Wollongong's Dominic Lavelle has been teaching kids and adults the positive power of discipline through martial arts training for almost 30 years.
Dominic is head instructor at Reflex Martial Arts Centre and owns the well-regarded combat sports hub with his wife, Rosanna.
Reflex Martial Arts Centre has a range of classes six days a week, including boxing, Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima (Filipino stick-fighting). People of all ages and skill levels are welcome.
For those who aren't interested in competing, Reflex offers the chance to try different martial arts.
“If they have patience, we're happy to help anyone,” said Dominic Lavelle, head instructor and owner of Reflex Martial Arts Centre.
Dominic has been training in martial arts since he was 14 when, with some urging from his mum, he joined his first Taekwondo class. By 18, he had earned his black belt. Since then, he has achieved several black belts in different martial arts styles, including a fourth degree black belt in Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima, a first degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, first degree black belt in Muay Thai and more.
The story behind the Reflex Martial Arts Centre's creation is just as colourful as the variety of martial arts it now offers. When Dom was 20, he travelled to California's Jet Center, a world-famous fighting sports gym founded by former world kickboxing champion Benny "The Jet" Urquidez. After experiencing such high-level training with world champions, Dominic realised that he wanted to do martial arts as a life-long career.
“One day I said, 'Once I get more experience, get stronger, get faster and get more knowledgeable, I'm gonna open up a full-time centre',” Dominic said.
In 1996, Dominic fulfilled his dream and, with his wife, Rosanna, he opened the Reflex Martial Arts Centre.
Rosanna has a long, proud history in combat sports, having started her training at age 17 under Dom. Initially drawn to the fitness benefits of martial arts, she went on to a 10-year professional fighting career.
She achieved several milestones, including becoming the first woman black belt in combative kickboxing in 1998, NSW Black Belt Champion in 1998 and 1999, and Australian Black Belt Champion in 1998. Rosanna also holds a seventh degree black belt in Combative Martial Arts, a first degree black belt in Cacoy Doce Pares (Filipino stick-fighting) and other accolades.
Dominic, Rosanna and their highly trained fighters have created an environment at Reflex in which people can improve in all areas – combat, fitness, wellbeing, personal development – and staff and experienced practitioners instil discipline and respect in younger athletes.
“We teach them how to better themselves,” Dominic said.
“Parents say to me: 'I don't know what you're doing, but their grades are better.’
“This is the place to come for all of that.”
For women, combat sports are a chance to learn self-defence. Rosanna, who teaches self-defence at selected schools and universities, said the classes give people the “ability to walk with confidence on the street".
Reporter's note: I've been training at the gym for about five months now; the instructors are fantastic, and the other fighters who consistently offer help make it easier to learn such difficult but rewarding combat sports.
For more details about Reflex Martial Arts Centre, check out their website.
