Qualifications
5th Dan – Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu
2nd Dan – Judo
CCYPCG Blue Card (working with Children)
Accreditations
NCAS Level 3 Coach – Jujitsu
NOAS Level 2 Official – Jujitsu
Information
Sensei Meladee started her martial arts career in October 1965, learning Judo, under Shihan Jim Stackpoole at the Sandgate RSL when 10yrs old. She commenced Jujitsu in 1968 at 13yrs of age under Shihan Jim at the Kodokai Club at Shorncliffe. When Shihan Jim left for Commonwealth Police Force in 1969, she trained at the Sandgate RSL under Sensei Jan Davis until December 1971 when she attained her senior blue belt. She had a break from martial arts for three years, while attending the Queensland Institute of Technology now known as QUT, studying to be a biological laboratory technician.
In 1974 Sensei Meladee resumed her martial arts career by returning to Sensei Jan Davis at Judokan Club, Bracken Ridge. Between the years of 1966 and 1978, she attended State and National Championships and won 7 State and 6 National medals in her respective age and weight divisions. She attained Sho Dan (black belt) in 1976. In 1979, Sensei Meladee, Shihan Jim and Sensei Mark Brandon were selected to travel Queensland to instruct and coach Judo at many clubs. Unfortunately, this travel was cut short due to cyclone Kerry and only a few clubs had been visited.
In 1982 Shihan Jim and Sensei Meladee married and transferred to Mt Isa with the Queensland Police Service. They taught at the Mt Isa Judo Academy for a while and then took over the Mt Isa Judo Club and stayed instructing until September 1987. During that time over 200 members passed through and two classes a night four nights a week were conducted. Sensei Meladee attained Ni Dan (2nd degree black belt) in Judo in September 1986 before a panel of Dan ranks from NQ. It was during this time (1982 – 1987) that Sensei Meladee restarted Jujitsu.
Over the next few years, 1987 – 1994, Shihan Jim and Sensei Meladee travelled around Queensland and had twins, Steffi-Louise and Christopher who are now both Dan ranks in Jujitsu. Whilst living in Innisfail 1994 – 1997, Judo and Jujitsu classes were conducted by Shihan Jim and Sensei Meladee attained Sho Dan in Jujitsu in Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu style.
In 2001, after returning from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, a new establishment, Zillmere PCYC was built and under Shihan Jim, Kyushin Ryu School of Jujitsu was one of the first activities. Sensei Meladee has been instructing in Jujitsu since then, and Pine Rivers PCYC and Sandgate PCYC were added to the School’s dojos. Sensei Meladee attained her Ni Dan (2nd degree) in Jujitsu in 2002, and San Dan (3rd degree) in 2004 followed by her Yon Dan (4th degree) in 2012. Sensei Meladee formed the KRJJ Judo Club at Zillmere PCYC in 2014 to provide more competition for those who wanted to go down that pathway and some Jujitsu students played both Judo and Jujitsu.
Sensei Meladee is a Level 3 NCAS accredited coach in Jujitsu and a Level 2 NOAS accredited official in Jujitsu. She is also a State Coach in Judo, a member of the Coaching Accreditation Committee for Judo Queensland, a recognized presenter on the new Coaching Accreditation Framework for Judo Australia and has been an electronic scorer at National Judo Championships since 2015. She is also a Member Protection Information Officer for JQ, and for Kyushin Ryu School of Jujitsu Inc. Sensei Meladee was part of the administration team at the 2013 and 2017 World Jujitsu Titles in England and the Gold Coast, and was the choreographer for the Australian Team who won the Gold medal in the demonstration event in the 2017 World Titles.
Sensei Meladee is a Mt Isa Judo Club Life Member (1987), a PCYC Life Member (2009) and also a Kyushin Ryu School of Jujitsu Inc. Life Member (2019). She was also recognized on International Women’s Day in 2020 by Judo Australia.