IOGKF Australia Instructors - present and past

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Brent Pawlik Sensei - 6th Dan: Chief Instructor (2023 - Current)

Brent Sensei began his Goju-Ryu journey in 2001 under Chris Larken Sensei in Newcastle. He had previous martial experience, but sought a traditional style that focused not only on self-defence, but also longevity, and he found that in Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do.

Shortly after commencing his training with Chris Sensei, Brent was introduced to the broader IOGKF karateka community at a gasshuku in Canberra, where he met Higaonna Morio Sensei for the first time. This significant encounter inspired him to seek the essence of traditional karate and led to his first trip to Okinawa. On this trip he attended the IOGKF World Budosai in Naha (2004), and remained for a short period afterward to train with Higaonna Sensei at Honbu Dojo for the first time.

Following this experience Brent Sensei became determined to return to Okinawa and further his studies under Higaonna Morio Sensei. Upon completing his university degree, he returned to live in Okinawa in January 2006. Brent Sensei fondly recounts his years training at Honbu Dojo. As he describes it, "...at that time Higaonna Sensei’s training at Honbu Dojo was beyond anything I could have imagined. Every session pushed me beyond my absolute limit. The training truly forged the mind, body and spirit...". The intensive training proved worthwhile, resulting in his deep involvement in various Honbu Dojo activities.

Significantly, Brent Sensei received his formal license to teach Goju-Ryu from Higaonna Sensei on June 1, 2007. The examination for this credential was comprehensive, spanning several days to cover the entire Goju-Ryu curriculum. Beyond regularly leading training sessions at Honbu dojo, he represented the dojo in numerous Goju-Ryu karate demonstrations, including a notable event at the Tokyo Budokan.

Due to Higaonna Sensei's renown, senior dojo members including Brent Sensei participated in several television projects. These included the BBC series "Hai! Karate: Journeys in Japan," "The Essence of Gojo-Ryu Karatedo," and Shunsuke’s "The Quiz Show." Brent Sensei competed in kata tournaments, achieving second place in the Naha event, and later became a kata tournament referee. He co-authored articles in Fighting Arts Magazine with Higaonna Sensei and was inducted as an associate member of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (Japanese Classical Martial Arts Association) in 2009.

Brent Sensei’s life in Okinawa was truly enriched through his marriage to Ryoko, a local Okinawan. He was welcomed into her family, embraced by her friends, and given the chance to see and touch real Okinawan life.

Outside of dojo hours Brent Sensei worked in elementary schools across Naha and Urasoe Cities and, in addition to teaching English, received support from the local Okinawan community to start instructing traditional Okinawan karate as a school club activity. He was also involved in numerous traditional events and had the honour of marching in the Ryu Kyu Kingdom Parade at Shuri Castle. 

Through family and such community involvement he gained a deep understanding of the Okinawan culture and came to realise firsthand just how profoundly karate is woven into the daily lives of the Okinawan people. One can’t truly understand traditional Okinawa karate without understanding Okinawan culture.

Toward the conclusion of his time in Okinawa, with Higaonna Sensei's blessing, Brent Sensei became a student of Yamashiro Katsuya Sensei. To this day, he considers Yamashiro Sensei his primary teacher and inspiration in his exploration of traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do.

Brent Sensei returned to Australia for family reasons shortly before the 2012 Budosai with the intention of returning to live in Okinawa. Unfortunate circumstances prevented this from happening and he returned to training under Chris Larken Sensei and established a second Newcastle Dojo that ran on alternate nights. Prior to Chris Sensei’s untimely passing in 2016, Brent Sensei was appointed the successor lead instructor of Newcastle Dojo. 

Brent Sensei received his Rokudan (6th Dan) at the Chief Instructor Gasshuku in Okinawa in July 2023. Following this achievement, Simon Beaumont Sensei transferred the position of Chief Instructor for IOGKF Australia to Brent Sensei, who was formally recognized in this role by Nakamura Tetsuji Sensei and the IOGKF International Executive.

Brent Sensei returns to Okinawa annually with Ryoko and their family where he receives invaluable tutelage from his teacher, Yamashiro Katsuya Sensei.

Brent Sensei firmly believes that lifelong karate study contributes to both physical health and personal development. He views the development as an incremental process—embodied in the Japanese concept of Kaizen—striving each day to improve upon the previous and trusting that the cumulative impact on one's life is profound. His journey has been enriched by interactions with inspirational teachers and many students. He believes that everyone carries and continues to benefit from the wisdom of all their previous teachers, and personally strives to guide his current students towards the essence of traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do.

Brent Sensei currently teaches at two Dojos in the Newcastle area – details here.