice President of the International Karate do Goju Kai
Association. The longest serving Shihan member of the IKGA after Paul Starling is Steve Colangelo (1966 circa), 7th Dan Renshi Shihan of Victoria, then Iwan Pranatio
Shihan 7th Dan Kyoshi (1972 circa) who was also a direct student of Gogen Yamaguchi Kaiso from the Honbu Dojo and the Nihon Karate do Senmon Gakko.

Western Australia:
Brian Mackie Hanshi is also a very long time senior member of Goju Kai Australia and is now the current Australian Chief Instructor and IKGA Oceania Block Director.

Former Student Overseas:
Ingo De jong Hanshi, (1970 circa) Chief Instructor of European Goju Kai also a Vice President of IKGA and 8th Dan, an Australian citizen and former student of Paul Starling
Hanshi.  Please see the links above in order to view profiles of various Instructors who can be found from the SITE MAP.

PROFILES:
Some Senior Shihan Instructors Australia I.K.G.A.

<>  Those marked*  were promoted to Shihan by Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi.
Paul Starling- Hanshi *
Ingo De Jong- Hanshi now Europe *
Brian Mackie -Hanshi *
Steve Colangelo- Renshi
Iwan Pranatio- Kyoshi *
Alvaro Martos- Renshi
Tom Curtis- Renshi


Helmut Moldners- Renshi* deceased
Alexandra Sandie Starling- Renshi  *

SHIHANS NSW TO BE UPDATED HERE

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Craig Soley - Renshi
Ben Mettam - Renshi
Peter May - Renshi
Don Heald - Renshi
Glenville Aitken - Renshi
AS at 2009 circa

MORE SHIHANS WILL BE LISTED HERE -SEE LINK