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

SENSEI STEPHEN HOL

Stephen started karate training in 1985 with the South Western Shotokan group. Training in other Budo Arts like Judo, Jujitsu and Kobudo has helped Stephen along the way to enhance his Karate.  His main motivation for starting was to gain self confidence as well as a desire to learn a self defence system. 

As far as his most inspirational karate figure, Stephen cites Sensei Funakoshi Gichin primarily for giving us the modern day Shotokan we now know. As well, Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya for his innovative, rotary style of karate, and “training with Kasuya Sensei is always a huge buzz for me” quotes Stephen.  John Haitidis for his amazing spirit and pushing you to the limit in training at the Coburg dojo was a memorable time.

Stephen travelled to Japan in 2000 and took part in the 5^th WSKF International Training Seminar and World Championships where he competed in both kata, ippon shobu and jyu kumite. In fact, Stephen has been competing in karate since 1994 and his efforts can be seen below. Stephen went back to Japan in 2007 and 2009, participating in the international training seminar and competed and Judged/Refereed in the WSKF World Championships. 

Stephen’s main goals are to be continually teaching and training karate, and to realise what most instructors ultimately want, and this is to eventually see his own students turn into good instructors in the future.

Stephen works at the Alcoa smelter in Portland and when he’s not doing karate, enjoys surfing at the local break.

Dan rankings:

Shodan 1^st Dan Black Belt 1991 - Sensei John McIntosh

Nidan   2^nd Dan Black Belt 1999 - Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya

Sandan 3^rd Dan Black Belt 2002 - Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya

Yondan 4^th Dan Black Belt 2006 - Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya

Godan 5th Dan Black Belt 2010 - Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya

Other accreditations:

WSKF Level C Instructor, Examiner and Judge

NCAS Level 1 Coach

Current position:

Stephen is the principal instructor of the Portland dojo which he runs with the assistance of his Black Belt wife Shelley.

Competition background:

1996     1st Place Kata Southern States Championships Melbourne (JKA) 

1998    3rd Place Kata WSKF Victorian Championships Melbourne

2003 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 9     1st Place Kata Funakoshi All Styles Championships Warrnambool 

2004 / 6   2nd Place Team Kata Funakoshi All Styles Championships Warrnambool

2003 / 5     3 rd Place Team Kata Funakoshi All Styles Championships Warrnambool

2007       3rd Place Kata NAS championships Geelong, 4th Place Kata NAS Victorian Titles

2007 Competed in WSKF World Championships Tokyo Japan. Placed in top 8 in Veterans Kata division and competed in Veterans Jyu Kumite