Rodney Parkes

His teaching experience extends beyond WCAMA. Rodney has taught martial arts and self-defence internationally in the United States, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and wrestling-based sessions at Brazilian Top Team Back Bay in Boston. His coaching experience encompasses Freestyle Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, wrestling, practical self-defence and the integration of wrestling principles into BJJ and other martial arts.

Outside martial arts, Rodney brings more than two decades of professional, business and management experience to his role at WCAMA. He has worked in senior supervisory and management positions, owned and operated multiple businesses, and developed extensive experience in administration, staff development, systems and leadership. These skills have become an important part of how WCAMA is managed and how its instructors and future leaders are developed.

Leadership and mentoring are also significant parts of Rodney’s work. In addition to coaching martial arts, he mentors men both in Australia and internationally in areas including leadership, accountability, business, relationships and personal development. He has also provided leadership mentoring within community and organisational settings.

Rodney and Rachael have developed WCAMA’s structured Student Leadership Program, a multi-level program designed to develop communication, confidence, responsibility and practical leadership skills over a number of years. The program reflects Rodney’s broader approach to martial arts coaching: developing capable people and future leaders, not simply technically proficient martial artists.

Rodney remains an active student as well as an instructor and continues to train, cross-train, teach and seek guidance from experienced coaches. His approach is based on continual development, practical application and the belief that an instructor’s own learning should never stop.