The Kaizen Culture Pod

Mitch and Nathan sit down to discuss the previous results from recent National Championships, break down the medal tally and standout statistics from each state, and debate which state brings the loudest chants as excitement builds for the 2026 Australian Karate National Championships, taking place this week at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart, Tasmania. 🇦🇺 They also highlight the return of the Super...

Mitch and Nathan break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 Australian Karate National Championships being held at MyState Bank Arena, home of the JackJumpers in Hobart, Tasmania. 🇦🇺 From the history of Nationals in Tasmania and what could be the biggest event yet, to Junior World Championships selection, top contenders, and preparation tips for athletes chasing national success. Hav...

Mitch and Nathan sit down to unpack the Oceania Teams Selection Event and NZ Open, where Australia secured qualification spots for the World Cup and brought home an impressive haul of medals‼️ The boys break down the team event battles against New Zealand, discuss what the results mean for Australia's World Cup hopes, and celebrate the athletes who stepped onto the podium with 8 Gold, 4 Silve...

WE ARE BACK FROM HAT A PERFORMANCE IN MANILA!!  Mitch and Nathan sit down to unpack an incredible Youth League campaign for Australia after bringing home 4 medals across 4 different states 🇦🇺   From standout performances by Ana Jovic, Lilly Heran, Lucy Choi Lawrence & Lucy Maggio, to the huge amount of Aussie athletes pushing deep into divisions, the future of Australian karate is looking brig...

We are kicking off the Get To Know series again with a banger of a guest... World Champion 🏆 Doctor 🥼 All round wonderful human being ❤️ Kristina Mah is one of Australia's most successful athletes, and considered one of the greatest we have ever had (if not the outright GOAT). From reaching the mountain top of sports karate in 2010 becoming our last Senior World Champion, to finishing her P...

What an unbelievable turnout for this Youth League in Manila, Philippines, which is one of the closest to home! 67 young Australians, 18 Aussie coaches AND what can only be expected to be a major pack of supporters going along for the ride! Nathan and Mitch go through the significance of this Youth League, and how it can impact everyone going, whether you are eyeing off a Junior Worlds spot, or si...

Rory Attridge is Co-Host for this episode!! WHAT AN AUSSIE OPEN!! Mitch is hanging around in Sydney and staying with the great man Rory Attridge and his family! They sit down to unpack another great weekend at the Aus Open, chat about the significance of Junior World selection events, and the new Tri-Nations event in Turkey! Australia is sending 5 athletes to compete in The Gallipoli Tri-Nations F...

50 episodes. Half a century. 🤯 We had to celebrate this milestone by taking a trip down memory lane. Revisiting the best topics, the unforgettable guests, and the moments that had us laughing way too hard (yes, we threw in some of the bloopers for your entertainment). And of course… we can’t forget THE TRIANGLE!!!  A true icon. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us from Episode 1 to Episode 50...

In Episode 14 of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Elena Quirici's for a deep dive and more personal conversation. From her early days in karate as a child to becoming one of the top athletes in the world, Elena shares the journey that shaped her. Her passion for karate has never faded, and quitting was never an option.  She opens up about her resilience, her recent injury, and the mind...

A little switch-up this, week no guest, just the lads firing up for a proper chat. We break down the freshly announced Oceania teams and unpack the insane wave of registrations the Aussies rolled in with for the Youth League in Manila… the numbers are wild! We dive into some of our craziest travel stories from over the years and share the tips and tricks we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way). Hav...

Join the World Karate Cast for Episode 13, featuring Italy’s top karate athletes, Matteo Avanzini (Senior World Champion +84kg) and Terryana D’Onofrio (Kata European and World medalist). With the first-ever Karate One Premier League being hosted in Rome, Matteo and Terryana discuss the pride and pressure of representing Italy on home soil, how they stay focused under expectations, and their goals...

Youth League in Manlia registration is open and we go through the new way to enter the competitions. Get onto this quick because these spots run out really fast.  The first ever Premier League in Italy is on next week and we have Delcan Squire joining us on the pod this week, to chat about his first appearance on this stage. We cover the idea of changing weight divisions, dieting and cutting weigh...

In this episode of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Amy Connell, a Scottish Female Kumite -55kg athlete and Head Instructor of Guardian Girls Karate. Amy has won multiple medals throughout her career and represented Scotland on the international stage. She shares her journey in competitive Karate, the mindset and discipline required at the highest level, and the lessons she learned along th...

Another big first for the Kaizen Culture Pod! We have our first OLYMPIAN karateka featured as a guest, Sakura Kokumai from the United States of America! Yes, this show focuses on the Australian karate landscape, but guess what… Sakura is coming to Melbourne in April for a kata seminar and it was only right to get her on to chat about her life and journey through the sport! To find out more about S...

Episode 11 of World Karate Cast features Rodrigo Rojas of Chile, a consistent presence in elite international karate since 2013. He recently secured his second Karate One Premier League gold medal in Istanbul, marking a remarkable achievement nearly ten years after his first Premier League victory in Fortaleza, Brazil. A four-time Continental Champion, Rodrigo discusses the evolution of his career...

NEW RULE CHANGES! We have 10 new rules to talk about in 2026, and who better to help us dissect and interpret them than one of Australia’s most distinguished referees, Dominic Sculli! We are proud to welcome our first referee guest onto the Kaizen Culture Pod, Dom’s passion for the martial art and sport is something to be celebrated! We go through the pathway of becoming a WKF referee, what it is...

In this episode of World Karate Cast, three-time Grand Winner and two-time World Champion Abdalla Abdelaziz reflects on his performance at the opening event of the 2026 Karate One Premier League in Istanbul. He speaks in depth about how he felt during each bout, the strategic decisions he made on the tatami, and the adjustments required at the highest level of competition. Abdalla also shares valu...

Happy New Year! Happy first episode of the Kaizen Culture Pod for 2026! We are buckling up for a big year, and what a way to kick it off with welcoming on to the board and team at Kaizen Culture, Michelle Wilson, also known as, Mish! We sit down and chat about what this year lies ahead for us and the broader Australian Karate community. We also get an insight to what drives Mish to be so involved...

World Karate Cast kicks off 2026 with Maria Torres 🇪🇸, back to back Grand Winner of 2024 - 2025. In this episode, Maria breaks down the work behind her success, how she is approaching the new season, and the mindset required to stay on top. She shares her goals for the Karate World Cup, the European Karate Championships, and the challenge of defending her Grand Winner title on the Karate One Premi...

In Episode 8 of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Douglas Brose — the most recognised Brazilian athlete in the history of karate and a true legend of the sport. Douglas opens up about his incredible career at the highest level, sharing the experiences, challenges, and mindset that shaped his journey to the top. Beyond competition, he offers valuable insight into the evolution of karate, the...

In the very last episode of the Kaizen Culture Pod for 2025, sit down with Mitchell and Nathan as they go through what a massive year it has been for Australian Karate and Kaizen Culture! We have seen so much growth and support, and couldn't have imagined it panning out the way it did! We are so proud, and so grateful of the support network - YOU GUYS! ❤️ Cheers to a great 2025 everyone, and...

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There is no better energy and vibe magician than Mr Rory Attridge! We are now 2 weeks out from the biggest competition of the year and we chat to Rory about how he is preparing for the Senior World Championships, and how he has been balancing life and karate. Rory Attridge | Shotokan Fit, NSW State Team : 11 (2015 - 2025) Years National Team : 8 (2018 - 2025) Years - Australia’s #1 Male Kumite -67...

Episode 5 of World Karate Cast features Ariel Torres 🇺🇸, one of the world’s top kata athletes, who shares the story behind his relentless pursuit of excellence. From starting out in both kumite and kata to dedicating himself fully to kata, Ariel opens up about the sacrifices, discipline, and mindset that shaped his path. Since 2006, a karate journal has been Ariel Torres’s constant companion, capt...

Laura Golding joins us on the podcast today talking about her unique journey, the father-daughter dynamic with Head National Coach of Australia, and all things Senior World Championships leading into Cairo next month! We are 4 weeks out from the biggest Senior event of the year and Laura takes us through the Australian Team preparations and mindset coming off the Worlds team training camp last wee...