Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the 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 Malvern Health and Fitness, Malvern Martial Arts's instructors and other staff members, starting with :

Dr. Peter Lewis Dr. Peter Lewis is the senior kung fu instructor of Malvern Martial Arts. He has twenty five years experience teaching martial arts. He has trained with a variety of styles including several styles of kung fu, karate, tae kwon do and unarmed combat. Peter has trained with special-forces in both Australia and Thailand. Dr. Lewis is a sports physician specialising in martial arts injuries. He works out of the Re-Creation Medical Centre and has been the ringside physician for approximately 15,000 bouts. He has looked after boxing, kickboxing, karate, and tae kwon do fights. Dr. Lewis has been involved in officiating at all levels of martial arts including judging refereeing, ringside doctor, trainer and corner-man, ring announcer and rules co-ordinator. He has officiated at some of the most important fights of all time in over 20 cities around the world. Peter has trained with world champions and internationally recognised instructors in many countries. Dr. Lewis has extensive experience at treating physical trauma and also as an expert witness in assault cases. Through his experience of the medical aspects of martial arts training Dr. Lewis has devised a unique perspective on training that focuses on the health benefits of martial arts. He has a special interest in core body stability, skills acquisition, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, flexibility and sparring skills. “I try to make exercises as time efficient as possible to give as much benefit per hour to the students as possible. “The focus on training is more on what the exercise does for you, than on what it allows you to do to someone else, and the focus is also on teaching practical unarmed combat techniques that can be used in day-to-day life. Most confrontations on the street with violent strangers but are in fact with emotionally disturbed people that we know. Most martial arts focus on techniques that injure the other person, where I focus on techniques which give maximum control of a situation with minimal long term physical damage and subsequent potential for litigation.” For Personal Training or Medical services contact Dr. Lewis on: 0408 352 706 or @ the Gym (03) 9822 7951

Nick Kara Former WMTA Light Heavyweight World Thaiboxing Champion ‘Special K’ Nick Kara has been a force within the martial arts and fitness industry for over a decade. Specializing in fitness boxing, Thaiboxing and weight loss through martial arts, Nick is the Manager of Malvern Martial Arts and head instructor of the Thaiboxing curriculum. Over the last decade Nick’s animal magnetism and athletic ability has motivated hundreds of students to achieve their personal best in all areas of life. Nick has lived, trained and fought extensively in Thailand and also trained with the best in the world including K1 Champion Peter Aerts, 8 time World Champion Stan ‘The Man’ Longinidis, 3 time world Champion Scott Bannan and K1 Oceania Champion Jason ‘Psycho’ Suttie. Over the years Nick has claimed numerous state and national titles including: VABL State Boxing Champion WKBF State Kickboxing Champion WKBF Australian Champion ISKA Australian Kickboxing Champion WMTA World Thaiboxing Champion. Nick has featured in several martial arts movies, including "Ong Bak" and "Twins Effect", where his natural abilities lit up the big screen through several spectacular fight scenes. Whether you want to lose weight, get fit, learn the basics or become a champion, you can benefit from over 19 years experience by training with Nick Kara. For Private Tuition, Contact Nick on: 0411 564 999 or @ the gym (03) 98227951

Jeremy Ta'kody  Jeremy Ta’kody has been involved with martial arts and fitness training for most of his life. He specialises in fitness, weight loss, self defence and in developing programs to achieve client objectives. A multi style blackbelt holder, Jeremy is the founder of Ryuken Shooto, a no-nonsense mixed martial art allowing all ranges of combat, and is also a long time student of renowned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor John B. Will. Jeremy teaches Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shooto and children’s karate classes at Malvern Martial Arts, as well as all aspects of fitness, weight loss, nutrition and resistance training. Jeremy is also the former editor of Australasia’s three best selling martial arts magazines, Blitz, International Kickboxer and Australian Taekwondo Magazine, and is a former consulting editor for Women’s Fitness and Health Magazine and Australian Ironman Magazine. Jeremy is also a certified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) practitioner and Hypnotherapist. He has trained members of Law enforcement, including Police, Military and Security Personnel and worked extensively within the security industry. One of Malvern’s most sought after trainers Jeremy is the Manager of Malvern Health and Fitness, and the Producer of the internationally acclaimed Masters of Grappling DVD series and the Forbidden Locks DVD series. In his spare time Jeremy is writing a number of books on fitness and weight loss, as well as books on personal development, detailing the impact of the mind on the body, and on achieving a life of health, wealth and happiness. For Personal Training, Contact Jeremy on: 0412 034 330 or @ the gym (03) 9822 7951 Click here to visitBlackBelt Digital Video.com

Matt Coles Matt Coles Matt Coles is one of Melbourne’s most sought after personal trainers. Specialising in fitness kickboxing, Matt is also a VICFIT certified Personal Trainer with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all facets of resistance training, nutrition, weight loss and body sculpting. Regarded as a trainer of trainers Matt has fought and won in full contact boxing and kickboxing competitions and is also responsible for training a number of celebrities and media personalities. Take the opportunity to train with one of Melbourne’s top Personal Trainers. For Personal Training, contact Matt on: 0411 081 153 or @ the Gym (03) 9822 7951

Murray Ballenden Murray has been training in various martial arts since he was 7, eventually choosing to specialise in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His career path started in the field of psychology with a speial interest in sports psychology, but Murray’s passion for personal training and martial arts has taken over. Competing on a regular basis, Murray manages to maintain a high performance level, winning most major submission grappling tournaments offered in Australia over the last six years. Murray has a wholistic view on metabolic conditioning and lifestyle improvement. The main aim he has when training clients is to help them become independant, smart exercisers. As a result, trainees are expected to take responsibility for their actions and reap the rewards. Murray is available for personal training and bjj coaching. 0405 679 774

Peter Markovski  Former South Pacific super-middleweight Kickboxing Champion Peter Markovski has been involved in Martial Arts and Fitness for over 15 years. Having trained with former greats, Peter instructs new students to achieve a fitness and self defence standard. He also trains all levels from Beginner to Advanced. Peter teaches boxing, Kick Boxing and karate at Malvern Martial Arts. Private lessons and group lessons are available. If it is weight-loss, self defence, getting fit, learning basic footwork or becoming a champion, you can rely on Peter's experience and expertise. For private tuition contact Peter 0405 344 922, or see the timetable for general classes.

Talgat Ilyasov Talgat Ilyasov is one of Malvern Martial Arts newest and most talented instructors. Born in the former Soviet Union state of Uzbekistan, Talgat grew up with wrestling as his primary passion and has since become one of the top wrestling competitors in the world. Talgat has trained in freestyle wrestling since nine-years-of-age and has represented his home country at numerous national and world class wrestling championships over more than a decade, claiming dozens of championship titles. As an elite athlete with a special sports visa Talgat immigrated to Australia late December 2000 and later became an Australian citizen in 2003. He placed in the top six wrestling competitors in the world in his weight division at the World Championships during the same year, and is regarded as one of the most talented athletes in the country. Talgat was set to represent Australia in the 2004 Olympic games until an injury at the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) in Canberra temporarily put him off the mat. Since then Talgat has returned to Melbourne, and is one of Australia’s most sought after wrestling instructors. He has also competed successfully in national level Judo and cross-trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Talgat is also an expert in strength and flexibility training, gymnastics and bodyweight conditioning for men, women and children, as well as an expert in all facets of wrestling and competition training. Talgat is currently completing a business degree at Swinburne University, developing wrestling curriculums and working on a number of instructional DVD’s. Talgat is also the Technical Consultant for Ryuken Shooto Australia’s wrestling curriculum, teaches public classes at Malvern Martial Arts and is available for private tuition. For Personal Training, contact Talgat on: 0411 881 678 or @ the Gym (03) 9822 7951

Daniel Keane  Daniel Keane is one of Malvern Health and Fitness’ newest trainers. An avid enthusiast of martial arts, Daniel is VICFIT certified and specializes in all aspects of fitness and weight-loss. Daniel also assists in the instruction of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Shooto (mixed martial art of self defence) classes for both teenagers and adults, and also conducts Malvern Martial Arts karate for kids classes. He has competed successfully in submission grappling tounraments and is known for his outstanding work ethic and dedication to training. You can contact Daniel for personal training, weight-loss, muscle gain or specific strength and conditioning. First consultation is free! Call Daniel on 0421 928 276

Ting Anan  (Muay Thai)  Come and join Ting. All the way rfom Thailand, the mother country of this fascinating sport. Ting is now available exclusively at Malvern Martial arts Centre for personal training and group classes. With over 20 years of Muay Thai and kickboxing experience, in the the ring and teaching. Ting is a very experienced Trainer. Ting specialises in the traditional cultural custom of the Wai Cru. He also specialises in fitness, kickboxing, Muay Thai and boixing. As a Thais national and after spending over two years at a Buddhist Temple Ting teaches a uniquie philosophy which is the key to success in thes competitive sport. Ting is available to teach beginners through to experienced competitors of any age.

For more information about the Malvern Health and Fitness, Malvern Martial Arts staff or training programs, please contact us at 03 9822 7951 or by clicking here.