Sensei John Barker
4th dan

Sensei John started his Martial Arts journey in 1995, training Shukokai Karate under shihan Lyle Abel and was awarded his first black belt in 2000. He was introduced to Kyokushin Karate by shihan Trevor Tockar in 2001 and found that Kyokushin’s philosophy of discipline and self-improvement through rigorous training greatly rewards those who apply themselves. John graded to his Kyokushin shodan (2002), nidan (2009) and was graded to his sandan by Kancho Matsui in 2016.

He has competed in full contact Knockdown tournaments both nationally and internationally, and placed 4th in the 2015 World Team Kata Championships in Tokyo, where he was also awarded his sandan by Kancho Matsui after a 5-day intensive training course and grading. He was graded to his yondan by Kancho Matsui 4 years later in 2019.

Sensei John is still an active tournament competitor, teaches kata and bunkai at North Bondi dojo and runs his dojo at the Sydney Japanese International School.

John is also a practitioner of the ancient art of Yagyu Shingan-ryu jiu jutsu and has introduced many of the concepts into his teachings.