Grant Oaklands

The Journey:

Grant was born into a boxing family, inheriting a legacy of combat sports from his grandfather, a bare-knuckle legend on the Ballarat goldfields in the late 1800s, and his father, who boxed for the army during World War II. Growing up surrounded by boxing, Grant expanded his martial arts journey as a teenager, taking up Taekwondo in 1978 and amateur wrestling in 1985.

His passion for martial arts led him to Korea, where he lived and trained extensively, further refining his skills. In the late 1980s, Grant earned a place on the Australian Taekwondo (Union) Team as both a competitor and coach, representing his country at an international event in Cyprus. His competitive career spans State, National, and International levels, with success as both an athlete and instructor.

Since 1984, Grant has owned and operated Martial Arts clubs across the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Victoria, sharing his expertise with students of all ages.

Beyond Martial Arts – A Career in Behavioural Management:

Outside of his full-time martial arts career, Grant worked professionally in criminology and the disability sectors, specializing in challenging behaviour management.

During this time, he underwent extensive training in:

  1. De-escalation techniques

  2. Defensive tactics & restraint

  3. Assault response & risk assessment

His expertise led him to become a certified Defensive Tactics Instructor, providing specialized training for professionals working in custodial and high-risk environments.

The Creation of Strike Free:

In the early 2000s, Grant merged his two lifelong careers—martial arts and behavioural management—into a life skills and self-defence program called Strike Free. This program, designed for schools, government departments, and community organizations, continues to be delivered across Australia, empowering individuals with essential self-protection skills.

Grant Today:

Awarded his 4th Dan black belt in 1994, Grant has continued to study, teach, and coach across multiple disciplines, including Boxing, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Kickboxing, as well as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Drawing from his vast experience in martial arts, professional behavioural training, and the Strike Free program, Grant is committed to helping the Emerald and surrounding communities develop authentic self-defence skills and essential life skills