Instructors
Sensei John Whitfield - 3rd Dan
Sensei John Whitfield became our head of style in late 2011, when our then head of style Sensei Murry Burrows stood down, due to ill health. Sensei began training in Karate during the late seventies at the Ipswich Police youth club. He was absent from Karate for a number years before rejoining Sensei Burrows and WAMA in the early nineties.
Sensei, a senior 3rd Dan, had been teaching with Sensei Burrows for a number of years before he became the head of style and is one of our clubs most knowledgeable and talented members. Sensei instigates the training program at the club and supervises over all gradings.
Sempai Daniel Nieuwenburg - 2nd Dan
Sempai Daniel started training in Shotokan Karate in 1994 and studied for about five years in this style. After taking a break during high school Daniel joined the West Moreton Academy of Martial Arts in 2003. Sempai Daniel received his 1st Dan in 2008 while still with the Australian Academy of Martial Arts, and went on to get his 2nd Dan two years later in 2010. Sempai has competed at a state and national level in kumite (sparring).
Since Sempai graded to 1st Dan he has been helping out with instructing at the club. With Sensei Burrows looking to step back from his role as the head of the club Daniel has stepped up to the role of Assistant Instructor to help Sensei Whitfield with his new responsibilities. Sempai Daniel is in charge of the business side of the club, allowing Sensei Whitfield to focus on the important role of teaching karate.
Sensei Murry Burrows - 4th Dan
Sensei Burrows founded WAMA in 1994, when the club was a branch of the AAMA. He was a state judge, level one coach and an assistant Queensland coach. He has trained many students to State and national tournament level. He is a 4th Dan Black belt with over thirty years experience in martial arts and has been training in Karate for over twenty years.
Unfortunately he had to stand down as head of style due to ill health and has since taken up the role of technical adviser to the instructors. Recently he was presented with the title of Sofu which means "grandfather" in Japanese, which is a very good description of his new role in our club.