MEET OUR COACHES
SCOTT IRELAND
DISCIPLINES:
Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, BJJ & Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
DATE YOU STARTED & EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS:
Started in Karate at the age of 6 receiving my black belt by 12. I had my first full contact MMA fight at the age of 16.
TIME AS AN INSTRUCTOR:
Scott started coaching kids in kickboxing to kids at 17. At 26 he moved to Australia to coach full time.
YOUR HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT:
Achieving my black belt in BJJ and also creating Training Grounds. Being able to help people in so many ways through martial arts is a pleasure.
WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINE?
Martial arts is a way of life. So much can be learned through learning a martial art. Physically you become in tune with your body. Mentally you become strong, confident and controlled.
HEROES:
Everyday people who get along with their lives through struggle, good and bad times, and still manage to smile.
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY:
Technique, practicality & enjoyment. Techniques should be practical in either competition or real-life situations. It should also put a smile on your face, you have to put in the training but also enjoy it to really progress.
WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING AN INSTRUCTOR:
Being able to make an impact: giving children life lessons through martial arts practice and adults time away from work and personal life, as well as skills to protect themselves.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS:
A Martial Artist
JAMIE RAE
DISCIPLINES:
Head Boxing Coach, Muay Thai, MMA & BJJ
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN YOUR MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING?
The Teenage mutant ninja turtles & Bruce Lee movies.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
Winning my Pro MMA debut which aired on fox sports.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO COACH MARTIAL ARTS DAY IN, DAY OUT?
To watch my students grow, improve & bring a smile to their face.
WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINE:
I take great pleasure in seeing a fighter use skill & style to out smart an aggressive opponent. I like to see the changes in confidence it brings into people’s lives as they improve.
WHY CHOOSE TRAINING GROUNDS?
Because it’s a welcoming and inclusive gym & the vibe is good.
WAYNE MILLER
DISCIPLINES:
Kids BJJ Coach.
DATE YOU STARTED & EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS:
Officially with Roots Paulo Guimaraes/Fabio Glazier BJJ in 2007.
Blue belt from Jorge Pereira Coral Belt under Rixon Gracie and became a Roots instructor under Paulo Guimaraes at that time.
TIME AS AN INSTRUCTOR:
7 years.
YOUR HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT:
As I started late at the age of 47 my focus is on teaching so for me it’s the success of the kids I teach.
WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINE:
The bonds that come from the contact on the mats is unique. The game itself is technical and ever evolving which is great for the mind and body.
HEROES:
My Daughter, my Mum and Dad first and foremost. From a BJJ Perspective it’s a hard one. I think Jorge Pereira for his dedication to Jiu Jitsu, his journey in the early days and his ongoing friendship.
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY:
Be patient and open minded. Everyone is on their own journey so be a listener and kind. Teach every class as it’s the most important class you will ever teach.
WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING AN INSTRUCTOR:
Passing on the knowledge, watching the growth in others in many areas. Celebrating the success of others is the most rewarding.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS:
Kind, caring and patient.
COACH BANJO
DISCIPLINES:
All of them.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN YOUR MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING?
After being picked on by the staffies at the dog park I decided it’s time to learn how to defend myself, thankfully I found Dog Jitsu.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
The release of my 3 part instructional video on Dynamic striking titled “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog”.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO COACH MARTIAL ARTS, DAY IN – DAY OUT?
Receiving pats/ treats from my students,
WHY CHOOSE TRAINING GROUNDS?
If you want to be the best, you have to train with the best!
JANISE HUCKERBY
DISCIPLINES: BJJ, Women’s Self Defence
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO COACH MARTIAL ARTS? My children. Now in their teens. Both began Muy Thai and BJJ at a young age, and I was driven to build something that we could all grow together as a unit.
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY: Be your own yardstick against which you measure all progress.
WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING AM INSTRUCTOR: I like people. I enjoy giving them support in their chosen discipline and see them grow in it. Coaching sparks my creative button and fires up my love for all things the body can do. After 20 years of teaching dance, Martial arts was a life-changing move, and I discovered a love for it that is far-reaching. Helping others experience the same is rewarding.
TRISTAN
DISCIPLINES:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Wrestling.
What inspired you to begin your Martial Arts training?
I’ve always done martial arts, but George Sotiropoulos vs Joe Stevenson at UFC 110 is what got me into BJJ.
The skinny, lanky (and Aussie!) fighter won the match through his control and it lit the fire within me to try something new.
Any specific career highlights?
Scattered silver & bronzes throughout my competition history.
Personal Training Philosophy?
Just show up – you’re not gonna get better watching Netflix.
What motivates you to coach Martial Arts day in / day out?
Seeing students progress and do things they couldn’t do before.
What do you love about Training Grounds?
The people and the community. Everyone here is super welcoming and great to be around.
JASON KELLY
DISCIPLINES:
Boxing.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN YOUR MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING?
Having an agreeable personality , I don’t like confrontation. This inspired me to take up boxing to have confidence to handle confrontation.
YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
Headlining at several boxing promotions.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO COACH MARTIAL ARTS DAY IN, DAY OUT?
I love passing on what I have learnt from other coaches and see students at Training Grounds improve.
WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING AN INSTRUCTOR:
The thing I love most about boxing is the people I have met. All the coaches I’ve had over the years, the people I’ve trained with and the people I’ve trained have made me a better person and given me support when I needed it.
WHY TRAINING GROUNDS?
I was fortunate enough to be training with Ayo and he gave me the opportunity to begin my coaching career at Training Grounds.
JOHNNY J
DISCIPLINES: MUAY THAI
WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY?
NATHAN MAZOUDIER
Disciplines:
BOXING and MUAY THAI
What inspired you to begin your martial arts training?
I have always had an interest in martial arts, but when I started training in 2014, I was at the end of one of my Rugby seasons and I didn’t want to get lazy so I picked up Muay Thai / BJJ and fell in love with the disciplines.
Any specific career highlights?
Signing up to Training Grounds was a highlight, as it lead me to becoming a coach / a better fighter and stepping into the ring to fight for the first time.
Personal training philosophy?
Quality over quantity. Once you sharpen your skills and techniques, then turn up the volume of your training. If you’re here for fitness, train smart and frequently because martial arts will always be one of the best workouts.
What motivates you to coach martial arts day in / day out?
I love everything about martial arts so naturally I want to teach what I know. The feeling of accomplishment, confidence, happiness, purpose and security it gives my students, motivates me to be a better coach and fighter.
What do you love about Training Grounds?
I love the welcoming atmosphere and energy that Training Grounds offers that a lot of other martial art gyms don’t. Both students and other coaches are all friendly and are always encouraging you to be the best version of yourself.
Ari Tabak
DISCIPLINES: BJJ
COACHING PHILOSOPHY: The main aspect of my training philosophy is to understand jiu jitsu well enough, that I can enjoy it to it’s full capacity (I never will get there, but the intention of working towards that point is key).
WHY DO YOU LOVE COACHING MARTIAL ARTS? The training philosophy mentioned above for one. It’s what I do everyday, and it genuinely keeps me constantly excited for what I am going to learn next.
Aside from this, one of the best perks about martial arts is the relationships I build whilst applying that training philosophy. Being able to see someone have a light bulb moment about jiu jitsu, and in turn seeing them enjoy their jiu jitsu journey significantly more is such a win for me.
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