Ron Lane
It was Wednesday 3 August at 7am, a time that will live forever in the memory of Cooroy amateur boxing coach Mark Evans.
He was about to achieve what every amateur sporting coach dreams of, nation-wide exposure on television Channel 7, promoting the sport that has become his life – amateur boxing.
For this sport, (no football boots required), this type of promotion is rare.
“My god, the phone has not stopped ringing, the response to the interview has been fantastic. We cannot thank Channel 7 enough.”
For Evans, the owner and head coach of Impact Boxing and Fitness Centre, Cooroy, originally known as the Impact Boxing Academy, this has indeed been a big step forward.
“For our coaches, we have always found it hard to grab media attention. However, at last the sport is starting to get back to where it was years ago,” he said.
Mark’s journey into the world of amateur boxing started when, as a young boy, he learning to box in the backyard of one of his mates. Little did he realise that these sparring sessions would take him to where he stands today – owner coach of an ultra-modern boxing and fitness club, president of Boxing Queensland and a well-established boxing coach of national reputation.
In his younger days he was to spend years boxing as an amateur and in the study and training of martial arts.
‘’But then I did two things. I cut back on fighting, helped train the local lads and invested in a block of land in Cooroy. It was in 2005 the idea of having my own gym started to become a reality.
“In choosing a name for the gym, I wanted to say something that would make an impact on the community.” This is how the name Impact Boxing Academy came into being.
His name and reputation as a coach soon caused the boxing fraternity to take note. This was to result in members from Gympie, Imbil, Tewantin, Bribie Island and Caboolture joining the team.
After many years and much success, Mark realised that it had caused a problem.
The small gym that he had built amongst the trees at the back of his home on Black Mountain Rd, Cooroy was too small to cater for the fast-growing membership, thus the now ultramodern Impact Boxing and Fitness Centre based in Taylor Court, Cooroy came into being.
His success while training from the backyard gym was outstanding, his tournament results are worthy of note. Members have represented their country in such tournaments as the World Titles (Russia and India), Youth and Commonwealth Games (Bahamas and Gold Coast) and Celtic Cup (Ireland). During this time, they had a medal tally of 10 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.
The number of state and national titles are many. Ella Boot, World and Youth Commonwealth Games medallist, Taylor Robinson, Commonwealth Games and Indonesian medallist and the Cameron-Hands brothers, Sam and Ben, winners of both National and Golden Glove Titles. And recently Ange Harris represented her country in the Women’s World Titles in Turkey.
Now, once again, a team member Paige Robinson, has reached the top by winning the 60kg division National Title. This has also earned her a place in the Australian team to contest the World Titles in Spain.
Away from competition, gym life has seen the formation of the Pee Wee group (the under 12s) who are Mark’s pride and joy, 30-strong and attendance is always good. This also tends to draw attention to coach Evans and his staff’s attitude to the work done outside the gym in various schools and running programs for special needs children and disengaged youth.
His success as a coach has seen him receive high appointments, Australian head coach, Nikolay Polyakov Memorial Tournament Russia 2016. The year 2017, Head Coach Queensland Selection Trials for Commonwealth Games, Assistant Australian Coach Elite Youth World Championships India, and Elite Men’s World Titles Germany.
However, in his own words: “One of my proudest achievements was to be appointed Boxing Australia’s, Queensland Futures Coach.”
By accepting this appointment, it drops the future of boxing Queensland, squarely in the hands of coach Mark Evans. Not only does he have the responsibility to identify talent and teach, but also form these junior athletes into squads where all aspects required to bring them to elite level will be taught
Coach Evans has always acknowledged the support and help he has received from the people of Cooroy: from the days of building the backyard Impact gym, to present times. But as always finance in amateur boxing remains a problem.
Yoshi Hasegawa
Among amateur sports where no football boots required, the sport of Jiu Jitsu is not well known.
However, research tells us that in Australia, it’s rated as one of the fastest growing sports. For proof of this we need look no further than 153 Cooyar St, Noosa Heads,the home of the Caza Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club.
The owner and head coach of the Caza Club is Professor Yoshi Hasegawa 3rd Dan. Born in Tokyo Japan in 1978, Yoshi moved to California in 2003 to train in Brazilin Jiu-Jitsu under legendary teacher Ricardo Rey Diogo.
Then in 2009, to further his training and experience moved to Sao Paolo Brazil to train with Marco Barbosa. Then the following year he was awarded the black belt by Barbosa. Following this, in 2012 under a club sponsorship, he moved to Australia to teach under a franchise.
After teaching there for five years, Yoshi opened his own gym, Caza Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Noosa Junction in February 2017. Under the coaching and training of Yoshi and his support group, the competition team has done well in just five and a half years.
However, this has not been Yoshi’s driving purpose. His main goal as a teacher and coach, is to spread awareness of the art to the new students from within Australis.
While the competitive types can certainly find a home amongst CAZA’s membership, the door remains open to the hobbyist and casual participant of all ages.
As a result of Yoshi’s dedication and style of teaching, the reputation of the club has resulted in more gyms opening under the Caza banner. Today, Caza has a branch in Caloundra (Bells Creek) and an affiliate, Drop Bear Brazilin Jiu-Jitsu, now operating in Marburg (Ipswich). The three clubs all compete under the CAZA name.
There is a team vibe that has been fostered at CAZA gyms where everyone is made to feel not only welcome, but also a part of a broadening organisation.
The immediate and definite goal of Yoshi and the club is to encourage new members. This will in turn help expand and promote the sport.
“Meanwhile,” said Yoshi, “because of increased membership we are seeking a larger premises.”
Further proof that the sport is starting to become popular. A recent increase in interest from female students, has reshaped the club’s outlook. Plans to accommodate more women’s only classes, are now under club assessment.
In competition the club has been highly active. Considering that it was only opened in February 2017, some very good results have been achieved, in particular the Overall club trophy.
Sunshine Coast Championships 2019 saw Caza club finish, Overall, in third place, then the 2020 and 2021 Sunshine Coast- Open Carnivals saw CAZA finish Overall third and first.
With the Overall trophy being for the teams’ total points, it is a good indication as to the high standard of all competitors. Then to cap it off the club again performed well in the 2022 South Pacific Championships to again finish third in the Overall competition.
In a club where age varies from five to the mid-seventies, to achieve such results, shows high standard of coaching from all levels. To help maintain this, Yoshi is supported, by Brown Belt assistant instructor, Sam Morrison. Working under the guidance of Yoshi, he concentrates on the Kids (the youth). Morrison also has trained under Yoshi and the Japanese system of discipline and traditions of the art of Jiu-Jitsu. The results speak for them- selves.
Two of Yoshi’s highly successful students are 12-year-old Daniel Svoboda and 14-year-old Kayden Koh. Daniels major achievement was winning the silver medal in the 2020 Pan Kid International Jiu-Jitsu championships in Los Angles. For Kayden his were winning the gold medal in the Pan Pacific Championships 2019 and in 2021 winning the silver medal at the Australian National Championships in Melbourne was outstanding. “We were very happy with these results and the work of assistant coach Sam Morrison,” said Yoshi.
Another highlight occurred in December 2019 when Cheyne Douglas became the first CAZA student awarded the coveted black belt. Following this in June 2022 John Bennett, aged 71, became the oldest member awarded the black belt. There are now eight black belts within the club. Well done to all students, competitors and most important the coaching of Professor Yoshi Hasegawa and staff.
Again, it shows, no football boots required to reach the top.
The achievements of coaches Mark Evans Boxing, Professor Yoshi Hasegawa jiu-jitsu, Mick Hooper Athletics and Bryan Dukas Karate, puts them amongst Australia’s finest. We in the community of Noosa can take pride. Our athletes are in the best of hands.
