World Shotokan Karate-do Federation - Perth - Brisbane - Melbourne - Martial Arts, Self Defence, School

Shelley commenced her karate training in 1997 primarily as a way to increase her fitness. She commenced training under Sensei John Haitidis at the Coburg dojo in Melbourne whom she found as a hard but fair Shotokan instructor.

Shelley was part of the Australian team that went to Japan in 2007 to the WSKF International Seminar and World Championships. It was her first participation at an international level and she found the experience both enlightening and extremely rewarding. Training in Japan in 35 + degrees with 89% humidity, surrounded by hundreds of hot, sweaty WSKF karate-ka in such close proximity that every step one would either get hit or bump into someone, was gruelling at the time but one of those experiences Shelley remembers with delight. Also, on the trip to Japan, training with Seto Sensei (JKA) in his beautiful, clean dojo was a bit daunting at first, but turned out to be a wonderful experience resulting in making some fabulous JKA friends.

Shelley cites the founder of modern day karate Master Funakoshi Gichin as a person she admires in the karate world. For someone who had a number of things against him – his size, his health and his fellow man – he achieved a wonderful thing in his introduction of karate to Japan and eventually, the world. Another figure she admires greatly is her international chief instructor Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya not only for his technical ability and knowledge, but also for his total dedication to his art.

Shelley loves the fact that karate allows her to push her boundaries both physically and mentally. One of her training highlights was obtaining her black belt 4 days after learning she was pregnant with her first child.

Shelley currently assists her husband Stephen in running the Portland dojo in country Victoria and when not training, spends her time running a part time dog grooming business as well as trying to keep her 3 year old son out of trouble! Shelley has also just learnt she is pregnant with her second child which is due in October 2008.

Shodan (1^st Dan) 2003 (Sensei Stephen Hol)

Nidan (2^nd Dan) 2006 (Kasuya Sensei)

NCAS Level 1 Coach

1998 - WSKA White Belts Male/Female 2nd Place

2003 - VicHealth Southwest Games Team Kata 3rd Place

2003 - VicHealth Southwest Games Female Kyu Grades Individual Kata 2nd Place

2004 - Funakoshi Karate Championships Team Kata 2nd Place

2007 - WSKF World Championships Competed in Women’s Kumite, Kata & Mixed Team Kata


Sensei Shelley Hol


Sensei Shelley Holl (3rd from left) with other members of the Australian
Team training at Sensei Seto's JKA dojo in Tokyo in 2007