Instructors

Luc Battistello

Sensei Luc Battistello 7th Dan is the Co-Chief Instructor at the East Malvern School. Sensei Luc began training in Shukokai Karate in 1980, under the late Sensei Alan Murdoch 7th Dan of Scotland - the first to bring Shukokai to Australia. Sensei Luc also had the honour of training and grading to 1st Dan in the United States in 1985 under the late Sensei Shigeru Kimura 10th Dan. Sensei Luc was awarded his 7th Dan in 2017.
Achievements
 • 3 Time Australian National AKF Open Champion
• 5 Time Australian National AKF Champion
• 12 Time Victorian State AKF Champion
• 4 Time Mabuni Cup Champion
• 1992 Oceania Champion
• 1991 Tasman Cup Champion
• 1988 Helsinki International Open Silver Medalist, Finland
• 1988 WUKO (now WKF) Quarter Finals, Cairo, Egypt
• 1987 APUKO Silver Medalist, Indonesia
• 1985 Shukokai World Titles 5 Man Team Member, USA
• 1984 Australian Shukokai Grand Champion

Sonia Leonardi

Sensei Sonia Leonardi 6th Dan is the Co-Chief Instructor at the East Malvern School. Sensei Sonia began training in Shukokai Karate in 1978 under Sensei Alan. She had the honour of training under Sensei Kimura. Sensei Sonia graded to Black Belt in Australia in 1984 under Sensei Chris Thompson 8th Dan and attained her 6th Dan in 2017.
 
Achievements
• 5 Time Australian National AKF Champion
• 5 Time Victorian State AKF Champion
• 2 Time Mabuni Cup Champion
• 1988 WUKO (now WKF) National AKF Team, 4th Place, Cairo, Egypt
• 1987 APUKO Silver Medalist, Indonesia
• 1985 Shukokai World Titles Bronze Medalist, USA

Mark Castaldi

Sensei Mark Castaldi 5th Dan is the Chief Instructor at the Camberwell School. Sensei Mark is Sensei Luc and Sensei Sonia's longest continuous student, commencing his Shukokai Karate training in 1995. Sensei Mark established his own Shukokai Dojo in Camberwell in February 2007. Sensei Mark graded to 5th Dan in December 2017 under Sensei Luc and Sensei Sonia.
 
Achievements
 • Battistello Karate School - Student of the Year 2001
• Victorian State AKF Gold Medalist
• 2  Time Shukokai Cup Gold Medalist

Giovanni Agosta

Sensei Giovanni Agosta 3rd Dan is the Chief Instructor at the Notting Hill Karate School. Sensei Giovanni (Gio or Johnny) started Karate at the age of 7 and began his journey as a Shukokai Karate-ka with Sensei Luc and Sensei Sonia in 1997 at the Wattletree dojo at the age of 13. Sensei Gio has always had a passion for martial arts, it has been his dream to open his own dojo. Sensei Luc and Sensei Sonia have been an inspiration for this dream. In July 2016, Sensei Gio established the Notting Hill Karate School as a Shukokai Dojo. Sensei Gio loves to teach and share the art and passion that he finds in karate. After a long journey Sensei Luc and Sensei Sonia awarded Sensei Gio with his 1st Degree Black Belt in 2015.
Achievements
• 1997 – Shotokan Karate Cup – Sparring – 1st Place
• 1998 – Shotokan Karate Cup – Sparring – 1st Place
• 1998 – Battistello Karate School – Most Spirited
• 2014 – Battistello Karate School – Achieved Shodan-Ho
• 2015 - Battistello Karate School – Most Spirited
• 2015 – Battistello Karate School – Achieved Shodan

Alexander Diaz

Sensei Alexander Diaz Dehaney 3rd Dan is the Chief Instructor at the Hoppers Crossing Karate School. Sensei Alex started Karate at the age of 6 in Cuba. He became the Cuban National Champion at the age of 15 and then trained and studied with the state team from the age of 16. He migrated to Australia 6 years ago, not knowing a word of English and began his Australian karate journey at Battistello Karate School. Sensei Alex has a deep passion for karate both competing and teaching he loves to encourage his students to do the same. Sensei Alex was lucky enough to be able to open his own dojo Hoppers Crossing Karate School in 2017 with the help and support from Sensei Luc and Sensei Sonia.

Achievements 

2018 National Australian Karate Champion

2013 National Australian Karate Champion

5 Time Cuban National Champion

Victorian State Champion

Melbourne Karate League Champion

2019 competitor in WKF Montreal, Canada

Currently on the Karate Victoria Team