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Master Dominic Lavalle is the founder, director & chief instructor of Reflex Martial Arts Centre. There is over twenty years of Martial Arts experience in my blood and Black Belts in six different styles and disciplines. In 1984 Dominic first began his training and in 1996 opens THE REFLEX CENTRE. 2009 “WORLD CHAMPION STICK FIGHTER” 2008 “PAN PACFIC CHAMPION STICK FIGHTER”
When Reflex Centre opened 14 years ago its founder Dominic Lavalle taught day and night while keeping up two other jobs to make ends meet. His unique fully-equipped martial arts centre now buzzes day and night with 200 enthusiastic punch-packing students - proof his hard work was well worth it. Reflex is Wollongong's largest fully equipped martial arts centre offering fitness and self defence classes day and night. The spacious 450 square metre site features a fully-matted training floor, a boxing ring, multiple bags, large weight gym area and separate male and female showers, toilets and dressing rooms. The founder, 5th Degree Black Belt and a Professional Trainer, Dominic began training in 1984. He still regularly travels to train with legends, fighters and great masters from all over the world, bringing back new and improved techniques to refine his own style called Reflex Combative Martial Arts. Reflex Combative combines elements of many different styles including Thai Kickboxing, Western Boxing, Filipino Stick fighting, Combat Jiu Jitsu and BJJ Ground fighting. Some of Dominic's best memories are of his time training with the Urquidez family, Benny “The Jet” Urquidez (5 times world kickboxing champion) and Legend Peter ''Sugar Foot'' Cunningham (7 times world kickboxing Champion) all at the Fame Jet Center in the US. After returning to Australia from the US his goal was to train hard and one day open up a full time centre. To get there he has continually trained, studied, analysed and modified his knowledge. His six-day-a-week training regime includes running, skipping, weights, sparring, pad work, and a lot of variety of drill work on defence and offence. He trained in South Australia under his mentor International Grand Master Vince Palumbo, and was awarded his 5th Degree Black Belt in Combative Martial Arts. He also has other Black Belts in the arts of StreetWise Martial Arts, Combat Jiu Jitsu, and in Taekwondo. He also had the honour of training and receiving award from the grand master Cacoy C Canete 12th degree Back Belt, and promoted to a 1st degree black belt in Cacoy Doce Pares (Stick Fighting) and also 1st degree black belt Pangamot (Filipino fighting system). He also has a National coaching accreditation in Boxing by the Australian sports commission; Professional coaching accreditation in Kickboxing and in 2007 was international renowned 5th degree Black Belt in (MAS) Martial Arts All Styles receiving this certificate from grand master Brain Dossett 10th degree Back Belt. Dominic's talents and skills which have earned him the different styles of Black Belts reflect his dedication to the fights in the ring. The training helped him reach his peak physical fitness and allowed him to react properly when his mind told him to. His dream of building a successful Reflex Centre based around his new art was successful. He has built an empire that teaches values and nurtures discipline and character in students. Dominic devised a system of different codes for different combinations - boxing has numbers, and kickboxing has letters. Martial arts forms flow from different styles making it as one RELEX COMBATIVE STYLE. He trained his wife Rosanna to fight, wanting her to experience the thrill of taking on other female fighters from different fighting styles. The plan was a huge success. Rosanna became the 1998 Australian Black Belt champion and two-time NSW champion in 1998 and 1999. In 2007 Rosanna made a comeback after having two children. She trained very hard and fought in two full contact Thai Kickboxing fights and won in 2007! Dominic also trained several Reflex students of his that has won state titles in fighting arts of boxing and kickboxing championships. Today Dominic and Rosanna, the owners and master instructors of Reflex, are dedicated to their students of all ages and skill levels - devoted to helping anyone keen to learn. They love teaching and are constantly focused on working to get the most out of their students by incorporating everything they have learned from other arts and previous instructors - including Dominic's first instructor John Apolloni who had a huge influence on his martial arts and to who he is eternally grateful. Dominic, 39, and Rosanna 35, have two kids, son Jake, 6, and Alyssa, 8. Both kids train in the children’s classes that Dominic and Rosanna teach. The couple's bond and respect for each other make them the perfect team at home and at the centre. Reflex has 21 group classes a week - with Dominic teaching 38 to 40 sessions - ranging from private lessons to group classes and outdoor training. Dominic finds time to keep up his own training and will continue to develop his skills, all the while enjoying life and the fulfilment he finds in his martial arts training and teaching. Dominic continues to further his knowledge through ongoing studies under grand Master Vince Palumbo of Adelaide, and in March 2008 was invited to the 1st Hall of Fame night and International Training Seminar, in the city Cebu, Philippines. The event was essential for promoting and recognising those whose contributions are respected by all martial artists throughout the world. It recognised that martial arts are a dynamic field that embrace cultural diversity and uphold a high standard of quality that should be recognised internationally. ''There were some of the world's leading instructors teaching there, but my highlight was training with the Supreme Grandmaster Cacoy Canete 12 degree black belt who was teaching his Filipino arts of Eskrima, Eskrido stick fighting, and Pangamot Jutitsu.'' Also a great highlight for Dominic was being awarded the "HALL OF FAME 2008" - Excellence in the of Sports Eskrima Stick fighter. The year 2008 and the icing on the cake Dominic won the single stick GOLD MEDAL in the under 79kg men’s division, at the stick fighting champions’ in New Zealand (Christchurch) About 100 competitors from different countries fighting full contact Cacoy Doce Pares stick fighting event!!! Dominic’s BEST ACHIEVEMENT is the “2009 WORLD CHAMPION” winning the single stick GOLD MEDAL in the under 79kg men’s division, held in City of Cebu, Philippines Event on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of April, 2009! An event that enable 150 competitors from various associations and backgrounds to come together to stick fight the highest level of professionalism and spirit!!!
2009 Gold medal “World Champion” Stick Fighter ''Dominic gives a special thanks to Grand Master Vince who has had a huge influence on my sticks training. ‘Dominic is exciting about sharing his love for the art of stickfighting with his Reflex students who are extremely fortunate to have such an all-round master in their midst. Written By CYD KEEBLE
I was introduced into kickboxing when I was 17, through my husband Dominic Lavalle. My initial interests were purely for fitness but I soon became addicted and wanted to learn more of the art so I started studying Dominic's training style called 'Combative Kickboxing'. Throughout my training, I started to compete in open Martial Art Tournaments, I wanted to experience what it would be like to challenge other female fighters from different forms of Martial Arts. With Dominic as my trainer who taught me most of my skills that I know today, I knew I would do well. I competed in over 10 tournaments over 2 years and I always returned home with either a 1st, 2nd or 3rd placing each time. In 1998 I became the first female Black Belt in Combative Kickboxing after training very hard for 5 years. I then competed in the women's Black Belt division and won the State title followed by the Australian title held in Melbourne in 1998. This was a very exciting year for me as I firstly travelled overseas and trained with world champion kick boxer Peter 'Sugar Foot' Cunningham, then I achieved my 1st Dan Black Belt and I then finished the year with 2 Martial Arts titles. In 2007 I decided to make a comeback after having two children. I trained very hard and fought in two full contact Thai Kickboxing fights and won! The first fight was in Manly beating the hometown girl. My second fight was the greatest experience for me, winning in my hometown of Wollongong with lots of my students watching and supporting me |
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