MASTER GIOVANNI ZAGARI
My rank in Kombatan:
6th Degree Black Belt in Kombatan My School location: I am currently training and teaching out of Core Strength and Fitness in Richmond, Melbourne, Australia under Grand Master Andy Elliott but also have a school in Singapore “Sticks and Stones Combatives” being run by my students Jonathan Pillai, Jerel Louie and Mark Chua. I am also proud to be the general secretary for “Kombatan Combatives International – KCI” with schools through Asia Pacific, India, UK and main land Europe. I recently have been very proud to be the conduit to introduce our first school in India into KCI under Raja Mookherjee and have been very excited to see the teams growth as GM Andy has made two recent trips to India and we welcome them to the KCI World Training camp in the Philippines in April. My instructor: First and foremost my studies in Filipino martial arts started with and continue with GM Andy Elliott in Australia but I have been lucky enough to have trained directly under the Presas Family especially GGM |
Ernesto Presas. Through the years I have travelled and trained in the Philippines multiple time (my 10th trip is coming up in April this year for the first KCI World Training Camp) so I have been exposed to many instructors too many to list off but I appreciate all the time they have spent with me and I would like to think I have taken on board a little bit of everyone’s different styles. A special mention to Master Mark Day who has been my training partner for many of these years especially in the early days and who’s passion for the arts and combatives has always pushed me to improve myself. Alongside GM Andy the 3 of us have really formed a brotherhood which has been the basis and platform for the majority of our successes and growth within the martial arts.
When I started Kombatan? I transitioned from a Karate Background into Filipino Martial Arts in late 2001 at the invitation of GM Andy and Kombatan has been my central focus ever since. I complement my Filipino training with hard core Combatives in particular Multi Dimensional Warriors from South Africa under Mark Human annually to take my training to the next level and functionalize a lot of the skills especially the blade work we learn through the FMA’s.
My favorite system from Kombatan? Probably a tie between Solo Baston where I enjoy the checks, traps, locks and take downs and Mano Mano where I can blend in a lot of my early striking training from Karate with a comprehensive transition game developed by the Filipino Dumog we learn through Kombatan.
Best Kombatan memories: Not one single memory but a host of memories through the years and the camaraderie I have shared with the many international friends I have made and meet training abroad. To this day I count myself very lucky to have trained in so many locations through the years and as I said before I would like to think that a lot of the brothers and sister who are now part of the World Kombatan Family have positively influenced me as a person and a martial artist.
My Motto: “The only limitations we have in life are the ones we place on ourselves”
When I started Kombatan? I transitioned from a Karate Background into Filipino Martial Arts in late 2001 at the invitation of GM Andy and Kombatan has been my central focus ever since. I complement my Filipino training with hard core Combatives in particular Multi Dimensional Warriors from South Africa under Mark Human annually to take my training to the next level and functionalize a lot of the skills especially the blade work we learn through the FMA’s.
My favorite system from Kombatan? Probably a tie between Solo Baston where I enjoy the checks, traps, locks and take downs and Mano Mano where I can blend in a lot of my early striking training from Karate with a comprehensive transition game developed by the Filipino Dumog we learn through Kombatan.
Best Kombatan memories: Not one single memory but a host of memories through the years and the camaraderie I have shared with the many international friends I have made and meet training abroad. To this day I count myself very lucky to have trained in so many locations through the years and as I said before I would like to think that a lot of the brothers and sister who are now part of the World Kombatan Family have positively influenced me as a person and a martial artist.
My Motto: “The only limitations we have in life are the ones we place on ourselves”