Hanshi Ivan Zavetchanos

Hanshi Ivan Zavetchanos, stands tall amongst Australia's most legendary martial artists. Born in 1928 in Australia, Ivan commenced his training in 1942 at the age of 14 . Ivan achieved his black belt and soon founded his Shudokan Judo Academy in 1948 which is the oldest continuous martial arts school in Australia.

Ivan was also part of one of Australias most infamous training institutions, the "Silver Top Taxis Self Defence Academy", founded by Frank Clark in 1953. Ivan instructed Judo to a long list of students whilst it was Korean Taekwondo master Mr Chan Yong Kim who ran the Taekwondo. Both instructors brought the 'budo' aspect of the martial arts into the school, not to mention the "school of hard knocks." Silver Top became the country's top school, even today you can't talk about the early days of martial arts in Melbourne especially without mentioning the Silver Top Taxi's Self Defence Academy.

Ivan travelled annually (and often several times annually) to Japan where he trained at Japan's leading college for martial arts, this being the "Kodokan" (meaning: mother organisation) in Tokyo. It was during this time at the Kodokan that Ivan met, lived and trained with arguably the worlds most famous martial arts historian and academic, Mr. Don Dreager. In 1961, it was Don Dreager that introduced Ivan to the legendary Kyokushinkai founder Mas Oyama and it was from this meeting and friendship that Kyokushinkai came to be in Australia. Kyokushin was formally introduced into Australia in 1965 under the tutelage of Sensei Kato. Kyokushinkai was soon to flourish in Australia. Black Belts to be graded under the Kyokushin umbrella of Ivan was the now famous Shihan Eddie Emin, Shihan John Taylor and the late Ivan Barry. Ivan Barry was to later switch to Taekwondo and eventually partner with Martin Hall (Halls Taekwon do) of which has now become Australias leading Taekwondo school.

Taekwondo was given a giant boost thanks to Mr. Zavetchanos, it was the introduction of the "No" brothers to Australia that really helped bring the art of Taekwondo to the forefront. Former student of master Kim the now legendary Mr. Jack Rosinsky also came to prominence around the same time. The art now began to flourish in Australia.

Tens of thousand of martial arts students in Australia can thank Ivan for having the foresight and leadership early in his career to mould the Australian martial arts industry to what it is today, and giving them the opportunity to go on and achieve their personal martial arts careers.

Other credits to Ivan include;

Going on to become co-founder of Judo federation of Australia 1951 and was also granted membership of Australian Oylympic Commttee 1952.

J.F.A. was one of 17 founding members of I.J.F. 1952.

Founded Oceania Judo Union 1954, accepted by 1956 Paris Congress of I.J.F. as regional body for I.J.F.;

Australian Open Champion 1954 & 1955.

Organised 1st. Australian Championships by weight categories 1956 and introduced women’s competition at the same time.

President J.F.A. 1958-1969.

President O.J.U. 1958- 1979.

Vice-President I.J.F. 1958-1979

Jury member 3rd. World Championships, Paris 1961.

Kodokan Kenshusei Student 1961-62.

Australian Olympic team manager/coach Tokyo, 1964.

1965 Introduced Kyokushinkai Karate to Australia.

Jury member 4th. World Judo Championships, Rio de Janiero, 1965

“       “           5th.     “        “            “                , Salt Lake City, 1967

“      “            6th.     “        “            “                , Mexico City,    1969

“     “             7th.     “         “           “                , Ludwigshaven, 1971

“     “             8th.     “        “            “                , Lausanne,         1973

“     “             9th.     “        “            “                , Vienna,             1975

“     “            10th.    “        “            “                , Paris                  1980

I.J.F. Judo Technical Delegate to Munich Olympic Organising Committee 1972.

Jury Member 1976 Judo Events Montreal Olympic Games.

National, Continental and International Judo Referee.

Kodokan 2nd. Dan 1962, 3rd. Dan 1964, 4th. Dan 1968, 5th. Dan 1975.

Manager Australian Women’s Judo team to 1st. Women’s World Championships, New York, 1980.

Founded Australian Kodokan Judo Association 1981.

Sponsored to Australia reknowned Kyokushin champion, Takumi Higashitani.

Manager/Coach AKJA Team to Hong Kong International 1983 & 86.

Chairman South Pacific Kyokushinkai Karate 1972-80

Introduced Asihara Karate to Australia 1981

Promoted AKJA 7th. Dan 1988.

Promoted AKJA 8th. Dan 2001.

Despatched successful Kata and Shiai teams to USA annually, 1990-1998. Also 2004.

Currently Technical Director and Chief Instructor Shudokan Judo Academy, Melbourne, President Victorian Amateur Judo Union Inc., and Chief Executive Officer Australian Kodokan Judo Association.

Kancho Asahi Karate-Do