Love’s tight grip

THEY say the couple that works out together, stays together … and it couldn’t be truer for local couple Simon and Jo Golland.
Simon and Jo study and teach an array of martial arts including Kenpo Jujutso and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Simon has even taught members of the British military, police force and security personnel.
The pair started their training under the same association when they were children, but didn’t actually meet until Simon came to Australia on a training trip.
After meeting and living in the UK for five years, the couple is now back in Australia and living in the beautiful Noosa, where they share their passion for self-defence and martial arts with locals.
Jo and Simon say it’s the results of their training that motivates them.
“Simon has accumulated some truly inspiring success stories over the years, from developing young children who lack confidence, to a student who successfully defended himself during a serious knife attack,” Jo said.
“He also taught someone the skills to save their own life. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Together, Jo and Simon run classes to teach locals the art of self-defence, based on a sense of community.
“Simon’s classes are developed on a sense of community, regardless of gender, religion and background, which isn’t always easy in some parts of England,” Jo said.
“People from all over the world all train together as one family. And the beauty of what we study is that we can all speak the same Okinawan/Japanese dojo terminology. Our classes give students the opportunity to travel the world and train with other Goju Ryu practitioners regardless of their native languages.”
Simon and Jo hold their classes in the Noosa District Catholic Parish Hall. Visit www.concepts-gym.com for more information on class times.