Matthew Sears
Date Began Martial Arts: 1995
Shihan Matthew Sears has been training since 1984 and began in the art of Shorinji Ryu Karate where he attained a brown belt black tip before his instructor Kyoshi Home Phanoraj took his clubs into Shotokan Karate which Matthew earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate at the age of 17. Searching for a harder karate style at 20 years of age found a new style which was seeking to expand in Seidokaikan Karate headed by Kancho Ishi who created the K1 kickboxing promotions in Japan. Matthew became an Uchi Deshi of Kancho James Casey on the Gold Coast for a month where he trained six hours a day and after many brutal sessions went on to open a Seidokaikan Dojo in Tamworth from 1991 to 1996 when he entered the NSW Police Academy. In 1997 he opened a dojo on the Central Coast under his original instructor Kyoshi Phanoraj in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate. Matthew continues to train this style today and after many visits to Okinawa he was graded to 6th Degree Black Belt under Gibo Sensei 9th Dan. Whilst in Okinawa he was introduced to Matayoshi Kobudo (weapons) which he attained his First Degree Black Belt.
Matthew is a current serving frontline police officer of 26 years and has worked in Ivanhoe special remote communities, Tamworth, Nundle and Gunnedah. At each of these locations he opened dojos and has trained around thirty students to Dan grades. Currently he is a leading Senior Constable at Gunnedah Police Station which involves training all probationary Constables and Supervision in the Station. 2014 Matthew started training in BJJ and continued for about three years before attending a seminar in Kudo under Shihan Paul Cale in Newcastle. Matthew fell in love with the practicality of the art which covered all ranges of the fighting arts and graded to 3rd degree black belt in Jissen Budo All Round Fighting in 2022. Continuing his thirst for knowledge he now trains Black Dragon Kai Jiu Jitsu under Sensei Geordie Lavers-McBain.
Martial Arts Ranks
- 6th Degree Black Belt - Okinawan Shorin Ryu
- 3rd Degree Black Belt - Jissen Budo (All Round Fighting)
- 2nd Degree Black Belt - Seidokaikan Karate
- 1st Degree Black Belt - Shotokan Karate
- 1st Degree Black Belt - Matayoshi Kobudo
- Grey/Black Armband - Muay Thai
- 2nd Degree Blue Belt - Brazillian Jiu Jitsu (Coach)
Qualifications
- Diploma in Policing Social Science
- Certificate in Policing Social Science
- Senior First Aid Certificate
- Working with Children - WWCC
Accomplishments
Competed in...
- Full Contact Karate
- Koshiki Karate
- Non Contact Karate
- Kata
Karate
- State Titles or Regional Titles in both Kumite and Kata
