" Have you heard about "THE PIT" Opening in January 2011

The Ultimate Combat / Self Defence / Workout Centre for the entire Community. 3 Dojos, Full Size Boxing Ring, Gym Facility, Casual Visits, Expanded Timetable and a whole lot more....

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BILL WALLACE SEMINAR MAY 2010

All who attended had a great time and learnt a lot.

COMMENTS

Hi Nick and Ell,

Thank you so much for organising Bill Wallace -THAT WAS MAGIC- no other words to describe it. And he was right, my muscles are still thinking of him today.

Hi Nick and Ell,

Just wanted to again thank you both for organising the Bill Wallace seminar, we all really enjoyed the whole experience. It's really just a shame that more kids didn't take the chance to go as it was really worth it. He was not only wonderful to watch and listen to but also a funny, cool bloke. We wish it went longer but that's with all good things, the time flies too quickly. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE!

SEPTEMBER 2009

Congratulations to Mr Tomic on your successful examination and promotion to 3rd Degree Black belt. Your performance demonstrated the warrior spirit, diversity of skill and maturity which is necessary for this rank in the true Martial Arts.

Master Donato & Mr Tomic

KIDS CLUB JULY 2009 - What a Magic Day!!

All who attended had a great day. We were flat out with activities till lunch time. Hamburgers (Thank you to the chef - Master Chief Instructor), sausages for lunch were a massive hit with kids returning for 2 to 3 helpings, followed by an Ice Age Movie with Popcorn and Chocolate Cake. Then back into an afternoon of activities. It was Daniel Murray's blue team that took out the Championships on the day but all competitors played with passion, lots of laughs and great sportsmanship. As the biggest kid there on the day, it was truly nice to watch the kids interacting, communicating and assisting one another. Friendships have become a whole lot stronger.

PDS Kids Club July 2009

MARCH 2009

Personal Defence Studios held their inter club Championships on Sunday the 15th March 2009. This event has been successfully held every few years and allows the students to utilize all that is taught to them in a safe, friendly but competitive environment. Their 10 clubs throughout the south west came together at the main Full time training centre at Unit 8/156 Hartley Road, Smeaton Grange. Over 100 PDS students competed in the 6 Different events; Kata, Point sparring, Continuous sparring, Ground wrestling, Weapons Kata and Kickboxing. Students performed outstanding Katas from Tae Kwon do, Karate & Japanese Ju Jitsu and showed the diversity of the Personal Defence Studios and the complete Arts the centre has to offer. Competitors, friends and family celebrated the day with a BBQ breakfast and sausage sizzle lunch. PDS Students have the opportunity to train in many arts at the main centre; Karate/TaeKwonDo, Japanese Ju Jitsu, Weapons Art, Kickboxing, Tai Chi and Ladies Kickboxing/Self Defence. During the action packed day students also celebrated Personal Defence Studios Master Chief Instructor / Principal Mr Nick Donato's 35th year involvement in Martial Arts. He was presented with a life size Samurai Armour by his Black belt students to commemorate the day. He has been actively involved in the Macarthur community since 1984 and in this time has successfully trained over 80 Black belts through his system. Black belts as far back as 1987 returned to celebrate his achievement at this Championship. His passion and dedication to the true learning of the Martial Arts has been relentless. Personal Defence Studios takes great pride in developing a well disciplined, respectful and effective individual with confidence of both mind and body whilst learning effective Self Defence & excellent Martial Art skills. Master Donato has also been acknowledged worldwide for his achievements, He will tell you that his greatest achievements are when he witnesses a student overcome a hurdle in their life or class. The President of Narellan Chamber of Commerce; Mr Matt Leighton Visited the centre the following Tuesday for a special presentation to the Master Chief Instructor.

Students at the PDS Tournament March 2009.

Black belts at the PDS Tournament March 2009.

JULY 2007

Team P.D.S. Returns from the USA Triumphant
Personal Defence Studios has just recently returned from the USA where 21 competitors represented Australia in the  

US OPEN I.S.K.A. & N.A.S.K.A. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
(International Sports Karate Association) (North American Sports Karate Association)

in Orlando Florida bringing home 29 places. The US OPEN is held every year and the top 8 competitors from every country are seeded into their divisions. This years US OPEN recorded the largest number of competitors and participating countries in the history of the I.S.K.A. Championships. The competition is a two day event open to all styles of Martial Arts so you get the opportunity to compete against some of the top ranked competitors in the world. Over 2000 competitors from more than 20 countries were in attendance. Just to be placed in a division is a big achievement, but to come home with 29; 1st, 2nd & 3rd places was a huge result for our Aussies. The team Manager and Head Coach Master Ell Gatt herself an Australian representative in Tae Kwon Do and Dual World Champion in 1994 USA wanted the students to experience part of what she had gained from competing in a large International event, and had been passing on her experience, training the Team over the past 18 months to prepare them for this level of competition. During this time the team had been competing on the open circuit in various tournaments in Australia to gain as much experience with all styles as possible with some great results. Master Chief Instructor Nick Donato of Personal Defence Studios said the students from several of our schools; all local residents from the Macarthur and the South West normally focus on the Art and not competition, but are very adaptable. This is the first time that PDS has taken a team overseas in 23yrs; it gives them an opportunity to test what they are taught in class and challenge themselves. We would like to thank all of our sponsors, especially ‘Premier One Cleaning Products’ Mr. Bernie Learson for making a dream become a reality.

PDS TEAM MEMBERS

BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT
Andy Jones, Alf Ferlito, Tanya Stepanov, Daniel Murray, Brett Pickup, Jason Muir, James Pickup, Nick Stepanov, Julie Carter & Michelle Clewer
FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT
David Polus, Andrei Stepanov, Kristie Maurici, Kylie Henry, Jessica Cavaleri, Giancarlo Fedeli, Jessica Farthing, Manly Vuong, Cathleen Cachia & Sokhoun Pech
CHILD IN FRONT
Tim Stepanov

NOTES:

THREDBO VILLAGE RAN AN AUCTION NIGHT FOR HER ON FRIDAY 1ST JUNE 2007 TO ASSIST IN SPONSORING HER TRIP TO THE USA. KYLIE WAS THE ONLY TEAM MEMBER THAT WASN’T BASED IN SYDNEY SO ALL HER TRAINING WAS DONE VIA PHONE, EMAIL & WEEK-END VISITS ETC