Bujutsu instructors

Sensei Mark Szalajko

Director/Chief Instructor

Sensei Mark Szalajko is the founder and chief instructor of Bujutsu Martial Arts and Fitness Centre. He has had a very successful martial arts and policing career. His expertise in martial arts and his contribution to the community through his martial arts and as a former policeman have been formally recognised by the Parliament of NSW.

Sensei Jessica Szalajko

Vice Chief Instructor

Karate, Kobudo and Muay Thai

Sensei Jessica is the daughter of Sensei Mark. She commenced her Karate training in 2007 at the age of just 2 years and first competed at the age of 3. In 2012, she commenced training in Muay Thai and Arnis. 2014 saw her begin training in RyuKonKai Karate and Kobudo and BJJ.

Kru Andrew Szalajko

Vice Chief Instructor

Karate, Muay Thai, Kids Boxing and Kids BJJ Instructor

Kru Andrew is the son of Sensei Mark. He began training in 2008 at the age of 18 months. He has more than 16 years of training experience in a variety of martial arts. He is passionate about his training and helping to develop our younger members.

Kru Sandra Stendardo

Director of Ladies Only Self Defence

Kru Sandra teaches our Saturday morning kids Muay Thai classes, where kids learn how to strike and importantly they learn self defence skills. Kru Sandra also heads our Ladies only Kick Boxing and Self Defence classes. She is also an experienced Taekwondo teacher who has taught Taekwondo kids classes, as well as Taekwondo adults classes.

Professor George Adams

Director of BJJ

Professor George Adams is an icon in the Australian Martial Arts World. He is a former police officer like Sensei Mark and it was in the NSW Police Force many decades ago that their friendship commenced. Professor George has his own large school, Budoshinkai Martial Arts and he is a 2nd Degree BJJ Black Belt in BJJ.

Sensei Sarah Brown

Director of Picton

Sensei Sarah is a dedicated martial artist with over 10 years of training experience.
She teaches the Saturday morning kids' karate classes and assists with the kids' Muay Thai program. A passionate and consistent trainer, Sensei Sarah also serves as the Director of our Wilton Dojo, where she teaches karate alongside her daughter, Senpai Ava.

Sensei Aden Steinke

Director of Jodo

Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Iaido and Jodo Instructor

Sensei Robert Brown

Director of Iaido

Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Iaido and Jodo Instructor

Sensei Paul Briggs

Karate Instructor

Sensei Paul is one of Renshi Mark’s longest serving students. He first became involved with Bujutsu and Karate after he enrolled his three children in Karate classes at Bujutsu.
Like so many other parents, Paul was sitting back watching classes and decided that he should train with his children as well.

Sensei Edwin Tse

Karate Instructor

Sensei Edwin is a very talented martial artist who enjoys teaching others what he has learnt.
Sensei Edwin teaches our Saturday morning karate class.

Sensei Jett Tasdemir

Karate and Muay Thai Kick Boxing Instructor

Sensei Jett started training in January of 2010 at the age of 4. With 16 years of training under his belt he is a wealth of knowledge and an excellent role model for kids and adults training at Bujutsu.

Kru Chris Goodman

Muay Thai Kick Boxing Instructor

Kru Chris has been training at Bujutsu since 2015. He trains regularly with his three sons, two of which are also instructors.His family is a good example of what Bujutsu is all about. Families training together.Chris is passionate about his training and helping others to develop their skills.

Coach Matt Phythian

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructor

After doing some martial arts training as a child, Matt made the effort to turn a passing interest into a passion in 2009 and began training in BJJ. After receiving his Blue Belt he went to train Budo Jitsu Close Quarter Combat under the guidance of Hanshi Rob Gear, eventually earning a Black Belt in the style.

Senpai Zali Blackman

Kids Karate and Kids Muay Thai Instructor

Senpai Zali began training at the age of 5 years and has been training in excess of 10 years. She started competing back in 2018 and represented the NSW Karate Team in 2019 and 2020.
One of her greatest memories was training with Japan Karate Association HQ Instructor Takahashi Sensei in 2019.She has been assisting to teach classes since 2019.

Senpai Ava Brown

Kids Karate and Kids Muay Thai Kick Boxing Instructor

Senpai Ava has been training since the age of 3. She is a dedicated martial artist who trains and teaches at Smeaton Grange and also Picton dojos.Ava has trained at the Japan Karate Association sohonbu in Tokyo and also at the RyuKonKai Karate and Kobudo honbu.

Senpai Grace Briggs

Kids Karate and Kids Muay Thai Instructor

Grace has been training at Bujutsu since she was 2 years old and has focused on karate since joining.

Coach Peter Adamovic

Kids BJJ Instructor

After achieving a blue belt in Hap Ki Do as a teenager, Peter stopped training for several decades until he joined Bujutsu with his 3 kids Diana, Dominic and Benjamin.
Since restarting his martial arts journey in late 2022, Peter and his kids has dabbled in Karate and Muay Thai but have all particularly found a passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Coach Ben Adamovic

Kids BJJ Instructor

Ben started his martial arts journey in 2022 with his Dad and his twin brother Dominic and his older sister Diana.
He trains in our Karate and BJJ classes, and is looking forward to continuing to grow as a martial artist over the coming years.
Ben currently supports the Saturday Kids BJJ classes alongside his father Peter.