Australia Becomes Global Flagship of Guardian Girls Karate with First Full 8-week Course

The Guardian Girls Karate programme has marked a major milestone in Australia with the successful delivery of the first full 8-week Guardian Girls course ever held worldwide. Hosted at Griffith University, the exclusive Australian Olympic Pathway University, the course represents a significant step forward for the World Karate Federation’s initiative against gender-based violence.

A dozen women fromGriffith University,the exclusive Australian Olympic Pathway University, took part in the programme, learning the basic techniques of Guardian Girls Karate while developing empowerment attitudes and practical mental and physical tools to better respond to situations of gender-based violence. The course was delivered byWKF-certified instructor Alex Armour.

The achievement highlights the remarkable progress of Guardian Girls Karate inAustralia. Since the first instructors’ course was held in the country in July 2025, Australia has become the leading example of the programme’s development worldwide. With the highest number of WKF-certified instructors andover 50 certified instructorsin the country only, Australia has emerged as theflagship nationfor the implementation of the programme. Now, Australia has become the first country in the world to complete a full 8-week Guardian Girls course.

The growing impact of the programme in Australia recently received national attention whenABCaired a special feature on its implementation across the country. The coverage extended to ABC’s website, news programmes, and leading radio shows, generating widespread interest and raising awareness about the programme and its objectives.

Currently,Guardian Girls Karateis implemented in38 countries across all five continentsthrough certified instructors. The programme is set to continue its global growth this June with a new instructors’ course inAmerica, where up to18 countrieswill participate in the WKF’s initiative against gender-based violence.

Meanwhile, the expansion of Guardian Girls Karate is also continuing worldwide. Nations that are part of the programme are actively delivering initiatives and spreading Guardian Girls Karate within their communities, reaching a growing number of women. These efforts effectively contribute to theincrease of womencontinuing their karate training after the courses, helping them further develop theskillsandconfidencegained through the programme.

WKF PresidentAntonio Espinóswelcomed the success of the course at Griffith University.

"The completion of the first full 8-week Guardian Girls Karate course in the world is a historic achievement for our programme. It demonstrates the positive impact that karate can have beyond sport and highlights the important Social Legacy our discipline is creating in society. Australia has become a leading example of how Guardian Girls Karate can generate meaningful social outreach, helping women gain valuable skills, confidence and awareness.As Guardian Girls Karate continues to expand around the world, the programme reinforces the WKF’s commitment to using karate as a tool for empowerment, education and social development.”

Read ABC's article on Guardian Girls Karate:Guardian Girls Karate takes up the fight against gender-based violence - ABC NewsWatch the special documentary on the first full 8-week Guardian Girls Karate course in Australia: