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Stuart Norris - Yellow belt grading
Almost three years ago I received a call from my instructor Corey asking if I’d like to have a complimentary lesson with him. Almost three years ago I had my mind blown away. I’d just witnessed someone moving in a way I’d never seen before and carry himself with a confidence and humbleness I only ever dreamed of having. I never realised that along the way I’d stop dreaming and start acting to become the person I always wanted to be.

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Optimum Movement Centre
Did you know that back pain is one of the leading causes of absenteeism from the workplace? Approximately 1 in 6 Australians will suffer back pain in a year. It may impact our ability to walk, sit, lay down, sleep, not to mention our ability to function optimally at work and at home.



Back Pain may be caused by insufficient strength in the spine due to impaired core strength, excess weight, poor posture, sitting for long periods of time, lack of physical activity, poor mobility, hereditary conditions or diseases, injury or inflammation due to a number of reasons including diet and stressors.

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Chris Walsh - Yellow Belt Grading Story
I started Arakan just interested in the discipline of keeping fit and learning this fantastic skill at the same time. This appealed to my rational mind and it made sense that this could actually be applied in a real life situation. 



I have been training for over 5 years and like some students starting out I had to find a balance with regularity of training with cost and other commitments. What I didn’t expect was that as I trained but I became more empowered, decisive and a leader in my business. 

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Story from Tracey McMahon

All experiences in life whether good or bad, shape who we are and it is up to us to use them to create the best version of ourselves.

From the minute I hit the first pad I felt my Light turn on. At the time I had no idea what it was but I felt something happen that I liked and I wanted more. 

Over the years I have discovered that 'Light' and have learnt to use it to heal my darkness. And discovered a passion to guide others to discover their Light, regardless of what has happened to them.

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Orange Belt

This year I have been lucky enough to be invited to attend a special orange belt group once a month on a Saturday morning with the Chief Instructor. It's been such a privilege to be invited to this class as Master Rob really starts to break down how the techniques of the Orange Belt grade really flow together.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson said "Evil is the force that believes its knowledge is complete." In this class everyone has been training close to 10 years if not more and I get the real sense that no one at the class feels like their knowledge is complete and especially not after Master Rob begins to unveil how all the pieces fit together, the depth of knowledge Rob has on a seemingly simple technique is unfathomable.

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Yellow Belt Grading Story - Sam Becker

Just on 5 years ago, my son Sam, at 11yo, started his Arakan Martial Art® training. Like anything new, learning takes time and application. He made progress quickly and this was aided very much by his initial instructor Ryan Robbie. Ryan’s patient, supportive instruction helped guide Sam through these early years working closely on developing his technique and timing.

In the following years Sam also trained with Nathan Hinga in his Level 1 class. The improvement he achieved in his technique, conditioning and feeding skills was easy to see. He was always pumped to attend his lessons and we noticed a maturity developing in him which we attributed to what he was learning and the time spent with his instructors and fellows students.

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Self Defence Vs Martial Arts

Every martial art is a system of movements based on body mechanics to produce a desired effect. Each style will have its unique way of moving. Each style will have its particular rhythms, strikes, kicks, deflections, defences, take-downs etc.

Every style of martial art is capable of delivering massive amounts of damage to an opponent; ranging from strikes, take–downs, joint locks, kicks, and chokes just to name a few moves.

Some martial arts have been developed or has been adapted over time for competition. Audiences are most often treated to a spectacular contest, especially at the highest levels of competition. Competition based styles ,may also be effective for self defence purposes on the street, outside of the ring; as long as the practitioner is competent and experienced enough to be able to adapt the skill sets that they have learnt at the gym, to the street...

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Benefits of having a mentor for youth
Mentoring can assist youth with developing coping mechanisms and tools to help deal with life challenges. The benefits are both immediate and long term with both the mentor and mentee greatly benefiting ...

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Sydney Ambassador of the Year – Nick Jones
Former world champion bodybuilder, Nick Jones recently shared his thoughts on his Arakan Journey so far and his recent successful Yellow Belt Grading. Watch the video here now...

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Welcome to 2018!
I trust all is great and that you have had a great start to 2018. It’s so amazing to see so many Arakan Warriors training hard, thanks for having such a great attitude towards training.

This year marks 25 years of Arakan Martial Art in Australia, so I would like to extend very special congratulations to members who have been part of our family for ten years or longer. I believe that most of the battle is in just turning up, consistently, every week and just doing the ‘work’.

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Green Belt Grading
I think events and pressure situations, such as an Arakan Martial Art grading are good for us, as they give us an understanding of what we are capable of when we put our entire energy into something. For me this opportunity came with the series of Green belt gradings I did through-out 2017 and the final one this year...

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Orange Belt Grading
he Orange Belt journey for me was an amazing process, that only after grading am I truly appreciating. Arakan has positively influenced my life in many ways and i have felt through the grading process those life changes accelerate as I was pushed through my comfort zone again and again forming new and more powerful habits...

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Yellow Belt Grading
I started Arakan 3 years ago after deciding that I needed fitness (was sick of the gym) and also wanted to learn to fight/defend myself, being a smaller bloke in the height category. So began my journey. The first year was a nice and slow understanding of the craft. I wanted to dedicate myself to turning up and creating a new routine and I didn’t want to do what most people do, go hard, feel like they have achieved something and then quit...

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MEMBER STORY - LADIES SEMINAR 2017
his is my second year attending the ladies seminar. In the 10 weeks, Rob teaches us techniques and about body mechanics to help us push through the initial reaction of panic and fight through the exhaustion and discomfort so you can find a way to get home safely. When I started two years ago, I wouldn't have guessed that I would be most grateful for the exposure to stimulus like grabs, hair pulling or being pinned to the ground so that if it ever were to happen outside of training, it is not the first time I've felt it....

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MEMBER STORY - SYDNEY ROAD RAGE
Cities are becoming more densely populated, traffic is forever increasing, and drivers are becoming more and more frustrated. Out of all seminars I've attended through Arakan Martial Art, I've so far found road rage to be the most practical of all...

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Life after domestic violence - a members story
7 years ago I found the courage to leave my 10 year mental, physical and emotional abusive relationship. So at almost 28 I found myself no longer a teenager but a woman, back at my mothers house beaten down with a broken soul and no idea of how to function as an adult.

6 years ago I moved to the Gold Coast for a fresh start....

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Student of the Month - Renee Cresswick
Renee has been training for over 6 years. She has been training hard for her Yellow Belt Grading, which she passed in earlier this year in July. Renee is a committed and dedicated student who is such a pleasure to teach. Renee’s courageous approach is an inspiration to us all....

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Warrior Day 2016

Over 250 Arakan Warriors in one place, training hard in beautiful surroundings with the best intentions and energy for each other, how does it get any better than this? Thank you to all of our amazing members for the most magnificent day! I am forever grateful to have the privilege to share Arakan with you all....

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Rebuilding my life with Arakan after domestic violence
I never thought it would ever happen to me. I had always considered myself a strong, confident, and independent woman, yet I became a victim of extreme, ongoing domestic violence (physical, emotional, mental, verbal, and financial abuse) where I came very close to losing my life. I lost everything; my home, my career, my friends, and all sense of who I was as a person. To stay safe, I had to live in a women’s refuge for 3 months when I first fled. My personality and character had been stripped bare and I carried a world’s worth of shame and embarrassment over my experience. In coming out of the refuge, I began the journey of putting my life back together, something I was determined to do from the day I fled from my ex-partner...

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Instructor Story - Scott Morisset
Starting to write this article I asked myself do I include all the interesting events, ups and down I’ve endured along my Arakan journey hmmm….. yes. Just like training there will always be peaks and troughs and times where lessons are harder than others and times where the planets align and everything seems to fall into place. Whether its physical, mental or emotional Arakan has always taught me and given me the strength to battle through any situation. On the flip side of this Arakan is the place where I have had the best times of my life and met my best friends, amazing training partners and my partner and mother of my child. On top of this I’ve had such an incredible, patient and understanding mentor and instructor Rob Kyaw to guide me along the way.

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