The competition was held in Sydney on July 24 and involved exponents of a range of martial arts disciplines including tae kwon do, kick boxing, Tai boxing, Okinawan Gojo Ryu Karate, which is the style of karate that Mr Parlett practices, and other styles of karate.

Mr Parlett has been learning karate for 27 years and has been an instructor for 16 years. He trains six days a week.

“I believe that traditional karate like Okinawan Gojo Ryu which I practice has the widest range in fighting technique and tactics of all the martial arts, especially in the full contact division,” Mr Parlett said.

At the championships he won the Open Black Belt Kata division, the open Black Belt Points Sparing and the Open Heavyweight Bare Knuckle Full Contact Championship.

Mr Parlett said that part of his training regime included training at the Absolute Fitness Gym under the guidance of Brooke Wilding where he has been working on increasing his core fitness and explosive power.

“The work on speed and impact has certainly assisted me in the competition just past,” he said.

“This and my three trips overseas this year to train with some of the world’s top karate exponents have helped me to perform so well at this competition.

“I would like to acknowledge my sponsors RJ Drycleaners, Beauty with Renae at Dannielle’s In Vogue and The Goulburn Power Centre. “They have allowed me to continue to improve and compete at this very high level.”

He said also that he was lucky in that his employer Blue Circle (Boral) Marulan have been very supportive in allowing him the time off to train and compete.