Founder and School Owner, Master Joe Ingrati has been involved with martial arts since 1970. Inspired by martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Master Joe first started learning Judo and Boxing at Burwood Police Citizen Youth Club in Sydney.
Later on, Master Joe was drawn to Taekwondo due to its spectacular arsenal of kicking techniques. Since then, he has moved into other areas such as:
- Kenpo
- Hapkido
- Arnis
- Kung Fu
- Jiu-Jitsu
- Karate
- Tai Chi
- Jeet Kune Do
- Silat
- Wing Chun Kung Fu
- White Crane Kung Fu
- Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu
- Pak Mei Kung Fu
- Kanzen Jitsu
- Muay Thai
JAI Highlights and Achievements
During the late 1980’s, Master Joe created the JAI Demo Team. A group of skilled individuals who would represent JAI showcasing their skills in demonstrations. These demonstrations features costumes, music, weapons, choreographed fight scenes and comedy skits. The team performed at festivals and fetes alongside the likes of Johnny Young and the Young Talent Time, and Martial Arts Royalty Bill “Super Foot” Wallace, Tadashi Yamashita, Ernie Reyes Snr and Jnr and Cynthia Rothrock.
In the early 90’s Master Joe turned his attention to Taekwondo Competition. In 1993 he sent a team of 6 fighters to Singapore for the “Singapore Annual Championships”. Despite being their first overseas competition, the group was very successful with each student winning either Gold or Silver – one fighter was televised on Singapore Television as he fought against a Singapore National Champion in the Finals. This created a hunger for winning in sport Taekwondo, and in the years that followed JAI would be dominant in Taekwondo Competitions locally, interstate and overseas.
JAI Competition Team Success include:
- 2022 – Best Club at the 17th Korean Taekwondo Association of Australia (KTAA) Tournament
- 2001 – ACT Open Cup: Best Overall Winning Club
- 2000-2001 – NSW Best Overall Medal Tally Club
- 1999-2002 – Best Overall Taekwondo Club in NSW
- 1999 – NSW President Cup Winners
- 1996 – University of New South Wales club of the year – Led by Grandmaster Joe
Student Achievements include:
- Selected to represent Australia in International Championships – Taekwondo and Muay Thai
- Selected to represent Australia at the WAKO Junior World Championships
- ACT Champions
- State Champions – NSW
- National Champions
- Selected to participate in the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP)
Personal Highlights and Achievements
The JAI Demo Team didn’t only feature students, Master Ingrati would often participate in the shows, showcasing his individual talents and skills. With the ending of the JAI Demo Team, Master Ingrati then turned his attention to coaching. Since then, the clubs name has become a regular at Taekwondo tournaments throughout NSW. Master Ingrati’s coaching success has led to many personal achievements, some of them include:
- 2022: Inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame (IMHOF).
- 2020: Inducted into the World Martial Arts Grandmasters Federation (WMAGF) Hall of Fame (Only 10 Grandmasters in the world recognised for this award in 2020)
- 2020 – Present: Awarded title of Australian President of International Pro Taekwondo Federation
- 2017 – 9th Dan Taekwondo Changmookwan
- REGIONAL DIRECTOR for Kenpo Karate (first time given outside of America) under the International Kenpo Karate Federation.
- 2013: Inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame: ‘Outstanding Martial Artist’
- Front Cover and Feature Article titled ‘Excellence in Training’ in Australiasian Taekwondo Magazine
- 2012-2015 – Best Taekwondo School at the Taekwondo All Schools Tournament
- 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:
- 9th Dan Taekwondo Changmookwan – Awarded title of Grandmaster
- 8th Dan Taekwondo Black Belt
- 8th Degree Kenpo Karate Black Belt – United Kenpo Karate Association, USA
- Master Instructor, Master Examiner, Kyoshi – Kenpo Karate
- 4th Dan Hapkido Black Belt – World Kido Association, Korea
- Arjarn in Muay Thai under Master Toddy and the Muay Thai International Association (MTIA)
- Kanzen Jitsu Black Belt
- Certificate IV in assessment and workplace training
- Certificate IV in Fitness
- Certificate IV in sport coaching: Martial arts
- Level 1: National Coaching Accreditation Scheme – Australian Coaching Council
- 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 Wally Jay (Jiu-Jitsu)
- Master Sam Gervasi (Jiu-Jitsu)
- 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)