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Nick Donato Master Chief Instructor

Professional Martial Arts Instructor - 2024 Celebrated 56 years in the Arts.

Author: Master Nick Donato's memoir, "The Journey of an Aussie Martial Artist,"

Celebrating 40 years in 2024 - teaching, training & educating the Community

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Master Nick Donato has trained with some of the best instructors in Australia and overseas in a variety of systems and styles. He has taught, lectured, trained and tested / graded in many countries Australia, USA, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Taiwan & Korea

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Master Donato began training in boxing as a boy in the late 1960’s with his great uncles who were boxers in the early days 1930’s and 40’s, then from 1973 – 1975 at the Penrith PCYC, and with Ted McKenzie; sparring partner of Jimmy Carruthers, World Bantam weight champion. At this time he was introduced to Martial Arts by a friend and in 1974 began training in Tae Kwon Do and Ju Jitsu under Steve Wilson at Warrimoo Community Centre.

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1980

He moved from Hazelbrook (Blue Mountains) to Campbelltown continuing in Tae Kwon Do under Grand Master Chong Chul Rhee and Geoff Stubbs in Rhee Tae Kwon Do.

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1983

He trained with Master Graham Johnston Tae Kwon Do ATI, which later became The Australian Freestyle Tae Kwon Do Academy.

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1984 -1995

He trained with Master John Gallegari, Master Jim Sheedy and Andrew Darlington. During this time he met and trained under Sensei Ben Di Pede ( Kasso of Ben Kan Ryu & Yoshin Ryu Gi Nihon Ju Jitsu Judo, Kobujutsu / Kenjutsu until his passing in 2006, receiving a Menkyo in 1998.

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1995

Began training and teaching under Grandmaster Joe Onopa until his passing in 2010, when Grand Master Onopa’s family and other Grandmasters and Masters appointed him the Inheritor / International Director and Head of TKD Kwon Bop Do Federation

Professional Martial Arts Instructor - 2023 Celebrating 55 years in the Arts

A snapshot:

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  • Founder of the Personal Defence Studios - The Pit

  • Kwon Bop Do Federation Inheritor Soke Dai (Founder Grandmaster Joe Onopa)  

  • Kwon Bop Do Federation International Director / Examiner

  • WHFSC - (World Head of Family Sokeship Council) - Grandmaster Member

  • Ben Kan Ryuha Nihon Ju Jitsu / Kobu Jutsu, Okuden Menkyo - GO DAN (Master Teaching Licence Kaisso Sensei Ben Di Pede 1927-2006)

  • Bunbu Ichi Nihon Ju Jitsu Dan Certified - SAN DAN (Hanshi Les Harnos)

  • AJF (Australian Ju Jitsu Federation) - Member

  • ISKA - (International Sports Karate / Kickboxing Association) - Member

  • WKA - (World Kickboxing Association) - Member

  • Kojosho Dan Certified & Recognised (Hanshi Fred Absher)

  • IGOR (International Grandmasters of the Roundtable) Federation - (Grandmaster Onopa, Grandmaster Lenchus, Grandmaster Keller) - Member & International Co-Director

  • Registered Trainer CSA Combat Sports Authority NSW Government

  • Authorized Trainer ADFMAA Australian Defence Force Martial Arts Association

  • Australian Sports Commission - Community Coaching / Officiating

  • NCAS - National Coaching Accreditation Level 2

  • NOAS - National Officials Accreditation

  • 1986 ACHPER (Australian Council for Health Physical Education & Recreation - Level 1 & 2

  • 1987 ACHPER (Australian Council for Health Physical Education & Recreation - Level 3

  • Nominated for the 2018  'Pride of Australia' Award for Community Service in his Profession

  • August 2019 - Awarded Grandmaster of the Year - Australia. Awarded in the USA (WHFSC)

  • Australian Ambassador Sports Karate Museum

  • Australian Representative WMARA World Martial Arts Ranking Association

  • Australian Representative ITC International Tae Kwon Do Confederation

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