Paul Starling
Encyclopedia
Paul Noel Starling is one of Australia's most respected Karate masters. He is also the most senior Caucasian student of Gōjū-ryū Grandmaster Jitsumi Gogen Yamaguchi
Kaiso, and a world Vice President of the International Karate do Goju Kai Association- I.K.G.A.
and remain undefeated when in 1970 at the very first Karate World Championships
his team came up against undisputed favorites Japan at the inaugural event held in Tokyo Japan. Paul Starling was also the very first graduate (1973) of Gogen Yamaguchi
's elite Japan Karate do College, and the only Caucasian & Australian to graduate as a Shihan (Master). He commenced training as a teenager in 1963 at the very first Dojo
(karate school) of Goju Kai established in Australia at that time, with the founder of Goju Kai in Australia; Merv Oakley Sensei. During this period in Australian Karate do history there were very few qualified Instructors in the country, and of those only a handful were proficient or graded legitimately to Instructor level. Merv Oakley was a pioneer of Australian Karate, and was the first Australian to have traveled to the Nippori, Uneo and Asakusa Tokyo Dojo in Japan to study and train with Gogen Yamaguchi
Hanshi for extended periods of time.
After graduation from the elite Barker College
in Sydney with the Leaving Certificate, Paul was recruited by Unilever
Australia who supported his world championship participation 1970- 1972 where he commenced a managerial trainee-ship whilst he simultaneously commenced duties with the Australian Army
CMF, following in the footsteps of his career Army man father: Lieutenant Colonel Noel George Reid Starling, who it is argued was the longest serving Australian Army Officer, (46 years) enlisted 1927- 1973.
officer himself that Paul Starling developed his early leadership skills and the self discipline that helped him build the reputation of Gōjū-ryū via the Sydney Goju Kai Dojo
and the Macquarie University
Karate Club, into successful traditional Japanese Dojo
. As a founder and executive member of the Australian Karate Federation, for many years he was involved in a voluntary capacity for over two decades in promoting Karate do in Australia and as a referee, judge and coach at State, National and International W.K.F. competitions. Along with Australian politician and fellow karateka, the late John Newman
, he promoted Australian Karate do in the media and helped to organise colleague Instructors in Australia in those fledgling days, into a cohesive group whereby Australia's reputation and success at International competition during the 1980s was unprecedented for a country with such a limited population.
As a member of the very first Australian team to the Karate World Championships
(World Karate do Championship), and the only member to remain undefeated, the Australian team of five John Halpin; Paul Starling; Graham Kelleher; Danny Ellaby and Ilias Zacharias came up against world favorites- Japan. Photos to the right show the team members about to compete against the Japanese team at this historic event. Paul Starling remained unefeated against his opponent; the highly respected All Japan Champion Akihita Isaka. Japan were the eventual winners of the coveted World Championship Team event. Other members of the Japanese World Champion team included: Abe, Yahara, Osaka, and Tanaka.
- A.K.F. the only recognised body by the Australian Government and the International Olympic Committee.
-do instructor in the 1983 classic Australian movie The Coolangatta Gold
also known as Lucas Lucas in Asia, and The Gold and the Glory in the United States. accompanied by several of his black belt students who played the part of the Karate class. Starling was approached by the film's producer, director and writer (Igor Auzons and Peter Schreck) in 1982 and asked to train a leading actor, Joss McWilliam, in karate methods full time over a period of 3 months in order for the actor to fulfill his role in the film. McWilliam trained diligently as a beginner on a daily basis with Paul and the senior instructors of the Dojo. His character in the film was a black belt Shodan; however, in reality, McWilliam was actually a white Belt in Karate do. Starling was chosen from Australia's most elite karate-do athletes to portray the Karate Instructor in this classic Australian movie 'The Coolangatta Gold in 1983, by producer John Weiley; director Igor Auzins and writer Peter Schreck, whereby Starling was noted by the reviewers of respected American Variety (magazine)
as having played a most commendable and convincing role.
Hanshi in his home, and had also acted in a secretarial capacity for the I.K.G.A. (International Karate do Gojukai Association). In this role he had become very closely aligned with the Yamaguchi family in Japan, and he has since returned on a dozen different occasions with very large groups of his students to train with both Gogen Yamaguchi
Hanshi prior to his death in 1989, and also later with Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan, Gosen Yamaguchi Shihan, and also Wakako Yamaguchi Shihan.
Whilst at the Japan Karate do College (Nihon Karate do Senmon Gakko) where Starling trained full time for one year in 1973, he was taught by Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi
(Goju Kai), Grandmaster Hironori Otsuka (Wado Ryu
), Grandmaster Iwata Manzao (Shito Ryu
), Grandmaster Tamae (Rembukan), and Grandmaster Gansho Motokatsu Inoue (Ryukyu Kobujitsu Hozon Shinko Kai). Also trained by Goshi Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan, and several other Japanese Shihan of the time.
When in Tokyo 3 years previously during 1970 whilst representing Australia in the Team kumite event at the inaugural Karate World Championships
, Gogen Yamaguchi
suggested the name of Sydney Goju Kan for Starling's own Dojo, and the School has been in operation ever since. Along with the Macquarie University
Karate Club (established 1970) Sydney Goju Kai members of Paul Starling Shihan trained with, and competed against their Melbourne Goju Kai colleagues. It was in 1989 that Paul Starling Shihan became the Chief Instructor of Goju Kai Karate do Australia until retiring from that position 15 years later in 2004 due to a sudden illness.
and Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi, 7th Dan in 1995 in Tokyo Japan, and was also graded to 5th Dan in the Okinawan Weapons Ryukyu Kobujitsu Hozon Shinko Kai in 1988 by Grandmaster (Gansho) Motokatsu Inoue in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Starling's most senior student has been training with him for 39 years: Dr Mark Burton 6th Dan Renshi Shihan, former Australian & New South Wales Kata Champion, is now the New South Wales Branch Chief and Chief Instructor for Goju Kai Karate do Australia Sydney Goju Kan. Mark Burton teaches at Macquarie University
.
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
Kaiso, and a world Vice President of the International Karate do Goju Kai Association- I.K.G.A.
Karate World Championships
He was also the first Australian Karateka to compete in a Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World Championships
The WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
and remain undefeated when in 1970 at the very first Karate World Championships
Karate World Championships
The WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
his team came up against undisputed favorites Japan at the inaugural event held in Tokyo Japan. Paul Starling was also the very first graduate (1973) of Gogen Yamaguchi
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
's elite Japan Karate do College, and the only Caucasian & Australian to graduate as a Shihan (Master). He commenced training as a teenager in 1963 at the very first Dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
(karate school) of Goju Kai established in Australia at that time, with the founder of Goju Kai in Australia; Merv Oakley Sensei. During this period in Australian Karate do history there were very few qualified Instructors in the country, and of those only a handful were proficient or graded legitimately to Instructor level. Merv Oakley was a pioneer of Australian Karate, and was the first Australian to have traveled to the Nippori, Uneo and Asakusa Tokyo Dojo in Japan to study and train with Gogen Yamaguchi
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
Hanshi for extended periods of time.
Daily Training Regime
Starling had commenced training on a daily basis in Judo from adolescence with a very distinguished Australian teacher; Sensei Ron Cox, who trained with Australia's Olympians Peter Paige; Brian Dalton and Ron Foord, and for a decade continued to train in Judo, where he was a junior Youth Champion, and Goju Kai Karate do concurrently and on a full time daily basis with both disciplines. In those days like other enthusiastic young karate-ka, Starling commuted large distances from home via public transport in order to train with the most highly qualified teachers in Sydney.After graduation from the elite Barker College
Barker College
Barker College is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Hornsby, a North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1890 by the Reverend Henry Plume at Kurrajong Heights, Barker is an all-boys school from Kindergarten to Year 9, and co-educational from...
in Sydney with the Leaving Certificate, Paul was recruited by Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
Australia who supported his world championship participation 1970- 1972 where he commenced a managerial trainee-ship whilst he simultaneously commenced duties with the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
CMF, following in the footsteps of his career Army man father: Lieutenant Colonel Noel George Reid Starling, who it is argued was the longest serving Australian Army Officer, (46 years) enlisted 1927- 1973.
Early years
It was as an Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
officer himself that Paul Starling developed his early leadership skills and the self discipline that helped him build the reputation of Gōjū-ryū via the Sydney Goju Kai Dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
and the Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
Karate Club, into successful traditional Japanese Dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
. As a founder and executive member of the Australian Karate Federation, for many years he was involved in a voluntary capacity for over two decades in promoting Karate do in Australia and as a referee, judge and coach at State, National and International W.K.F. competitions. Along with Australian politician and fellow karateka, the late John Newman
John Newman (Australian politician)
John Paul Newman was a member of the New South Wales state parliament and Member for the seat of Cabramatta. He was the first elected politician to be assassinated in Australia.-Early life:...
, he promoted Australian Karate do in the media and helped to organise colleague Instructors in Australia in those fledgling days, into a cohesive group whereby Australia's reputation and success at International competition during the 1980s was unprecedented for a country with such a limited population.
As a member of the very first Australian team to the Karate World Championships
Karate World Championships
The WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
(World Karate do Championship), and the only member to remain undefeated, the Australian team of five John Halpin; Paul Starling; Graham Kelleher; Danny Ellaby and Ilias Zacharias came up against world favorites- Japan. Photos to the right show the team members about to compete against the Japanese team at this historic event. Paul Starling remained unefeated against his opponent; the highly respected All Japan Champion Akihita Isaka. Japan were the eventual winners of the coveted World Championship Team event. Other members of the Japanese World Champion team included: Abe, Yahara, Osaka, and Tanaka.
Contributions to karate
- Represented Australia at the Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World ChampionshipsThe WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
World Karate FederationWorld Karate FederationThe World Karate Federation, or WKF, was formed in 1990 from former WUKO members and is the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countries. It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than ten million members...
's first Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World ChampionshipsThe WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
in Japan in 1970, and also at the 2nd Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World ChampionshipsThe WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
at Paris in 1972. - A founder member of the Australian Karate Federation http://www.akf.com.au
- A.K.F. the only recognised body by the Australian Government and the International Olympic Committee.
- Founder member -The Kokusai Karate do Shihan Kai.
- Founder member -The New South Wales Karate Federation.
- Chief Instructor - Macquarie University Karate Club. (1971 - 2004)
- Represented Australia as an international official at W.U.K.O (W.K.F.) Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World ChampionshipsThe WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
- Karate Instructor of the Year (Blitz Magazine)
- Chancellor's Lifetime Achievement Award- Macquarie UniversityMacquarie UniversityMacquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
- First Shihan graduate of Gogen YamaguchiGogen YamaguchiJitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
Kaiso's Japan Karate do College Nihon Karate do Senmon Gakko - Only Caucasian and Australian Graduate as Shihan: Japan Karate do College
Coolangatta Gold
Starling's role as the KarateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
-do instructor in the 1983 classic Australian movie The Coolangatta Gold
The Coolangatta Gold
The NIB Coolangatta Gold is one of the premier events in the Australian sport of Ironman . The event is organised by Surf Life Saving Australia.-The Event:...
also known as Lucas Lucas in Asia, and The Gold and the Glory in the United States. accompanied by several of his black belt students who played the part of the Karate class. Starling was approached by the film's producer, director and writer (Igor Auzons and Peter Schreck) in 1982 and asked to train a leading actor, Joss McWilliam, in karate methods full time over a period of 3 months in order for the actor to fulfill his role in the film. McWilliam trained diligently as a beginner on a daily basis with Paul and the senior instructors of the Dojo. His character in the film was a black belt Shodan; however, in reality, McWilliam was actually a white Belt in Karate do. Starling was chosen from Australia's most elite karate-do athletes to portray the Karate Instructor in this classic Australian movie 'The Coolangatta Gold in 1983, by producer John Weiley; director Igor Auzins and writer Peter Schreck, whereby Starling was noted by the reviewers of respected American Variety (magazine)
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
as having played a most commendable and convincing role.
Training at the Japan Karate Do College
Whilst in Japan and attending the prestigious Japan Karate do College, Starling had stayed with Gogen YamaguchiGogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
Hanshi in his home, and had also acted in a secretarial capacity for the I.K.G.A. (International Karate do Gojukai Association). In this role he had become very closely aligned with the Yamaguchi family in Japan, and he has since returned on a dozen different occasions with very large groups of his students to train with both Gogen Yamaguchi
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
Hanshi prior to his death in 1989, and also later with Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan, Gosen Yamaguchi Shihan, and also Wakako Yamaguchi Shihan.
Whilst at the Japan Karate do College (Nihon Karate do Senmon Gakko) where Starling trained full time for one year in 1973, he was taught by Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
(Goju Kai), Grandmaster Hironori Otsuka (Wado Ryu
Wado Ryu
is a karate style; three organizations now teach the Wadō-ryū style: the Japan Karate-dō Federation Wadōkai , the Wadōryū Karatedō Renmei, and the Wadō Kokusai Karatedō Renmei .- Philosophy :The name...
), Grandmaster Iwata Manzao (Shito Ryu
Shito ryu
is a form of karate that was founded in 1931 by .- History :Kenwa Mabuni was born in Shuri, a district of Naha, Okinawa in 1889. Mabuni was a 17th generation descendant of the famous warrior Oni Ufugusuku Kenyu...
), Grandmaster Tamae (Rembukan), and Grandmaster Gansho Motokatsu Inoue (Ryukyu Kobujitsu Hozon Shinko Kai). Also trained by Goshi Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan, and several other Japanese Shihan of the time.
When in Tokyo 3 years previously during 1970 whilst representing Australia in the Team kumite event at the inaugural Karate World Championships
Karate World Championships
The WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
, Gogen Yamaguchi
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
suggested the name of Sydney Goju Kan for Starling's own Dojo, and the School has been in operation ever since. Along with the Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
Karate Club (established 1970) Sydney Goju Kai members of Paul Starling Shihan trained with, and competed against their Melbourne Goju Kai colleagues. It was in 1989 that Paul Starling Shihan became the Chief Instructor of Goju Kai Karate do Australia until retiring from that position 15 years later in 2004 due to a sudden illness.
Accomplishments
- Former N.S.W State Coach for the New South Wales Karate Federation.
- State of New South Wales "A" Level Referee Australian Karate Federation.
- Former "A" Level National Australian Referee for the Australian Karate Federation.
- Former National Secretary for the AKF (FAKO).
- Represented Australia as a referee/judge various Karate World Championships World Karate FederationWorld Karate FederationThe World Karate Federation, or WKF, was formed in 1990 from former WUKO members and is the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countries. It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than ten million members...
Championships including Taiwan 1982, where he coached his wife and student (Sandie) Alexandra Starling Shihan to become the first ever Australian Karate athlete to win a medal, when she won 3rd place: Bronze in the Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World ChampionshipsThe WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
Female Kata event performing Gōjū-ryū Kata Seisan, Seipai and Suparinpei. - Formulator of inaugural Level One Coaching Course run by the A.K.F. for the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme.
- On the committee that designed the original Level Two Coaching Scheme for the A.K.F.
- National Australian University Sports Co-ordinator for Karate do.
- Organizing Committee: Karate World ChampionshipsKarate World ChampionshipsThe WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
W.K.F. World Karate do Championships Sydney 1986.
Legacy
Many international, Australian national, and state karate champions have come from Starling's dojo. Many of his students have gone on to become internationally recognided instructors in their own right. Amongst his senior graduates who have gone on to become shihan are Ingo De Jong 8th dan hanshi (I.K.G.A. Vice President, Director of the European Bloc, Branch Chief for Scandinavia), Helmut Moldners 5th dan Renshi (former NSW North Coast Branch Chief), Mark Burton 6th dan Renshi (N.S.W. Branch Chief and Chief Instructor) and Sandie Alexandra Starling 5th dan Renshi W.K.F World Karate do Championship Taiwan medalist in 1982.Current I.K.G.A. qualifications
Paul Starling was awarded KYOSHI License in 1989 by Gogen YamaguchiGogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
and Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi, 7th Dan in 1995 in Tokyo Japan, and was also graded to 5th Dan in the Okinawan Weapons Ryukyu Kobujitsu Hozon Shinko Kai in 1988 by Grandmaster (Gansho) Motokatsu Inoue in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Starling's most senior student has been training with him for 39 years: Dr Mark Burton 6th Dan Renshi Shihan, former Australian & New South Wales Kata Champion, is now the New South Wales Branch Chief and Chief Instructor for Goju Kai Karate do Australia Sydney Goju Kan. Mark Burton teaches at Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
.