Kancho Nenad Djurdevic

The Principal or Kancho of the Academy of Traditional Fighting Arts is Nenad Djurdjevic, a martial arts black belt with 30 years of experience. He is a specialist in practical self defence as well as a traditional martial arts instructor. His studies into the martial arts have encompassed the arts of Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do, Aikido, Okinawan Kobudo (Okinawan martial arts weapons system), the Japanese weapons arts of Jodo (4ft staff) and Kenjutsu (sword), Filipino Arnis (the knife and stick fighting system of the Philippines), Qin-na (the grappling and seizing fighting system of China) and the 'soft' art of Taijiquan (both in its health and combat forms).

In addition to his martial arts qualifications Kancho Nenad holds a Diploma of Education, a formal teaching qualification, as well as Bachelor degrees in Engineering and Sport Science. The latter degree enables him to integrate the latest knowledge in sports medicine into the Academy, including health, fitness and injury prevention/rehabilitation.

He is dedicated both to improving his own knowledge and to providing tuition of the highest quality in a relaxed and friendly environment.

He has been holding short courses in self defence since 1987 for a variety of community groups including women's groups, fitness centres, Rotary clubs, Scouting organisations, the Catholic Migrant Centre and the staff of various government departments and hospitals. He has taught self defence and restraint techniques to security guards, crowd controllers and youth-workers.

He has also taught courses at the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Hollywood High School, North Lake Senior Campus, Carine High School, Alexander College, Christchurch Grammar School, Guilford Grammar and Rehoboth Christian College.

Furthermore, Nenad has run courses for young people and teenagers with special needs in the metropolitan area, and for young people in remote aboriginal communities, in each case with a view to improving their self-esteem and assisting them to develop non-violent conflict management skills.

Shihan Dejan (Dan) Djurdjevic

The Chief Instructor of the Academy of Traditional Fighting Arts, Shihan Dejan Djurdjevic, began a formal study of martial arts in 1981. His studies into the martial arts have encompassed the arts of Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do, Aikido, Okinawan Kobudo (Okinawan martial arts weapons system), the Japanese weapons arts of Jodo (4ft staff) and Kenjutsu (sword), Filipino Arnis (the knife and stick fighting system of the Philippines), Qin-na (the grappling and seizing fighting system of China) and the 'soft' art of Taijiquan (both in its health and combat forms).

In addition to his martial arts qualifications Shihan Dan (as he is known) has a law degree and as such has assisted the College in formulating its approach to self-defence from a legal standpoint.

Dan also has an interest in the Chinese classics and in particular, the Chinese philosophy of Daoism, from which the concept of Wu-Wei is derived.

Shihan Dan has been responsible for furthering the knowledge of the Academy and has made numerous research trips for this purpose.  He has regularly made trips to train with Chen Yun-Ching, son of the legendary Chen Pan-Ling, since 2005 and in January 2009 he was given the rare honour of becoming his "bai shi" or "inner circle student" in an elaborate ceremony held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Shihan Dan is a prolific writer of martial arts related articles, many of which can be found on his blog The Way of Least Resistance.

Sensei Jeff Cosgrove 3rd Dan

Sensei Jeff started martial arts training at in 1986 and is the most senior student of Kancho Nenad and Shihan Dan and an instructor in his own right.

Jeff took an extended leave of absence from training during which time he spent 6 months trekking through South America, participated in triathlons, obtained a PhD in Marine Botany,  met the lady that is now his wife (Denise) and had a son (Aiden). Jeff returned to training at the Bayswater dojo in 2007 and received his 3rd Dan in April 2009.