DANIEL "The Rock" DAWSON
Founder and owner of Legends Academy.
8 x World Champion
4 x World Muay Thai Champion
3 x World Kickboxing Champion
1 x World Boxing Champion
30 years coaching experience
Certified Personal Trainer
Working with Children's Check
Martial Arts is my life, it is my sport, my mentor, my hero and my saviour. Growing up with a single mother and violent stepfathers in low income households and suburbs, I was exposed to drug and alcohol abuse, physical and emotional bullying, as well as many negative influences. I faced many challenges to survive in life, fortunately for me I found Martial Arts and it gave me direction and purpose, Martial Arts ignited my spirit to evolve and become, Martial Arts gave me humility and respect while at the same time instilling self-confidence and value, Martial Arts saved my life and made my life.
My love for combat sports is only rivalled by my passion to positively impact and contribute to the community and world around me. I am an 8 times World champion and the first and only man in history to win world titles in 3 different combat sports: Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Boxing. 28 years in the sport and I am as inspired as ever, coaching and guiding other through the sports and creating opportunity for other to thrive and achieve personal success.
MEET THE COACHES
at Legends Academy.
JASON LEE
Head Coach
State and National Title Holder
World Record for most kicks in 30 seconds
20 years coaching experience
Specialises in anti bullying for kids
Working with Children’s Check
Senior First Aid
Known as “The Nak Muay Ninja” on social media with a combined following of 250k followers. He is one of our lead instructors at Legends Academy.
Jason started Martial Arts when he was 6 years old. He has been training for over 30 years & teaching for 20 years.
He has trained in many different styles of martial arts with some of the best coaches in the world. He holds state & national titles. He also holds a world record for most kicks in 30 seconds. He has a cert 3 & 4 in fitness & has years of experience running kids, adults & ladies only classes.
Jason has spent half his life helping thousands of kids with bullying. His anti-bullying & self defence program is used by schools & martial arts gyms all around Australia.
Martial arts changed my life, and I just want to give back to the community & make a difference. My goal is to help people all around the world get involved in Martial arts & be the best they can be.
MARK "The Shark" FAMILARI
Head Coach
State and National Title Holder
Has competed at the Highest Level in Muay Thai, MMA and Boxing
20+ years coaching experience
Working with Children’s Check
Senior First Aid
Mark is a lifelong martial artist. Mark has been training since he was 4 years old, where his father first coached him.
Mark has competed in Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing and MMA. He was the WKA 2014 Fighter of the Year. Mark has trained for over 27 years and has seen all types of coaching. He likes to think he has taken all the good coaching (and some questionable coaching) and coaches in a way that he would have liked to have been taught.
Mark is passionate about helping you on your martial arts journey and hopes it benefits your life just as it has for him.
JOSH JOHNSON
Head Coach
26 years Martial Arts
20 years coaching
Trained in Muay Thai, Zen Do Kai, Boxing
Cert IV in Sport & Recreation
Coached professional fighters at a championship level
Head Coach for Australia at the Arafura Games in Darwin
Josh began his martial arts journey at the age of 7, exploring multiple styles before committing to Muay Thai at 14. Training within the BJC system, he worked his way through the ranks to earn a 3rd degree in Muay Thai. His experience includes competing and training in Thailand, learning from some of the sport’s most respected coaches.
Following a knee surgery, Josh transitioned into coaching and quickly discovered a passion for developing others. Since then, he has dedicated his career to training fighters from the ground up, helping them achieve goals they once believed were out of reach while becoming stronger, more confident individuals.
Josh combines his deep knowledge of Muay Thai with a strong background in youth work, using martial arts as a positive outlet to support personal growth, discipline, and resilience. Muay Thai has been a constant throughout his life, shaping not only his career but also his values and approach to coaching.
Throughout his career, Josh has trained multiple state, Australian, and world champions. He has travelled extensively across Australia for fight shows and represented Australia as Head Coach at the Arafura Games in Darwin, as well as at world championships in Thailand.
ZOE BISSETT
Qualifications
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8 years Muay Thai
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3 years coaching
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Trained in Muay Thai & Kickboxing
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ISKA K1 National Champion
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Winner of Inception Fight Show
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WAKO Perth Open Champion
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WAKO State Championship Competitor
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D-Fight Competitor
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FCE & MTWA Interclubs
Coach
EDUARDO VAZQUEZ
Qualifications
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8 years Boxing
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3 years coaching
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Trained in Boxing
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2× State Champion in Mexico
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Featherweight Champion
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Lightweight Champion
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National Competitor
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Coached professional fighters
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Officially certified Boxing & Nutrition Trainer by the World Boxing Council (WBC)
Coach
MATILDA STEPHENS
Qualifications
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6 years Muay Thai
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5+ years coaching
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Trained in Muay Thai and Kickboxing
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ISKA K1 National champion
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Road to Legends competitor
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Vanguard fight show competitor
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WAKO Perth open champion
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WAKO State champion
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FCE, MTWA, GFB interclub participant
Coach
DYLAN DRISCOLL
Coach
Qualifications
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5+ years Muay Thai
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3 years coaching
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Trained in Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Boxing
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WAKO State Champion
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WAKO Perth Open Champion
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Road to Legends winner
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ISKA Nationals competitor
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Nemises Rising competitor
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Fight Night competitor
COACH SAM
Junior Coach
Qualifications
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6+ years Muay Thai
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3 years coaching
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Trained in Muay Thai and Kickboxing
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ISKA K1 National Champion
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WAKO State Champion
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WAKO Perth Open Champion
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Westside D-Fights winner
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FCE, MTWA Interclub participant
KATRINA READ
Lead Nutritionist / Coach
Qualifications
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3 years Accredited Nutritionist
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Bachelor of Health Science in Clinical Nutrition
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10+ years in the health and fitness industry
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8 years Muay Thai
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4 years coaching
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Cert III in fitness
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ISKA Muay Thai winner
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FCE, GFB Interclub participant
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Balanced Nutrition Perth
SALLY MARANO
Coach / Admin
Qualifications
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15+ years in the Fitness Industry
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Cert III Gym Instructor
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Cert IV Personal Trainer
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AUSactive Level 3 Personal Trainer
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Pre/Post Natal Accreditation
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Pilates for Fitness certified
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Powerlifting Fundamentals
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Core Conditioning
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Les Mils RPM Instructor
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Tony Jeffries Boxing course Level 1 & 2