Kings Academy of Martial Arts Staff and Instructors in Liverpool and Sydney

STAFF AND COACHES

Elvis Sinosic

Chief Instructor Elvis Sinosic heads Kings Academy. He is the pioneer of Grappling and MMA in Australia. He is Australia’s first UFC Fighter, the first Australian to fight for a UFC World Title, the first Australian to win the Absolute division at the Pan Pacific Championships, the first Australian to compete at ADCC and the first person in ADCC history to win with a Heel Hook submission. Elvis has been training Martial Arts for over 40 years and continues to pass on his knowledge to his students. Elvis also continues to compete and has won several silver and bronze medals at the IBJJF Masters and NoGi World Championships in his weight and open divisions. Elvis was also a fight analyst on Fox Sports for UFC Fight Week passing on his knowledge and breaking down UFC fights for the fans. You will not find anyone more experienced or knowledgeable in Australia!

Elvis is involved in Coaching all the classes and is always at the gym to assist with the students training and helping them achieve their goals.

Paul Pokorski

Coach Paul began training back in the Liverpool days when Kings was SPMA. He has trained in BJJ and Muay Thai, but decided to focus on his BJJ. Paul decided to focus on NoGi and particularly leglocks as he was passionate about it. Paul got his Black Belt in 2016 and is currently a 2nd Degree. He continues to train and teaches the Monday night beginners fundamental class. Come down and say hi to Paul as he's always happy to chat about BJJ.

Adam Assuncao

Coach Adam began training under Elvis Sinosic since he was 10 years old and has been active in the Martial Arts community for 18 years. His years of experience helped him to earn his black belt in 2022, and he has been passing his knowledge and hard earnt experiences in our BJJ, MTK and boxing classes. His passion towards his arts illuminates through the way he conveys his techniques and interacts with his students. Adam has competed in BJJ from White belt to Black belt and is an active BJJ and MMA competitor and has great ambitions for his future development.

Nathan Molina

Coach Nathan started martial arts over a decade ago and discovered a very keen aptitude towards kickboxing. After several years of honing his craft, he fell in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has become one of the highest ranked heavyweight BJJ competitors in Australia, competing regularly. Nathan prides himself on sharing his decade of knowledge with Kings students in the Advanced BJJ and MTK classes. His concise method of teaching combined with his contagious smile makes him an exceptional addition to our coaching staff here at Kings! He is a Black belt in BJJ, and a purple shirt in Muay Thai.

Olivia Ukmar

Coach Olivia began training in 2013 under chief instructor Elvis Sinosic. She is a BJJ Brown belt and a Black shirt in Muay Thai. She started training in BJJ then progressed into Muay Thai, MMA, boxing, and wrestling.

Olivia is an active BJJ and Submission grappling competitor, holding numerous local, state, national and international titles as well as being a top MMA competitor, having won the Silver Medal at the 2019 World IMMAF Championships along with being the HEX Strawweight Champion.

Nathan Corbin

Coach Nathan began training in 2011 because he wanted to be a UFC fighter. He quickly realized jiu jitsu was less impactful on that organ through which one perceives reality (the brain). He began training at Kings Academy when it was called SPMA. Nathan is a Black Belt in BJJ. Nathan is a high-level competitor winning titles at the local, state, and national level. Nathan competes and wins at the highest level in Pro Jiu Jitsu competitions such as Subversion and is always looking for his next challenge. You'll find Nathan behind the front desk at Kings.

Simon Kashro 

Coach Simon is our admin officer and Juniors/fundamentals coach at Kings Academy. He has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Kings since 2018 and is currently a blue belt. Simon is an active competitor, and he always encourages his training partners to compete and is always looking for any opportunity for extra training. Simon personifies perseverance and is an inspiration to those who feel they lack the physical attributes to succeed.

Hussein Naim

Hussein… Oh boy Hussein, where do we even start? You’d really need to speak to him to find out, but Hussein is another admin officer and BJJ blue belt that has a lot to teach and even more to learn. You can find him on the mats or most often at the front desk; come in and have a chat with him about arts and philosophy, or maybe even challenge him to a roll or a game of chess. When Hussein is not behind the desk or training, you’ll find him assisting with the Kids BJJ classes and occasionally with our Beginner BJJ classes.

Charles Huynh

Coach Charles Huynh is currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai red shirt under Elvis Sinosic. Having won multiple medals in local competition, he has now taken a break from the competition scene and now is focussing on teaching modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. You can catch him in nearly every 6am morning class. Charles has helped turn the 6am BJJ classes into thriving sessions with numerous regular members attending. 

Kenny Ho

Coach Kenny is a Brown Belt in BJJ, and Blue Shirt in Muay Thai. He teaches the early morning, afternoon, and evening BJJ classes as well as assiting in the evening Boxing and Muay Thai classes. He is a regular competitor regularly scoring Gold on the podium in the NoGi divisions. Kenny looks to continue competing as he works his way towards his Black Belt.

Emma Von Ryan

Coach Emma acts as our Martial Medium Acolyte (MMA), a bridge between the Martial Arts and the Yogic communities within our communal space. You’ll see Emma in our MMA classes as one our most veteran active competitors focussing on MMA. Emma also teaches our early morning Alta program (formerly known as Wimp 2 Warrior).

Peter Andrews

Coach Peter is a Black Shirt in Muay Thai and a Purple Belt in BJJ. Peter is a member of our Muay Thai and Boxing competition team. Peter has regularly competed in BJJ, Muay Thai and Boxing. Peter is an artist, and you can see that applied in his classes and his skills. When he’s not taking shots at his opponents, he’s out taking shots with his camera.

Peter assists with the evening Muay Thai and Boxing classes when he’s not training.

Regan Lee

Coach Regan is a Purple belt in BJJ. Regan is an active competitor in BJJ, competing at local, state, national and international competitions as well as in the Professional league. He has a swag of medals and accolades and is always working to get better. You’ll find him on the mat always looking for an opportunity to train.

Regan coaches the Adults BJJ classes.

James Dang

Coach James is a BJJ and Muay Thai instructor at Kings Academy. James has been training under Elvis since 2009. Since then James has earned his Black Belt rank in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2020 and recently received his 1st degree. He is also a Blue Shirt in Muay Thai and Brown Belt in Karate. James was a former competitor holding serveral titles or podiuming finishes at many BJJ events. Now retired from competition James looks to channel his energy into coaching & helping the new generation. Despite the many years of experience and knowledge obtained throughout, James’s passion for the sports burns bright as ever. Still maintaing the student metality he is always looking for ways to improve. Secret Super Power: unquenchable thirst for knowledge

Shakira Krystal

Shakira is Blue Belt in BJJ and works Admin behind the desk helping members. She also occasionally assists with the Kids BJJ classes. Shakira is an active BJJ competitor. She regularly competes in both Gi and NoGi enjoying both equally. When she’s not taking bumps on the mat, she’s rolling over cars and taking bumps as a stunt woman.

Kruz Cupitt

Coach Kruz is a Purple belt in BJJ who has been training BJJ since 2017 and has competed in numerous competitions at white, blue, and purple belt. You will often find him coaching or assisting the 6am classes, but if you’re lucky you may see him drop in the evening classes. Kruz has a passion for NoGi BJJ with a focus on leglocks and when he’s not twisting your legs he’s twisting his words with his awful puns.

Alex Young

Coach Alex is a Blue belt in BJJ. Alex assists with classes when his schedule allows. Alex is an active MMA fighter with numerous TKO victories to his name. He competes regularly and is always looking for his next challenge. When he’s not helping in class, you’ll find him on the mat doing all the classes, BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling and MMA. 

ASSISTANT COACHES

Samir Ali

Samir is a Blue shirt in Muay Thai and a white belt in BJJ. Samir assists in the Adults Muay Thai classes. Samir is an active competitor in Muay Thai and MMA. Samir is the IMMAF Oceanic Super Heavyweight Champion. Samir’s goal is to continue training and competing so that he can get into the UFC.

Riza El Ali

Riza is Blue Belt in BJJ and a Blue Shirt in Muay Thai. Riza is a teen that assists with our Kids BJJ and Muay Thai classes. Riza has been training with Kings since he started Martial Arts training. Riza competes in BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing and MMA. Riza has won numerous state, local, national, and international titles. He was a Junior BJJ World Champion and a Junior Oceanic IMMAF Champion. Riza’s goal is to become a professional fighter one day representing Australia in the UFC.