Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Taekwondo and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.
Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of Australian Martial Arts & Fitness Academy - BE THE NEXT KARATE KID's instructors and other staff members, starting with Ridvan Manav:
Ridvan Manav (Master)
Master Ridvan Manav is a 7th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and 3rd Degree Black Belt in Hapkido. His awesome speed and incredible flexibility have given him and his Academy's the reputation as the "Speed & Flexibility Specialists."
Master Ridvan Manav established Australian Martial Arts and Fitness Academy in Marrickville in 1982. Since then he has opened Centres in Bonnyrigg, Casula, Auburn, Eastlakes and Bonnyrigg. Australian Martial Arts & Fitness Academy has produced champions in life and as well as in the martial arts.
Master Ridvan was 10 years old when he started Judo in Newtown Police Boys Club. He trained for two years and then took up Boxing at Redfern Police Boys Club, which he did for another year. He was 14 years old when he saw his first Bruce Lee movie. From that point on, he became fanatical about Martial Arts. As a kid he also learnt Karate. Although that initial drive has taken Ridvan to the farthest limits of combative excellence, his mastery extends beyond fighting and into the realm of life.
Master Ridvan Manav in the 1980's won Numerous state, National and International competitions. In the 1990's Australian Martial Arts & Fitness Academy was the Number One Demonstration team. The Australian Demo Team X-treme Performed at the Opera house, Super Dome, Fox Studios, Concord Oval, Lidcome Oval, Bondi Beach to name a few. Master Ridvan was also selected to coach the Australian National Team at the World Taekwondo Championships.
Master Ridvan Manav has travelled the world training in different styles of Martial Arts with other masters, seeking to learn and teach the best and most effective Martial Arts to his students.
Master Ridvan Manav has trained in the following Martial Arts styles:
Hapkido
Compliance Direction Takedown
Grappling
Brazilian Jui Jitsu
Thai Boxing
Kick Boxing
Pressure Points
Weapons
Karate
Ultimate Fighting Challenge
Judo
Extreme Martial Arts
Hakan Manav (Instructor)
Hakan is a Taekwondo 5th Degree Black belt, who has been training in the Martial Arts since he could walk. By the age of 6 years old Hakan was the youngest person to be awarded with a Black belt in Australia.
He has an impressive collection of titles, which include but are not limited to the following: - In 1994 won the 'Best of the Best' Martial Arts Competition to represent Australia at the World Peewee Open Championships, in Orlando, USA - Also in 1994 he won a Gold Medal at the World Peewee Open Championship, which were held in Orlando, USA -He was undefeated between 1993-2004 at a state level. - In 1998, the Turkish Natinal team invited him to perform at the 1998 World Championships. -He is 3 times Australian Taekwondo Champion and 8 times NSW Taekwondo Champion in full contact sparring -In 2003 he won a Gold Medal at the South Pacific Taekwondo Championships -In 2004 he cemented his spot in the Australian Junior Taekwondo Team. - Represented Australia at the 5th World Junior Taekwondo Championships, which were held in Suncheon, Korea. -In 2004, he won a Silver medal at the World Taekwondo Festival in Seoul, Korea - Won a Bronze medal at the 2004 Malaysian Open held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Won a Gold medal at the 2004 Australian Open, which was held in Perth, Australia -In 2005, Hakan won a Gold Medal at the 2005 Asia Pacific Taekwondo Championships. -In 2007, Hakan Performed For The National Geographic Channel representing the documentary series "Fight Science".
2008 -Led and choreographed the Australian Martial Arts Performance Team’s performance at the 2008 Australian Martial Arts Industry Supershow (MAIA) -National All Styles (NAS) Martial Arts Championships-Round 3- Creative Forms- 1st Place -National All Styles (NAS) Martial Arts Championships-Round 4 - Creative Forms- 1st Place -X-treme Martial Arts (XMA) Championships- Extreme Musical Forms- 1st Place -International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) Winter Nationals- Extreme Musical Forms- 1st place -Australian Martial Arts Championships (AMAC) Round 4- Creative Forms- 1st Place -Creative Weapons- 1st Place -National All Styles (NAS) Martial Arts Championships-NSW State Titles - Creative Forms- 1st Place -Australian Martial Arts Championships (AMAC)- State Championships -Creative Forms 1st Place -Creative Weapons- 1st Place - National All Styles (NAS) Martial Arts Championships-Australian Championships (Gold Coast, QLD) - Creative Forms- 1st Place -International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) World Cup 2008 (Sydney, Australia) - Extreme Musical Forms- 1st place -Creative Breaking- 1st Place -International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) World Cup 2008 (Sydney, Australia) -Grand Champion Winner -Local Community Performances: Marrickville Festival, Earlwood Festival, Auburn Festival, Dullwich Festival -Invited to perform for the Korean Community Festival in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
2009 -Led the Australian Martial Arts Performance Team’s participation in Channel 7’s Series 3 of Australias Got Talent. -Finalist on Australias Got Talent 2009 and was invited back to perform in the Grand Final Show as Danni Minogue’s Favourite Act for the 2009 series. -ISKA All Time Classic Martial Arts Championships -Extreme Musical Forms- 1st Place -ISKA Winter Nationals -Extreme Musical Forms- 1st Place -Invited to perform alongside singer Jessica Mauboy for Dick Smith Electronics’ Macarthur Square Grand Opening -Interviewed live on C91.3 Radio Station. -Performed and ran Martial Arts Workshops exclusively for the Company “Ninemsn” in Sydney City - 2009 ISKA World Martial Arts Championships (US Open) Orlando, Florida USA - Creative Breaking- 1st Place -High Jump Board Breaking- 1st Place -Performed on the grand championships night as part of World renowned XMA team, Camp Chat -Appeared on ESPN, a worldwide sports channel. -Attended the team Loopkicks Camp, which was held by the leading world martial arts tricking team. -Performed for Cartoon Network as part of Team Loopkicks. -Australian Martial Arts Championships (AMAC) Round 4 -1st Place Creative Forms -Played as an “Ashen” in the flim “Dying Ice” produced by Nick Kacevski, alongside Fight Choreographer Ray Anthony. -Appeared on the Front Cover of the Canterbury Bankstown Express Newspaper which circulates over 84 000 homes. -Won the “Get off Your Arts Performance Festival” and was featured in the Inner Western courier newspaper -Performed at the KMA Black Belt Spectacular -Won 6 Gold Medals at the 4th World Martial Arts Games and was undefeated throughout the tournament. He Won Gold in -Extreme Forms -Extreme Weapons -Musical Forms -Musical Weapons -Korean Empty Hand Forms -Creative Breaking -Starred in a Short Film “Burning Bridge-The Hidden Conspiracy” by Kunal B. Khant. -Australian Martial Arts Championships (AMAC)- State Titles Creative Forms- 1st Place -Completed Stunt Course at the Australian Stunt Academy on the Gold Coast -National All Styles (NAS)- State Titles Creative Forms- 1st Place -Australian Martial Arts Championships (AMAC)- Australian Titles Creative Forms- 1st Place Creative Weapons- 1st Place -National All Styles (NAS)- Australian Titles Creative Forms- 1st Place -ISKA Australasian Titles Extreme Musical Forms- 1st Place -Performed at the Ultimate Taekwondo Fight (UTF) Night -Performed at the X-treme MMA Cage Fighting Championships -Performed at the United Kempo Martial Arts end of year spectacular. -Will Play as a lead role as “Chase” in the feature film “Nightstar” directed by Mathew Folino that will be released in 2011 -Featured in the Manly Daily Newspaper
He also achieved a UAI (University Admissions index) of 99.25 after his year 12 exams. He has also completed Bachelor of Commerce Degree double majoring in Finance and Management graduating from the University of Sydney (USYD).
Holds a Sydney University Elite Athlete Sport Scholarship for four consecutive years.
Hakan is a popular and well-respected instructor who brings out the best in his students. His extensive knowledge, experience and achievements in the Martial Arts industry gives him the ability to teach at any level.
Attached are 2 clips of Hakan. The first being is demo reel and the second is his childhood sampler. I hope you enjoy
Sarah Perkins (Black Belt)
Sarah is a Taekwondo 3rd Degree Black Belt with over 10 years experience. She has won numerous NSW titles and is also an Australian Champion. Sarah's collection of titles include the following:
2001: State Champion (sparring)
2002: NSW State Champion (sparring) Chung Do Kwan Asia Pacific Champion Australian National Champion
2003: NSW State Champion Vic Golden Kicks Cup Champion South Pacific Champion
2004: National Champion NSW Champion Gold Medal at the 6th Korean Open Gold Medal at the 2004 Malaysian Open
Sarah's specialty is the Little Dragons class. she loves the challenge of teaching Taekwondo to her young students. And with her high achievements here in Australia and around the world, Sarah brings out the best in her students. Her knowledge and experience are invaluable.
Busra Manav
Busra is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. She has been training Taekwondo for 14 years. She is an instructor in the Lil' Dragons and also plays a major role in the Australian Taekwondo Demo X-treme. Busra has won numerous state titles making her one of the most experienced teenager in Australia.
Phia Larsen (Instructor and office assistant)
Phia has been practicing the art of Taekwondo for the past 4 years. Phia's Specialty is the Lil' Dragons and Dragons programs and continually goes out of her way to update the curriculum in order to make the classes more exciting. Her enthusiastic attitude towards her classes flows on to the students, creating the perfect Martial Arts Environment. She has also been practicing extreme weapons since the age of 8 and specialises in bo-staff techniques.
Miriam White
Miriam's awesome flexibilty is her best asset. Having an Awesome flexibility, allows her to execute and pass on her Taekwondo techniques on to the students with ease. Taekwondo training and her studies as a personal trainer makes the perfect instructor.
Erkan Aydin (Instructor)
Erkan is the Head Instructor of the Australian Martial Arts Academy Casula and Bonnyrigg. Erkan is a 4th Degree Black Belt with 16 years experience with Taekwondo and has trained the Arts of: Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Pressure Points and Weapons. Incredibly Erkan has won championships in Taekwondo, Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts.
The Multitalented Instructor is a respected and popular role model who brings out the best in his students. His achievements in all areas of life give him extensive knowledge and experience to coach and teach at any level.
Jessica Guida (Instructor)
Jessica is an instructor in the Lil' Dragons and Dragons programs. Jessica's positive attitude is a valuable asset to our club, always making kids feel welcome.
Ercan Kocak
Ercan has been training Taekwondo for the past 20 years. He is one of the earliest students of the Australian Martial Arts Academy, earning his spot as the head of the Australian Martial Arts Demo team X-treme. Ercan also represented the Australian Taekwondo tournament team for over 10 years. He has been teaching for over 8 years at our eastlakes branch and has thus trained many state and national champions.
Richard Yuwono (Instructor)
Richard has been instructing adults and children for over 4 years with Australian Martial Arts. Richard has been training in martial arts for more than 8 years. He specliaises in breaking down techniques for people of all ages.
Emrah Aydin (Instructor)
Emrah is a 2nd Degree Black Belt with 14 Years experience in Taekwondo. Emrah has been teaching at Bonnyrigg and Casula for 5 years.
Chris Robinson (Assistant Instructor)
Chris is a First Dan Black Belt.Chris Helps instructors
Maddie Haul-brook (Assistant Instructor)
Maddie is a First Dan Black Belt.Maddie helps instructors
Andjelina Blagojevic (Assistant Instructor)
Andjelina is an instructor in the Lil' Dragon's and Dragon's programs. She is a valuable member of the team and is always happy to help.
Catherine Petrakis (Assistant Instructor)
Catherine has been practicing Taekwondo since she was 4 and has won numerous titles. She has won the Australian Martial Arts Championships 6 years in a row. She is a second degree black belt and is one of our youngest assistant instructors. She is the captain of the Black Belt Demonstration Team, performing all over the country. She always acts with a maturity beyond her years which makes her an ideal role model for her students.
Chloe Sekulovski (Assistant Instructor)
Chloe is a 2nd Degree Black Belt and one of our youngest instructors. Chloe far surpasses her age in maturity and is a fantastic role model and teacher for younger students. Chloe has achieved beautiful technique in Taekwondo and continues training to further her skills as a leader and a talented martial artist. Chloe has been training in the art of Taekwondo since the age of five.
Vanilla Tupu (Assistant Instructor)
Vanilla helps out with classes.
Cooper Parr (Assistant Instructor)
Cooper helps out with classes.
Emma Lucas (Assistant Instructor)
Emma helps out with classes.
Zoe Hinman (Assistant Instructor)
Zoe helps out with classes.
Ella Longhurst (Assistant Instructor)
Ella helps out with classes.
Olympia Shenton-Kaleido (Assistant Instructor)
Olympia helps out with classes.
Zoe Carrick (Assistant Instructor)
Zoe helps out with classes.
Sibel Yavuz (Assistant Instructor)
Sibel helps out with classes.
Montana Kirkwood (Assistant Instuctor)
Montana helps out with classes.
Fatos Celik (Assistant Instructor)
Fatos helps out with classes.
Oula Kheir (Assistant Instructor)
Oula helps out with classes.
For more information about the Australian Martial Arts & Fitness Academy - BE THE NEXT KARATE KID staff or training programs, please contact us at +61 2 95916614 or by clicking here.
