MEET OUR COACHES

UNSW Taekwondo wouldn't be where it is today if it weren't for our hard-working coaches! These are the people who have led our club to success.

Headmaster 

NooRi Chung

The Ancient One, despite his young looks, NooRi has been coaching UNSW for over a decade and has seen generations come and go.

Combining his Double Masters in Biomedical Engineering and Physiotherapy with his extensive knowledge of Taekwondo, he ensures the training methods at UNSW Taekwondo are kept exceptionally high. This prehistoric specimen started off as an assistant coach in 2012 and became the head coach in 2013, leading UNSW Taekwondo to 1st place at the Australian University Games. He has since taught many of the current coaches and continues to act as the headmaster whilst providing mentoring when needed.

Fun fact: Starting off as a sparrer and initially against introducing competitive poomsae to UNSW Taekwondo team, he is now one of the top Poomsae Athletes in Australia. The doctor duo (Coaches Elena and NooRi) have rarely been beaten performing as a Pair.

Belt level: 4th Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 16 years

Competition experience:

• Australian National Poomsae Team | 2020
• Australian Taekwondo Nationals 2019 | Gold (Individuals & Pairs Poomsae)
• Australian University Games 2018 | Gold (Pairs Poomsae & u80kg Kyorugi)
• KTAA 2018 | Gold (Pairs Poomsae)
• NSW State Championships | Poomsae Gold Individuals (2017 & 2018), Pairs (2016, 2018 & 2019), Teams (2018) 
• Australian University Games 2014 | Gold (u58kg Kyorugi) 

Coaching experience:

• 2020 Nominee for UNSW Sport Coach of the Year 
• 2017 Arc Sport Recognition Award
• 2016 Nominee for Arc Sport Coach of the Year

Poomsae Coaches

Zeu Sul (Aaron)

Aaron learnt to kick before he learnt to walk. He has long been dedicated to the practice of taekwondo, both as a coach and as a decorated athlete in the practice of poomsae. He is a valued and integral poomsae coach at UNSW Taekwondo. 

Belt Level: 4th Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 21 years

Competition Experience:

• National Division 1 2022 | Gold in Individual Poomsae and Kyorugi

• NSW State Championships | Gold in Individual Poomsae (2009-2016)

• Australian Taekwondo Nationals | Gold in Individual Poomsae (2009-2015

• Australian Taekwondo Open 2015 | Gold (Individuals)

Demonstration Experience: 

• Kang’s Taekwondo Academy (2010 - 2017)
• Sydney International FIFA Fan Fest (2010)

Elena Zhao 

In just 6 years of practising taekwondo, Elena rapidly advanced to become one of the top Poomsae players in Australia. She has since taken on the role as one of UNSW Taekwondo’s Poomsae Coaches. Although she entered the club as a Black Belt, it was only at UNSW where Elena developed a deep-rooted passion for the sport and an inner drive to excel. With a combination of her hard work and natural talent, Elena’s medal collection speaks for itself.

Fun fact: Although Elena is our Poomsae Coach she has won 2 Golds in Sparring at the University Games as well.

Belt level: 3rd Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 9 years

Competition experience:

• World Universiade (2019)

• Jeju Open (2018)

• Taipei National Intercollegiate Athletic Games (2017)

• Oceanic Championships (Gold)

• Oceania Presidents Cup (Gold)

• Multiple Gold medals at Australian Nationals, States and University competitions.

• National Division 1 (Kyorugi) | Gold (u57kg) in 2018 & 2022

Sparring Coaches

Andy Pham 

Over his 14 years of experience training and competing in taekwondo, Andy has garnered experience and exceptional ability in both sparring and poomsae components of the sport. His many years spent coaching combined with his endless drive and pursuit of excellence have made him known to be a highly motivated, and highly motivating coach.

Belt Level: 3rd Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 14 years

Experience and achievements:

• World Poomsae Championship Selections 2020 | Gold (Team Poomsae)

• Australian National Championships 2019 | Gold (Individuals Poomsae)

• World University Games 2019 | Representative (Individuals Poomsae)

• Oceania Selections 2018 | Gold (Pairs Poomsae)

• Ho Chi Minh City Tournament 2017 | (u63kg Kyorugi)

• Taiwan Intercollegiate Games 2017

• Australian University Games 2016 | Gold (u58kg Kyorugi)

• UTS Blues Awards 2016 & 2019

• Senior Kyorugi & Poomsae coach at Chungdo Taekwondo (2016 - Present)

• Kyorugi coach at USYD TKD (2017-18)

• Assistant coach at UTS TKD (2016-17)

Adam Shafariansyah

Known in the club for his stunningly aesthetic spin kicks, Adam is one of our sparring coaches.

Coming from a non-competition focused club, Adam brings a unique skill set for demos and self defence to UNSW Taekwondo. Over the past 13 years his focus on the artistic elements of the martial art led him to master both power and grace for each kick. Due to the immense practice and detail orientation required, he is very familliar with methods to perfect foundations and footwork for taekwondo.

Belt level: 1st Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 13 years

Fun fact: Trying his hand at competitions In 2017, not only did Adam win his only sparring match; but he also achieved a technical knockout (TKO) in his first national-level competition.

Osama Almabrouk

Osama may be younger than many of our members, but be not deceived - he has trained and competed more than many do in a lifetime. His dream is to (one day) compete at the Olympic stage. As one of our sparring coaches, Osama always pushes people to improve and become the best that they can.

Belt level: 1st Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: A lot of years

Experience and achievements:

• Jordan National Team Representative (cadets)
• World Championship Competitor (cadets)
• 39 medals across various regional and international competitions
• Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award
• Trained at Al Faris, Asia, and Sharjah Taekwondo clubs in Jordan and UAE
• Coach at Champions Taekwondo Academy

Fun fact: This coach is extremely allergic to dogs.

Sally Wang

Sally is our Strength and Conditioning coach, with her knowledge as an Exercise Physiologist, she provides evidence based training to effectively raise the physical abilities of our students. She started her journey in taekwondo with UNSWTKD and has become a very capable practitioner. Having started taekwondo during university herself, she understands the specific focus and needs of those starting out in the sport to ensure that all our beginners develop the foundations they need to succeed.

Belt level: 1st Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 5 years

Experience and achievements:

• University Opens 2021 | Gold (Kyorugi)

• Australian Taekwondo Nationals 2019 | Silver (Kyorugi)

• NSW Taekwondo States 2019 | Gold (Kyorugi)

• University Opens 2019 | Gold (Kyorugi)

• Nationals Division 1 2019 | Gold (Kyorugi)

• Instructor at Arc She Can and Day of Play (Taekwondo)

Beginners' Course Coaches

Vanessa Gao

Vanessa’s taekwondo career started and blossomed through UNSW TKD. She joined our very first beginners course mid-2018, developed a fondness towards Poomsae and very quickly stepped🦵 into competitions. This year, Vanessa will be one of two Beginners Course coaches. Having been trained by, and alongside, the most qualified and dazzling coaches above, you can look forward to an exciting beginners course ahead.

Belt level: 1st Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 5 years

Experience and achievements:

• NSW State Championships 2021 | Gold (Individual Poomsae)

• Australian Taekwondo Nationals 2019 | Silver (Individual Poomsae)

• NSW Taekwondo States 2019 | Gold (Individual Poomsae)

• Nationals Division 1 2019 | Individual Poomsae, Team Poomsae & Kyorugi

• Nationals Division 1 2018 | Individual, Pair, Team and Creative Poomsae & Kyorugi

Harry Lim

Harry was already under the care of the Ancient One (Headmaster Noori) even before joining UNSW. He trained at Hong’s Taekwondo and Woori where the main focus was on Poomsae. However, not to be underestimated, he rapidly progressed into a sparring fanatic and now ranks high in both Poomsae & Kyorugi. In his first year, he has showcased his potential to be an elite athlete, competing at both State and National level. Harry is devoted to the club and consistently brings good vibes to those around by being the club victim. 

Belt level: 1st Dan Black Belt

Length of TKD practice: 6 years

Experience and achievements:

• Nationals Division 1 2022 | Individual, Pair and Team Poomsae & Kyorugi

• NSW State Championships 2022 | Individual Poomsae & Kyorugi

• NSW State Championships 2019 | Gold (Individual Poomsae)

• NSW State Championships 2018 | Gold (Individual Poomsae)

• Woori and Inspire Coach