SHIHAN LINDSAY GUY
7th Dan Shotokan Karate · Founder of Guy's Karate School · International Martial Arts Instructor & Referee
More than four decades of martial arts. A lifetime of teaching, competition, leadership and service.
Credentials & Honours
- 7th Dan Black Belt — Traditional Shotokan Karate
- 2nd Dan Black Belt — WJKA
- 1st Dan — Ryukonkai Kobudo
- 2nd Dan Black Belt — Taekwondo
- Level 5 ISKA Referee & International Referee
- Over 40 Years Continuous Martial Arts Teaching
A Lifetime of Martial Arts
Shihan Lindsay Guy is the founder and Chief Instructor of Guy's Karate School, one of the Hunter Valley's established martial arts schools, and a highly respected martial artist, instructor, competitor and referee.
His journey began in 1983, when he walked into a Shotokan Karate dojo in Maitland, New South Wales. More than four decades later, his commitment to traditional martial arts remains as strong as ever.
Today, Shihan Lindsay Guy holds the rank of 7th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, along with a 2nd Dan in WJKA, 1st Dan in Ryukonkai Kobudo and 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. He is also a Level 5 ISKA Referee and International Referee — an achievement that reflects decades of experience both inside and outside the competition arena.
But his story is about far more than belts, titles and trophies. It is about the thousands of students he has taught, the competitors he has coached, the instructors he has influenced, the communities he has served and the generations of martial artists who have passed through his dojo.
A Lifetime Built Around Martial Arts
For Shihan Lindsay Guy, martial arts has never simply been about learning how to fight. It has been about character, discipline, resilience, confidence, leadership and personal development.
Beginning his Shotokan Karate journey in 1983 under Sensei Celso Bauer in Maitland, Lindsay quickly immersed himself in the traditional study of Karate-Do. He achieved his Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt) in 1990 and later his Nidan (2nd Dan) in 1992 under Ken-Sei-Kan Chief Instructor Mark Passmore, while also having the opportunity to train under Kyoshi Yamazaki.
His martial arts journey would eventually take him beyond traditional Shotokan Karate into other disciplines, including Taekwondo and Okinawan Kobudo, broadening his understanding of martial arts and developing a depth of experience that would later become one of the defining characteristics of his teaching.
After establishing his own dojo and spending many years teaching in Forster and Rutherford, Lindsay returned his primary focus to traditional Shotokan Karate and began building what would become Guy's Karate School.
From One Dojo to a Martial Arts Legacy
The Beginning — Telarah Public School
Guy's Karate School began at Telarah Public School. What started as a relatively small martial arts school developed steadily through Lindsay's commitment to teaching, his family and his students.
A Dedicated Centre — Bradmill Avenue, Rutherford
The school moved into its own dedicated centre in Bradmill Avenue, Rutherford.
A Permanent Home — New England Highway, Rutherford
In early 2024, another significant chapter began when Shihan Lindsay purchased a purpose-built property on the New England Highway in Rutherford, creating a permanent home for Guy's Karate School and establishing the foundation for the next generation of the organisation.
“Build something properly. Invest in people. Create an environment where students can develop. And make sure the next generation has somewhere to continue the journey.”
Today, Guy's Karate School provides martial arts training for children, teenagers and adults across the Maitland, Rutherford and wider Hunter Valley region.
Competition Experience
Long before Guy's Karate School became what it is today, Lindsay was competing at some of the highest levels available to him — and remarkably, he never stopped.
North Coast Open Kumite Champion
Won the North Coast Open Kumite in Coffs Harbour; selected for the NSW Karate Union of Australia Kumite Team at the Nationals in Adelaide — 2nd in Individual Kumite, 1st in Team Kumite.
NSW Federation of Australian Karate-Do Organisation Championships
Won the over 80kg division.
NSW State Karate Team & 1st Dan Black Belt
Selected for the NSW State Karate Team competing at the Nationals in Brisbane; obtained his Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt).
International Competition — Japan & the Tasman Cup
Toured New Zealand with the Tasman Cup team, winning team sparring against New Zealand 6–0. Travelled to Japan with the Australian Karate Team for the All Japan Hard Contact Tournament, finishing 4th in heavyweight sparring. Selected to compete for Australia in the Tasman Cup in Sydney, helping secure 1st place in Team Kumite.
Australian ISKA Champion — Contact Sparring
Won the Australian ISKA Championships in Contact Sparring.
US Open & NSW Country Championships
Finished 2nd in Sparring at the US Open Karate Championships in Florida, while winning both Contact and Point Sparring at the NSW Country Championships in Tamworth.
ISKA World Cup — Sydney
2nd in Point Sparring and 3rd in Contact Sparring at the World Cup.
Asian & Australian Masters Games Champion
Crowned Asian Champion in both Kata and Kumite in the Over 46 division in Sri Lanka, before winning 1st place in Kumite in the Over 50s division at the Australian Masters Games in Canberra.
That is more than a competition record. It demonstrates something that Shihan Lindsay continues to teach his students every day: You don't stop being a martial artist because you get older. You evolve.
Recognised by the Martial Arts Community
These recognitions span martial arts, competition, officiating, business and community contribution. Together, they tell a much bigger story than any single award could.
ISKA Instructor of the Year
ISKA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
ISKA National No.1 Competitor, Over 35s
ISKA Referee of the Year
ISKA National No.1 Point Sparring, Over 35s
Hunter Business Awards — Best Fitness Service
Finalist, Australian Business Awards — Martial Arts
Australian Small Business Awards — Best Martial Arts School in Australia
Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame
World Karate Union Hall of Fame
Finalist, Australian Business Awards — Martial Arts
Finalist, Hunter Business Awards — Best Fitness Service
Asian Over 46s Champion — Kata & Kumite, Sri Lanka
Australian Masters Games Over 50s Kumite Champion, Canberra
City of Maitland Hall of Fame
Inducted Into Multiple Halls of Fame
For a martial artist, Hall of Fame recognition represents more than competitive success. It represents a body of work — years of teaching, years of service, and the influence a person has had on the people and organisations around them.
ISKA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Inducted in recognition of outstanding contribution to martial arts instruction and competition.
Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Inducted in August 2023, alongside the World Karate Union Hall of Fame, for a career spanning competition, officiating and teaching.
World Karate Union Hall of Fame
International recognition of decades of contribution to the martial arts community.
City of Maitland Hall of Fame
His contribution to the local community was recognised with induction into the City of Maitland Hall of Fame.
Giving Back Beyond the Dojo
Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club
Shihan Lindsay Guy's commitment to service extends well beyond martial arts. He has been involved with Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club since the age of 15, dedicating decades to surf lifesaving and community service — a contribution recognised with Life Membership of the Club.
Maitland Saints Australian Football Club
His leadership has also extended into Australian Football. Lindsay served as Junior Club President of Maitland Saints Australian Football Club from 2014 to 2019, and again contributed to the club's leadership before being elected Chairman in 2024 and 2025.
Leadership isn't simply about standing at the front. It is about serving the people around you.
The Journey Continues
From a young martial artist beginning Shotokan Karate in Maitland in 1983 to a 7th Dan Shihan, international referee, Hall of Fame inductee, champion competitor, instructor and community leader — Lindsay Guy's journey represents more than four decades of commitment to martial arts.
He has competed around the world. Trained with some of the world's most respected martial artists. Coached champions. Built a successful martial arts organisation. Served his community. And continued to train long after many competitors would have retired.
But perhaps the most important part of his story is the simplest. He still loves martial arts. He still trains. He still teaches. He still learns. And he still believes in the transformational power of martial arts.
That is why, more than four decades after taking his first steps onto the Karate floor, Shihan Lindsay Guy continues to stand at the front of the dojo.
Not because the journey is over. Because it isn't.