Head Instructor and Founder – Chikara Martial Arts (CMA)
- 9th Degree Black Belt (Hanshi) Zen Do Kai
- 9th Degree Trainer (Kru) BJMA Thaiboxing
- 3rd Degree Black Belt BJMA Krav Maga
- 3rd Degree Black Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (DeBeen 100% Jiu Jitsu)
Beginning his Martial Arts instructor career as a teenager, Kyl is a teacher, motivator, and advocate for empowerment programs.
After over 30 years Kyl remains a student of the Arts and founded Chikara Martial Arts to build a community ….
Kyl sought to find a style that based its teaching principles on real-life self defence and practical solutions to confrontations in today’s society. He made the switch to Zen Do Kai under the tutelage of 10th Degree Black Belt Hanshi Soke Brad Ross and to this day Brad remains Kyl’s Zen Do Kai and BJC Muay Thai instructor. Kyl attributes his relationship with Brad, along with assistance and support of some of some amazing friends and mentors in the arts, the driving force behind his continued personal growth and CMA’s success as a whole.
Kyl “cut his teeth” in self defence across his 20 years in major Australian Crowd Control and security assignments. Working in the busiest nightclubs in inner-city Brisbane from the mid 90’s, Kyl’s summers were spent working Australia’s famed music festival scene along the eastern seaboard and at other times of the year managing safety and security for some of the biggest names in Australian and international bands of that time.
This exposed Kyl to opportunities where his Arts skills were battle-tested, and in hindsight proved invaluable in forging his goal for a real-life and practical teaching style. These experiences ground and inform what his students learn and other groups techniques that have proved their worth when needed most.
In 2021 CMA reaches a milestone: 25 years. CMA has come a long way, step by step. From its humble beginnings in a Scout Hall, CMA now has a dedicated full time facility that operates classes 6 days a week and has a community of over 400 members from all walks of life.
In line with Kyl’s philosophy as a lifelong student, he travels extensively within Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, The United States and other locations to continually train, teach, and learn. Kyl believes in a pursuit for continuous improvement for his own benefit as well as the benefit of his students. This extends beyond just physical learning and Kyl hones his instructor style and teaching methods through regular workshops and conferences with other full time Martial Arts instructors and coaches in other fields. These learnings and insights enable CMA to continually adapt to the modern world and remain a place for everyone.
CMA seeks to provide a complete experience, and as they celebrate 28 years of operation in 2024, this vision is closer than ever. The last year has seen Kyl and CMA take a different direction and launching a youth program focussed on building resilience through mental health to tackle the challenge of life in today’s world. The success of this program has been profound for children in home schooled environment and with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
CMA has created this chance to learn through recognising individual diversity, adapting learning strategies and support and empower these young individuals to experience participation as part of a bigger picture. CMA provides a place to feel a connection and importantly a sense of belonging.
Kyl has also developed a passion for passing on knowledge and experience to young people of the community as well, speaking to high school groups in particular about the way Martial Arts can lead them to making better life choices, and what he learnt in regard to awareness and self-protection from his years of dealing with confrontation and violence.
Kyl’s philosophy is that there no one demographic when it comes to Martial Arts, and the entire community can benefit from the teachings and concepts of the Martial Arts. There really is something for everyone. CMA is a place where everyone learns to “Back Yourself.” CMA’s success comes from being a community and place where people from all walks of life come together and are equal in driving towards this goal.
Kyl is available for personal training of all levels, corporate groups, school presentations, and other individual groups. You can contact him directly on kyl@chikaramartialarts.com.au
