Sensei Brendan Gray

4^th Degree Black Belt – Chief Instructor

I started my martial arts training in 1991 playing with Judo.

My Kempo career started in March 1993 at the age of twenty. I trained under the tutelage of Shihan John Hamilton (5th degree black belt) in Brisbane and reached my black belt in 1997 while training at a Kempo seminar in New Zealand. This was bestowed upon me by Kancho Robert Gemmell, 10^th degree [KBR]. I then went under the second part of the grading once back in Australia.

I left in 1999 as a 2^nd degree in Kempo, a 3rd black tab in Tai Chi Chuan, & founding black belt member of Kempo Australia.

I started back at Shaolin Kempo in 2003 under Sensei John Taynton, a 4^th degree, after studying Aikido. I was graded to 3^rd degree in 2008 by a senior panel of black belts from a number of schools reaching the title of Sensei twelve months later. My 4^th degree grading was conducted in Brisbane starting in November 2011 by Kyoshi Paul Bryant, an 8^th degree black belt & Sifu Scott Forrest, a 6th degree. Sifu Taynton finished off the grading in early 2012.

I have also trained in Machado BJJ & Shooto wrestling since June 2012. In 2019 I received my blue belt. Due to my ruptured achilles and torn calf, I left that school after 10 years. This has pushed back my next grading.

In October 2019 I was given the ownership of the Shaolin Kempo school as Sifu Taynton retired. I held the school through COVID/Zoom training and now have continuously grown the school. I have finished the manuals to 5th degree black belt. I have started extra training/styles and have had professional fighters train with the students. I graded my first student to black belt in 2020.

I have my St Johns first aid & CPR certificates.

I believe that Kempo as a whole is a way of life and that hard, soft, and external & internal work efficiently in the most realistic martial arts on earth. We do not conform to traditionalism, but merely adapt, maneuver, and think outside the box. The world is constantly changing. Our thought patterns are always changing. Our development is always improving. So we need to train smarter and improve technique that flows and creates superior body mechanics.

Everyone has something to teach anyone. Train hard my friends and keep smiling for the best is yet to come.

Congratulations guys,

Challenge yourselves to take the next step, you have an instructor who still learns everyday to make sure you guys keep progressing in the fight to save your lives, be grateful for the knowledge he has and the time he puts into you all, he will always be there for you and so will the school, have a merry kempo xmas, theres always more to learn, what ever the attitude, so the response!!!

Thanks Daniel D

My 3 children have attended Kempo classes for the past 3 years and in that time the difference in their attitudes towards other people has changed immensely for the better. Shaolin Kempo has excellent instructors who keeps the attention of all in the class. All the instructors are always willing to help wherever possible in all aspects of the children’s training. Thank you John and the other instructors for your help throughout the year with the children’s training.

Thanks Tammy

Lara started at Shaolin Kempo in 2^nd term 2012 at the age of 5. Our busy life style with both Brendan and I working full time we currently can only accommodate training once a week, although she ‘plays’ self defense on the weekend with daddy. Lara has excelled in self confidence and looks forward to her class every week. We were very proud of her and Lara’s cousin when they both graded and obtained their Orange Belts at the Christmas 2012 break up. Lara has already started to ask when classes start again for next year.

Thanks Mel

My 7 year old daughter Katarina has attended Kempo for one and a half years and just graded to orange belt. we are very proud of how much she enjoys Kempo and has grown respectfully as a young girl, Katarina enjoys the classes and goes twice a week. thank you to the instructors and school for your efforts and my 4 year old son cannot wait to start soon.

Thanks Stephen

Sensei Brendan Gray

4th Degree Black Belt – Chief Instructor

4^th Degree Black Belt – Chief Instructor