Meet the UMF Instructors

Sifu Pablo Cardenas

Pablo has been serving the community of Townsville since 2005, offering Wing Chun Kung Fu training with a lineage back to Grand Master William Cheung, lifelong friend and mentor to Wing Chun legend, Bruce Lee.

Sifu Pablo was present in the Henan Province of China November 9th 2013 when the Art of Wing Chun Kung Fu was returned to its birthplace within the Shaolin Temple. Grand Master William Cheung met with the Abbot Shi Yongxin to officiate the prestigious return of Wing Chun with the celebratory unveiling of a black marble plaque placed within the temple courtyard.

Pablo is the owner and principal instructor of UMF Academy, formerly NQ Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy. Pablo has trained in martial arts since he was 14. He began his training in Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu under Grandmaster William Cheung.

Sifu Pablo was proudly featured in the limited collector’s edition of Blitz Martial Arts magazine, highlighting over 100 of Australia’s elite instructors.

Pablo served 21 years in the Army:

• Selected for EX LONGLOOK an exchange program with the UK Ministry of Defence.
• Deployed on International Force East Timor (INTERFET), with a mission to restore peace and security to East Timor.

Pablo has trained with numerous military units around the world:

• US Army,
• US Marine Corps,
• UK Royal Marines,
• UK RAMC 16 Armoured Field Ambulance,
• UK Territorial Army,
• Gurkhas to name a few.

Pablo remains active in the Australian Army as a reservist.

As a professional martial arts instructor, Pablo has obtained many qualifications to provide a richer student experience. These are not limited to technical and training courses, and include community service.

Pablo’s qualifications include:

• Instructor Level 10 (examination by Grandmaster William Cheung)
• Martial Arts Australia Certified Instructor
• Registered Martial Arts Professional
• Diploma in Sports Coaching: Martial Arts
• Level 1 Boxing Coach Queensland
• Street Edge Krav Maga Instructor

I’m honoured to be inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame! AMAHOF  Decades of dedication, teaching, and mentoring have shaped countless students, instilling discipline, respect, resilience, and growth. This recognition celebrates my lifelong commitment to martial arts and the legacy of empowering the next generation across Australasia and beyond. 

I was deeply honoured to receive both a personal call and message of congratulations from Vitaliano Gallardo, the Ambassador of Peru to Australia

Sifu Pablo was privileged to be guided by Sifu Ian Protheroe, The Classical Wing Chun Network a leading figure in Australian Wing Chun. His mentorship deeply influenced UMF’s foundation—instilling timeless values of discipline, respect, and excellence that continue to shape our academy and inspire every student who walks through our doors.

Fostering Martial Arts Brotherhood | United Martial Arts & Fitness

At UMF, we believe martial arts transcends borders. That's why we proudly partner with like-minded academies beyond our local area—schools that uphold the same values of discipline, respect, and personal excellence.

This isn’t about competition. It’s about connection. Together, we strengthen the global martial arts community.

Emilio Cardenas

Meet Instructor Emilio Cardenas from United Martial Arts & Fitness, Townsville. From Little Dragon to Instructor, Emilio’s journey through BJJ, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Boxing & Krav Maga inspires students to build discipline, confidence, and real-world strength.

Meet Instructor Emilio Cardenas – From Little Dragon to Leader

Building Confidence, Discipline & Strength Through Every Stage

From Little Dragon to Instructor, Emilio Cardenas embodies everything that United Martial Arts & Fitness (UMF) stands for. Having begun his martial arts journey at a young age at our academy (formerly NQ Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy), Emilio has trained through every stage and every program — including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Street Edge Krav Maga.

A Journey of Growth and Dedication

Emilio’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and leadership. Through years of consistent training, he’s developed the discipline, confidence, and resilience that UMF instills in every student. Today, he passes that same energy and mindset to the next generation — helping children grow into strong, respectful young leaders while empowering adults to defend themselves with real-world skills.

Inspiring the Next Generation

As part of UMF’s renowned Character Development System — the only program of its kind licensed in Townsville — Emilio helps every student unlock their best self. His commitment to teaching goes beyond martial arts technique; it’s about building character, focus, and personal growth for life.

Emilio’s qualifications include:

• Level 7 Wing Chun Kung Fu
• Level 1 Fundamentals of Kettlebell Training
• Level 2 Advanced Concepts in Kettlebell Training
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt
• Community coaching – General Principal AIS
• Certificate III in Sports and Recreation
• Level 1 Boxing Coach Queensland
• AMACS’ Martial Arts Certified Instructor
• Muay Thai Kickboxing Coach

Emilio has trained with numerous remarkably qualifed instructors such as:

Master Fari Salievski

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives & Muay Thai Kickboxing Mentor

Master Fari is UMF’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives and Muay Thai Kickboxing mentor. Together, we form a worldwide network of like-minded schools committed to building strong students, inspiring leaders, and a better martial arts future.  Master Fari Salievski

Master Fari is the No. 1 rated coach in Asia 2017. Fari’s internationally acclaimed Top Team is made up of World Champions. Our amazing network includes:

• Dual Weight Division World Champion, Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen
• 3-time Australian Champion, Theo Christakos
• American wrestler, multiple UFC fighter and MMA Champion, Brian Junior Ebersole

Fari, One of Asia’s Top 5 Coaches In Martial Arts

Supporting Martial Arts Unity | United Martial Arts & Fitness

At UMF, we believe in global unity and mutual growth. That’s why we exchange website links with respected martial arts academies outside our service area—schools that share our values of discipline, respect, and excellence.

This isn’t competition—it’s community.

Paul Johnstone

Paul is the designer of the Street Edge Krav Maga training. He is the official Australian representative and only instructor to personally train and be qualified under Nir Maman. Paul has unrivaled experience, making Street Edge Krav Maga Australia’s #1 Defensive Tactics program

He has dedicated the past 30 years to the martial arts and defensive tactics. He has trained with several distinguished martial arts masters and defensive tactics subject matter experts.

Paul has qualifications in:

• law enforcement firearms
• defensive tactics instructor,
• investigations and security contingency preparedness at both the state and federal levels.
• Master Firearms Instructor,

Paul is a former Firearm, Defensive Tactics and Officer Survival Instructor (Operational Safety Trainer) for the Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police Service and he is a certified Officer in Charge/Range Safety Officer for the Kabul Military Training Centre (KMTC) in Kabul, Afghanistan.

He has also received black belts in Karate and has accreditation as an instructor in:

• Israeli Special Forces Krav Maga
• Kapap (Israeli Combatives)
• SFC Combatives
• Edged Weapons
• and is the founder and chief instructor of Street Edge Defensive Tactics.

Street Edge Krav Maga is profoundly well designed and developed in the needs for real world self-defence and draws on the success of its founder for depth of understanding and effectiveness. It is number one for that reason.

Come and train in the number one self-defence program at UMF Academy.

Robert Nolan

Judo Instructor Mackay | Judo Australia Member | Martial Arts Mentor

Looking for a highly skilled martial arts instructor in Mackay? Meet Robert, a passionate mentor with decades of experience in Judo, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Born into a family of boxers in 1978, Robert has dedicated his life to mastering martial arts techniques while guiding students of all ages to achieve their self-defence, personal development, and competitive goals.

Robert’s journey began with boxing and later led to Wing Chun Kung Fu, earning a Level 7 Black Belt in 2008. In 2012, he discovered Judo, achieving Shodan (1st Dan) in Judo in 2023 and competing nationally with multiple medals.

At Mackay Kodokan Judo Club, Robert fosters a family-like environment where students develop confidence, discipline, and resilience. He offers beginner to advanced Judo, Wing Chun Kung Fu and Boxing, classes, along with one-on-one martial arts mentorship, including coaching professional martial artist like Emilio Cardenas in Judo from United Martial Arts & Fitness – Townsville. We give UMF students the edge by integrating Judo’s unique techniques into our training, all without a standalone Judo class.

Start your Boxing, Judo, or Wing Chun journey today with Robert in Mackay