About Kansai Karate Gold Coast
Traditional Japanese karate, taught with genuine care for every student who walks through the door.
About Kansai Karate
Kansai Karate Academy was established in 1993 in Queensland and is one of the leading martial arts organisations in the state, operating five studios across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Kansai Karate Gold Coast at Upper Coomera is the local dojo for the Gold Coast region, part of a network built on the same values since day one: traditional technique, genuine instruction, and a family-friendly environment.
With programs running from age 3 through to adults, the Gold Coast dojo has grown to around 188 active students — families from Upper Coomera, Coomera, Pimpama, Ormeau, Oxenford, Helensvale, and Hope Island who keep coming back year after year.
Your Instructors
Sensei Michael Hunt — 5th Dan Black Belt
Sensei Michael Hunt has been training in Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate for over 25 years and holds the rank of 5th Dan Black Belt. He has received teaching qualifications of Jun-Shihan and Renshi from Sensei Yamada Soke — World Chief Instructor for the Shito-ryu Shukokai Union — and trains regularly with Sensei Stephen Kelly (7th Dan Kyoshi) and senior Shukokai instructors from Japan.
Sensei Michael taught at the Kansai Karate Honbu dojo before opening the Gold Coast dojos in 2013. He holds a Bronze Coaching Certification from the NCAS/Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Karate Federation, and is a qualified National Kata Judge and National Kumite Judge through the Queensland Karate Association (QKA) and Australian Karate Federation (AKF).
Sensei Michael built Kansai Karate Gold Coast on a simple belief: karate should be accessible to everyone, from 3-year-olds taking their first steps on the mat to adults looking for a challenge that actually means something.
Sensei Junko Oiwa — 4th Dan Black Belt
Sensei Junko began karate as a child in Japan, training under instructors who were students of Sensei Tani — the founder of Shukokai Karate. She holds the rank of 4th Dan Black Belt and has received teaching qualifications of Jun-Shidoin and Kenshi from Ishitobi Kazuo Hanshi, Vice President of the Shito-ryu Shukokai Union.
Sensei Junko holds a Certificate Qualification in Early Childhood Learning and brings over 10 years of childcare industry experience to her teaching — making her particularly skilled with our younger age groups. She also holds Bronze Coaching Certification from the NCAS/ACS and AKF, actively competes in QKA tournament competition, and serves as Assistant Kata Coach for the Queensland Team.
Sensei Lisa Howell — 3rd Dan Black Belt
Sensei Lisa has been training with Kansai Karate Gold Coast for over 10 years and holds a 3rd Dan Black Belt awarded by Kazuo Ishitobi Hanshi of the Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Do Union. After years assisting classes through our leadership program, Lisa completed our Instructor Program and now takes a full instructor role within the dojo. She holds Bronze Coaching Certification from the NCAS/ACS and Karate Australia.
The Style: Shitoryu Shukokai
Kansai Karate teaches Shitoryu Shukokai — a traditional Japanese karate style known for its technical precision, powerful strikes, and emphasis on practical application. The style traces directly to Sensei Tani, founder of Shukokai, and is maintained through a direct lineage to Japan.
Students learn the complete art: kata (forms), kihon (basics), kumite (sparring), and the philosophy behind each. Unlike many modern martial arts schools, we teach something real — and students who train here know the difference.
Affiliations
Kansai Karate Academy and its affiliated dojos are proud members of Karate Queensland and Karate Australia, recognised as the governing bodies for karate by the Australian Sports Commission.
Our Dojo
We are located at Unit 3/2 Sierra Place, Upper Coomera QLD 4209 — servicing Upper Coomera and the surrounding northern Gold Coast communities including Coomera, Pimpama, Ormeau, Oxenford, Helensvale, and Hope Island.
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