The Kaizen Culture Pod

We are kicking off the Get To Know series again with a banger of a guest...World Champion 🏆Doctor 🥼All round wonderful human being ❤️Kristina Mah is one of Australia's most successful athletes, and considered one of the greatest we have ever had (if not the outright GOAT). From reaching the mountain top of sports karate in 2010 becoming our last Senior World Champion, to finishing her PHD in Human-Computer Interaction, Kristina has been through many walks of life.It's not just about Kristina's accolades, it's her mindset and outlook on life. How can we integrate peace and love through everything we do? How do we find alignment within ourselves and let that be the driver for your goals? What mindset and sacrifices did Kristina have to go through to achieve the ultimate goal?Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

What an unbelievable turnout for this Youth League in Manila, Philippines, which is one of the closest to home! 67 young Australians, 18 Aussie coaches AND what can only be expected to be a major pack of supporters going along for the ride! Nathan and Mitch go through the significance of this Youth League, and how it can impact everyone going, whether you are eyeing off a Junior Worlds spot, or simply taking your first step on the international stage.Mitch and Nathan just came back after being part of the Tri-Nations Friendship & Solidarity Championships and training camp in Gallipoli, Turkey. We dive into how major this was between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand and what went down during ANZAC week.Some major debates on some fantasy head 2 head matchups. Who wins in the battle of past and present Grand Winners? 2019 vs 2025. Tune in to hear our take on some crazy what if’s, you might be surprised who chooses what! Thank you to @Majimitsu for your awesome comment!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Rory Attridge is Co-Host for this episode!!WHAT AN AUSSIE OPEN!! Mitch is hanging around in Sydney and staying with the great man Rory Attridge and his family! They sit down to unpack another great weekend at the Aus Open, chat about the significance of Junior World selection events, and the new Tri-Nations event in Turkey! Australia is sending 5 athletes to compete in The Gallipoli Tri-Nations Friendship & Solidarity Karate Championships which will be held on 24th April 2026, right before ANZAC day! Rory and Mitch are 2 of the athletes representing the country and will give you the full run down of what it’s all aboutHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

50 episodes. Half a century. 🤯We had to celebrate this milestone by taking a trip down memory lane. Revisiting the best topics, the unforgettable guests, and the moments that had us laughing way too hard (yes, we threw in some of the bloopers for your entertainment).And of course… we can’t forget THE TRIANGLE!!!  A true icon.Thank you to everyone who’s supported us from Episode 1 to Episode 50. This is just the beginning.Next stop: 100. 🚀Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

In Episode 14 of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Elena Quirici's for a deep dive and more personal conversation. From her early days in karate as a child to becoming one of the top athletes in the world, Elena shares the journey that shaped her. Her passion for karate has never faded, and quitting was never an option. She opens up about her resilience, her recent injury, and the mindset that keeps her moving forward. From falling in love on the tatami to building her own dojo, this episode reveals the story behind the athlete and what drives her to keep pushing for more. Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

A little switch-up this, week no guest, just the lads firing up for a proper chat.We break down the freshly announced Oceania teams and unpack the insane wave of registrations the Aussies rolled in with for the Youth League in Manila… the numbers are wild!We dive into some of our craziest travel stories from over the years and share the tips and tricks we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way).Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Join the World Karate Cast for Episode 13, featuring Italy’s top karate athletes, Matteo Avanzini (Senior World Champion +84kg) and Terryana D’Onofrio (Kata European and World medalist).With the first-ever Karate One Premier League being hosted in Rome, Matteo and Terryana discuss the pride and pressure of representing Italy on home soil, how they stay focused under expectations, and their goals for this historic event.Get an exclusive look behind the scenes, learn about the dedication and discipline required at the world stage, and discover how these two champions approach challenges, performance, and success in karate.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Youth League in Manlia registration is open and we go through the new way to enter the competitions. Get onto this quick because these spots run out really fast. The first ever Premier League in Italy is on next week and we have Delcan Squire joining us on the pod this week, to chat about his first appearance on this stage.We cover the idea of changing weight divisions, dieting and cutting weight. Declan was previously the #1 Australian for -67kg attending a Senior World Championships in 2021, and now has claimed the -60kg category as his own. We get an insight on what he does to make weight and the tactics and sacrfices Declan goes through on daily basis to perform at his best in this division.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

In this episode of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Amy Connell, a Scottish Female Kumite -55kg athlete and Head Instructor of Guardian Girls Karate.Amy has won multiple medals throughout her career and represented Scotland on the international stage. She shares her journey in competitive Karate, the mindset and discipline required at the highest level, and the lessons she learned along the way.We also dive into the mission behind Guardian Girls Karate — a programme dedicated to empowering girls and women from all backgrounds through confidence-building, awareness, resilience, and practical self-defence skills. The conversation highlights how Karate goes beyond medals, serving as a powerful tool for leadership, social impact, and positive change worldwide.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Another big first for the Kaizen Culture Pod! We have our first OLYMPIAN karateka featured as a guest, Sakura Kokumai from the United States of America!Yes, this show focuses on the Australian karate landscape, but guess what… Sakura is coming to Melbourne in April for a kata seminar and it was only right to get her on to chat about her life and journey through the sport!To find out more about Sakura’s seminar, please follow this link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4GC41gQ47uX_4WQ1pk8nKCtqTKYjif-Y-eInchuXjIn3hvQ/viewform) with the main contact being Larry Cafiero ([email protected])Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Episode 11 of World Karate Cast features Rodrigo Rojas of Chile, a consistent presence in elite international karate since 2013. He recently secured his second Karate One Premier League gold medal in Istanbul, marking a remarkable achievement nearly ten years after his first Premier League victory in Fortaleza, Brazil.A four-time Continental Champion, Rodrigo discusses the evolution of his career, the discipline behind sustained success, and the pride of representing a nation that strongly supports its athletes. This episode highlights commitment, resilience, and the journey of remaining at the highest level of world karate.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

NEW RULE CHANGES! We have 10 new rules to talk about in 2026, and who better to help us dissect and interpret them than one of Australia’s most distinguished referees, Dominic Sculli! We are proud to welcome our first referee guest onto the Kaizen Culture Pod, Dom’s passion for the martial art and sport is something to be celebrated! We go through the pathway of becoming a WKF referee, what it is like at the top of the sport on that side of the tatami, and most importantly; what do these new rules mean for us in 2026Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

In this episode of World Karate Cast, three-time Grand Winner and two-time World Champion Abdalla Abdelaziz reflects on his performance at the opening event of the 2026 Karate One Premier League in Istanbul. He speaks in depth about how he felt during each bout, the strategic decisions he made on the tatami, and the adjustments required at the highest level of competition. Abdalla also shares valuable advice for athletes, offering insight into mindset, preparation, and finding the right approach to succeed across a demanding season.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Happy New Year! Happy first episode of the Kaizen Culture Pod for 2026!We are buckling up for a big year, and what a way to kick it off with welcoming on to the board and team at Kaizen Culture, Michelle Wilson, also known as, Mish! We sit down and chat about what this year lies ahead for us and the broader Australian Karate community. We also get an insight to what drives Mish to be so involved and passionate in not only karate, but Australian sport in general. Mish has a wealth of experience working with many sports and nurturing their infrastructure, currently sitting on 5 boards including being a significant influence within UniSport Australia.This year is all about growing Kaizen Culture, we are so excited to jump into another year with you all, and can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

World Karate Cast kicks off 2026 with Maria Torres 🇪🇸, back to back Grand Winner of 2024 - 2025. In this episode, Maria breaks down the work behind her success, how she is approaching the new season, and the mindset required to stay on top. She shares her goals for the Karate World Cup, the European Karate Championships, and the challenge of defending her Grand Winner title on the Karate One Premier League. Full of insight, ambition, and championship focus, this episode sets the tone for the 2026 season.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

In Episode 8 of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Douglas Brose — the most recognised Brazilian athlete in the history of karate and a true legend of the sport.Douglas opens up about his incredible career at the highest level, sharing the experiences, challenges, and mindset that shaped his journey to the top. Beyond competition, he offers valuable insight into the evolution of karate, the role of athletes today, and his work as a member of the WKF Athletes Commission.🎙️ Whether you’re on the tatami or supporting from the stands, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.SUBSCRIBE ► http://bit.ly/N7c4H0Official YouTube channel of the World Karate FederationHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

In the very last episode of the Kaizen Culture Pod for 2025, sit down with Mitchell and Nathan as they go through what a massive year it has been for Australian Karate and Kaizen Culture!We have seen so much growth and support, and couldn't have imagined it panning out the way it did! We are so proud, and so grateful of the support network - YOU GUYS! ❤️Cheers to a great 2025 everyone, and let's bring on a bigger 2026!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

There is no better energy and vibe magician than Mr Rory Attridge! We are now 2 weeks out from the biggest competition of the year and we chat to Rory about how he is preparing for the Senior World Championships, and how he has been balancing life and karate.Rory Attridge | Shotokan Fit, NSWState Team: 11 (2015 - 2025) YearsNational Team: 8 (2018 - 2025) Years- Australia’s #1 Male Kumite -67kg athlete- 6x National Champion- 3x Australian Open Champion- 4x Oceania Champion- Men’s Open National Champion 2022- 2x Junior World Representative (2019, 2022)- Debut Senior World Championships appearance in 2023Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Episode 5 of World Karate Cast features Ariel Torres 🇺🇸, one of the world’s top kata athletes, who shares the story behind his relentless pursuit of excellence. From starting out in both kumite and kata to dedicating himself fully to kata, Ariel opens up about the sacrifices, discipline, and mindset that shaped his path. Since 2006, a karate journal has been Ariel Torres’s constant companion, capturing the path, mindset, and goals that shaped his pursuit of excellence. A journey of passion, family, and purpose, this episode is an inspiring reminder of what it means to live with intention and give everything to your craft.Tune in for this Deep Dive episode and listen to Mitchell Durham & Nathan Blockley (Founders of Kaizen Culture) get to know the history, the grinding mindset and philosophy of the famous Ariel Torres Gutierrez from the United States of America.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Laura Golding joins us on the podcast today talking about her unique journey, the father-daughter dynamic with Head National Coach of Australia, and all things Senior World Championships leading into Cairo next month! We are 4 weeks out from the biggest Senior event of the year and Laura takes us through the Australian Team preparations and mindset coming off the Worlds team training camp last weekend and leading into the Senior World Championships.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

What an incredible tournament the 2025 Series A in Malaysia was for our nation! We saw 31 Aussie athletes step out onto the Karate1 stage and in this episode, we are joined by Daniel Tielen who achieved a bronze medal from a division of 68! Join us in discussing Daniel’s journey through the rounds, highlighting some other great performances and talking about how important this event was for the future of Australian sports karate. Daniel also touches on the art of persistence when staring down the barrel of your karate career, and how trusting the process is a major factor in this game.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Mindset. Motivation. Mastery.World Karate Cast sits down with Kamran Madani, former USA male kumite 84kg athlete and now National Team Coach, to talk about the athlete’s mentality and the coach’s perspective. Discover how his journey from competitor to mentor shapes his philosophy, and why the new Qualification Tournament is shaking things up on the road to the Karate World Championships in Cairo 2025.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Kaizen Culture Pod on the road in Victoria! We are with Max Noble at his house after a massive week in Melbourne for the Super Seminar and Training Camp preparing for the Series A in Malaysia! Sitting down with Max to talk about his thoughts on training camps with friends, and the importance of recognising which stage you are at to compete overseas, including the ladder to becoming world championHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We sit down with Scotland’s own Niamh Junner 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 in the female kumite +68kg category, who’s been living and breathing karate since she was nine years old. From starting competitions at 12 to now preparing for the Karate World Championships in Cairo 2025, Niamh shares her journey, her passion, and her perspective on the sport she loves. Plus, we break down the brand new Qualification Tournament format, everything you need to know on the road to Cairo 2025!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Trevor Kan is our special guest today tuning in live from Portugal at the tail-end of the IPP international tour! After kicking off with solid performances at the Series A Salzburg and Budapest Open, Trevor and the team make their way to Lisbon for another training camp before one last competition. Trevor is also an Accredited Sports Nutritionist, and has started his own nutritional coaching platform, Invicta. Tune in to hear all about the IPP tour, and some tips on diet and weight cutting, especially when travelling!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Episode 1 of World Karate Cast brings you an exclusive conversation with two of karate’s biggest stars. Hosts Nathan Blockley and Mitchell Durham sit down with Elena Quirici 🇨🇭 (#1 WKF World Ranking, 4x and current Grand Winner, Olympian) and Eray Şamdan 🇹🇷 (2x and current Grand Winner, Olympian).They share their stories from The World Games, their karate journeys, and what it takes to compete at the very top of the sport.Tune in for insights, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at life on the tatami. Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Mitchell & Nathan, together with current Victorian State team kata coach, former National Team member and Senior World Championship representative, Meezaan Dickinson. In this episode, they discuss the immense and often under-appreciated value karate has given them over their careers and the unlimited opportunities they have had the privilege of experiencing. And their involvement in karate has only just started!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

More national coaches join the Kaizen Culture Pod this week! Sensei Matt Johnson from Shingokan Karate, Adelaide, and Sensei Robyn Choi from Seiha Shitoryu Karate, Brisbane. With the head national coach of the Cadet, Junior & U21 program in Sensei Matt, paired with senior national coach, Sensei Robyn, an opportunity was presented for the next generation of Australian superstars to gain immense experience with 2 training camps and 2 competitions in China and the Phillippines!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

For the first time in the new Karate 1 Youth League system, an Australian has taken home GOLD! Dardan Jahiu takes out the Cadet Male Kumite +70kg with a win in Monterrey, Mexico!! Hannah joins us after just coming back from the World Games and we discuss how insane that event was! We also chat about the Asian Youth Camp & Competition that is on right now with a big Aussie team of youngsters over there having the time of their life!Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Just because Nationals are over, doesn’t mean the season is done! National coaches for the International Pathways Program (IPP), Darren Olsen and Lliam Worthington join us on today's episode talking about the program itself and a very exciting tour that is planned! Darren is a longtime server of the karate community as both an athlete and coach, now Samurai Karate Australia Head of Style (Shihan) based in Melbourne, Victoria State team coach and National coach. Lliam is also a decorated figure within karate, Shihan at Black Belt Martial Arts (BBMA) in New South Wales, NSW State team coach, a former national and state team competitor and international medalist. Darren jumps on to give us the full scope of what IPP is, how it was created and why. Lliam clues us in to the MASSIVE European tour he is leading for this group throughout the month of September - hitting the Series A in Salzburg, 2 major International Opens and 2 training camps!Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

What a National Championships that was! Adelaide, congratulations for putting on a great show! We talk about some of the big time results and moments that happened over the weekend, and share the love for the best community. A very important question has come in asking about the integrity of athletes and crowd actions during competition, tune in to hear what this is all about and how much this matters to the sport of karate.Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We have a special guest to help us preview the National Championships in Adelaide! Amy Connell is joining us to chat all things Guardian Girls and give us some insight to what it's like being a Scottish karate icon! Stick around to hear us chat about packages, photo gallery, T-Shirt sales and need to know information on the Super Seminar!Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We have been offline for a little bit as the Oceania championships took over the Australian karate world! This was one of the most insane events, some serious challenges were faced in New Caledonia for the Oceania Championships. New champions were crowned and the Senior World Championship athletes have been locked away.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We are nearing the Oceania Championships in Noumea, New Caledonia! Sit back and hear us go through the team and chat about what this means for the Senior athletes! Also Nathan and Mitch play some fun karate games, so play along!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

For the first time ever, Karate will be showcased at the 2025 World Masters Games in Taipei in a few weeks time! We had to do an emergency pod to get the full run down on this massive moment. What makes it even more special, we chat to our very own Aussie vets who are going; Scott McDowell, Yvette Stolk, Adam Smith, and Karen Hall! Getting the inside scoop of the Games, how they are feeling about this event, and what this means for the Veteran karate community!Goodluck to the following athletes going to Taipei!Alison PeachyAdam SmithAndrew MawbyCarsten Schmitz-PeifferChiyuki WataJames DavisKaren HallMichael RadermacherRodney SmithScott McDowellTom PettittYvette StolkHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Today we have another special guest to talk about kata! Dylan Fisher is a national team member competing out of Shobukan Martial Arts in Perth and the Western Australian state team! He has represented Australia at the Junior World Championships and even the U21 World Combat Games held in Saudi Arabia in 2023?Tune in to hear his thoughts on the current state of kata across all levels, his recent battles with major injury and much more.Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

More international success for our young Aussies! Hudson Maggio, Lucy Maggio and Matthew Riley have all come home with medals from the US Open in Las Vegas, one of the biggest Open tournaments in karate! Celebrate their success with us and lets dive into their trip a little bit.We also go through some of the things that happened at the Premier League in Cairo and Mitch opens up and shares his honest honest thoughts on his performanceHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

There is a lot to cover in today's episode! Breaking news… Ali Sofuolgu has received a 2 year ban on top of every accolade stripped from him over the last 2 years, including his European & World Championship Gold Medal! Drug bans and anti-doping violations are rarely talked about, it’s something that is kept very quiet in the community, however, Mitch, Nathan & Jon discuss it all today.We recap an amazing Aus Open weekend, getting your feedback on the championships AND highlighting the Oceania Team that has just been announced going to New Caledonia in June.Cairo Premier League is next week and Kaizen Culture will be the Official Media team once again!Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We always talk about athletes and how mistakes can lead to losses at competitions, but we never discuss what a mistake will cost a WKF referee? Are they too harsh on the world's best referees? Suspensions can be up to 12 months, and we need all the quality refereeing we can get. Mitch, Nathan and Jon discuss next week’s Australian Open and more details around the new Oceania qualification event next Thursday which will be on a few people’s minds.Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Aussies are once again back on the world stage with Hannah, Iris and Mitch competing at the Premier League in Hangzhou, China! Hannah is looking for some momentum after kicking things off in Paris earlier this year, while Iris and Mitch are going in for their first one this year! We also have some big news to share… Nathan & Kaizen Culture are official media for this event!Send us your thoughts to our email and have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your [email protected] Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

JAMES GIULIANO is the special guest for today’s episode! There needs to be a full Get To Know episode just for this Australian Kata legend, but for now we have brought him in to discuss an exciting new opportunity with Kaizen Culture, and the landscape of kata on the international stage compared to when he was at his peak throughout the 2010sHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Join in the conversation as we discuss the first National Team Training Camp of the Year and the CONTROVERSIAL new selection criteria for athlete’s selection at the 2025 Oceania Championships!We also touch on the Aussies competing this weekend at the Series A in Larnaca, as well as a BIG update to our Kaizen Culture website.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We have so much planned for you to take advantage of in 2025!! Watch Parties, Podcasts, Our September Seminar and more. Tune in to hear all about it as we talk about the year ahead.Plus, despite it being only the first month of the year, Aussies are already overseas competing and the first National Team Training Camp begins tomorrow!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

After 21 episodes, this is it for 2024! Thank you so much for jumping on board and contributing so much to this amazing karate community! The inaugural Karate World Cup is next week and we refresh everyone on what the competition will look like, how it works and going through the Australian team that will be fighting over there! We even give our picks on which teams will make it through the groups and which country will win it all!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

We sit down with special guest Hannah Sullivan to revisit a massive week in Victoria last month for Kaizen Culture and Karate Australia. Going through some of the things that went on during the WKF Teams Squad training camp and a bit of insight to how the team is tracking for Pamplona. We also debrief on the Super Seminar weekend!Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

Two of Australia’s young guns, Emily Nguyen and Iris Webb, came away with 5th place from the Cadet, Junior & U21 World Championships! Listen in as we discuss not only their amazing runs from the championships but also highlight some of the other performances from team Australia! We also share our takeaways from Venice and some insight from Sensei Robyn Choi who was there watching.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

It's time for us to go through each and every Aussie who will be repping the GREEN & GOLD for us all in Venice at the Cadet, Junior & U21 World Championships.The event kicks off next week and we want you all to know exactly who is going, a little bit of insight to the team and maybe some extra bits of advice for the young ones travellingHave your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/

What better way to highlight some of our great Aussie performances at the recent Series A in Salzburg than with the one and only, Shaun Yuen! Mitch & Nathan welcome Shaun onto the podcast to also share his insight from the event, and some of the interesting nuances about the Series A that people may not realise or think about.Junior Worlds is also coming very close. Shaun and Mitch reminisce on their time together representing Australia at Junior World.Have your say to what we discuss on the show! We would love to hear your thoughts! Send us your ideas/feedback to our email or DM us on [email protected] Better yet... Sign up to our email list to be fully part of the community! https://kaizenculture.org/