Established in 1984, JAI Martial Arts is a family run business that teaches a variety of Martial Arts and Fitness Programs for students as young as 2, all the way to parents and adults. Our programs are designed to improve Fitness and Flexibility, while at the same time learning Self Defence and valuable Life Skills. These Life Skills are embedded in all of our programs to help create Confident, Resilient and Goal Setting individuals.
The school was founded by Master Joe Ingrati, and together with his wife Elly, his son Chris, and his Team of Instructors, they continue to create future generations of Martial Art Athletes.
Our full time school is located on the Mezzanine Level of 142 Maroubra Rd Maroubra. Entrance to the school is on Maroubra Rd, and parking is available in Pacific Square Shopping Centre or main roads. Group Classes and Private Classes run 7 days per week, with Monday to Friday starting from 4pm, and Weekend Classes from 9am.
JAI Martial Arts and Our History
During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the JAI Demonstration Team was a selection of skilled individuals who would showcase their skills in front of audiences all over Sydney. The JAI Demo Team featured costumes, music, weapons and choreographed fight scenes to music. The team performed at festivals and fetes alongside the likes of Johnny Young and the Young Talent Time, as well as Martial Arts Royalty like Bill “Super Foot” Wallace, Tadashi Yamashita, Ernie Reyes Snr and Jnr and Cynthia Rothrock.
In the early 90’s, the JAI Demo Team would come to a close, and a new chapter would begin. During this decade – and into the 2000’s – JAI was heavily involved in local, state and international Taekwondo Competition. In 1993, the club became increasingly involved with competition and sent six students to Singapore for the “Singapore Annual Championships”. Although this was the clubs first major overseas tournament, the students were successful and each brought back home a Gold or Silver in their respective divisions.
For Master Joe, this success created a hunger for winning in Taekwondo Competition. Over the years the club has continued its success in sporting endeavors, some accomplishments include:
- Winner of the ACT Open Cup – Best Overall Winning Club
- NSW Best Overall Medal Tally Club Taekwondo
- 1999-2002 – Best Overall Taekwondo Club in NSW
- NSW President Cup Winners
- 1996 – University of New South Wales club of the year
Student Achievements include:
- Selected to represent Australia in International Taekwondo and Muay Thai Championships
- ACT Taekwondo Champions
- NSW State Champions
- National Champions
- Student selection in the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP)
- Selected to represent Australia at the MTIA World Championships for Muay Thai in Thailand
- Selected to represent Australia at the WAKO Junior World Championship in Ireland
Master Joe’s Personal Highlights and Achievements
The JAI Demo Team didn’t only feature students, Master Joe would often participate in the shows, showcasing his individual talents and skills. With the ending of the JAI Demo Team, Master Joe then turned his attention to coaching. Since then, the clubs name has become a regular at Taekwondo tournaments throughout NSW. This success in coaching has led to many personal achievements, some of them include:
- 2001-2002 – Best Coach in NSW
- 2001 – Australasia Hall of Fame: Taekwondo Instructor of the Year
- 2001 – Australian Team Trainer at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Jordan
- 1998-1999 – Trainer of the Olympic Taekwondo “B Team” Athletes
- 1998 – Coach of the Taekwondo Junior Championships in Istanbul, Turkey
- 1998 – Coach of the Australian Team training in Korea
- 1998 – Coach of the NSW Team at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Games in Perth
- 1997-1998 – NSW Taekwondo Australia State Coach
- 1997 – Coach of the Australian Team at the US Taekwondo Open
- 1996-2000 – NSW State Councilor for Taekwondo Australia
- 1995 – Best Kenpo Club in Australia (Received 5 Star Rating from the United Kenpo Karate Association, New York)
Other achievements include:
- 8th Dan Taekwondo Black Belt Kukkiwon – World Taekwondo Federation
- 8th Dan Traditional Taekwondo Black Belt – Jidokwan – Korea
- 5th Degree Kenpo Karate Black Belt – United Kenpo Karate Association, USA
- Ajarn in Muay Thai under Master Toddy
- Kanzen Jitsu Black Belt
- Certificate IV in assessment and workplace training
- Certificate 4 in fitness
- Certificate IV in sport coaching: Martial arts
- Level 1: National Coaching Accreditation Scheme – Australian Coaching Council
- 4th Dan Hapkido Black Belt – World Kido Association, Korea
- First Aid – St. John Ambulance
- Awarded citation by World Taekwondo Federation President – Un Yong Kim for “Service and Contribution”
- Awarded citation by Taekwondo Jidokwan President – Sung Wan Lee for “Promoting Taekwondo Overseas”
Martial Arts Training
- Over the years, Master Ingrati has been trained in many styles by his peers. Some of them include:
- Master Chang Seong Dong (Taekwondo)
- Master Chong Won Lee (Taekwondo)
- Master Chi Kwan Yun (Taekwondo)
- Guru Dan Inosanto (Jeet Kune Do)
- Guru Richard Bustillo (Grappling, Arnis, Thai Boxing, Jeet Kune Do)
- Sifu Larry Hartsell (Grappling)
- Mr Bill Wallace (Kicking)
- Master Tadashi Yamashita (Karate)
- Master Homer Alenadaf (Karate and Kanzen Jitsu)
- Master Chai Sirasute (Thai Boxing)
- Master Toddy (Muay Thai)
- Master John Will (Jiu-Jitsu)
- Master Wally Jay (Jiu-Jitsu)
- Master Sam Gervasi (Jiu-Jitsu)
- Master Richard Norton (Jiu Jitsu, MMA)
- Master Jay T. Will (Kenpo)
- Master Andrew Harris (Kenpo)
- Master Dennis Conaster (Kenpo)
- Sifu Xie Shouda (Thai Chi/Chi Kung)
- Sifu Gary Lim (Kung Fu)
