Carlo Giampietro
Inducted into the A.M.A.H.O.F. (Inc) and W.K.U.H.O.F. for 2025
Continual Excellence and Service to the Australasian Martial Arts Community
It was the early eighties, and like most teenagers, Carlo followed the crowd. He found himself at Bellmore Police Boys Club training in boxing, which he enjoyed, but would eventually see friends drop out one-by-one. He finally succumbed to peer pressure and joined some of them at a Hapkido school, then operating as a Taekwon-Do school.
His training was inconsistent until the late 90s, but after the Olympics, he decided to bite the bullet and get his black belt. In the early 2000s, he earned a black belt in ITF Taekwon-Do and became active in his club, helping to organize tournaments and camps.
The tournament scene was a turning point, as he met many martial artists from different styles while renting mats and handing out tournament forms. With the encouragement from new martial arts friends and colleagues, he started an ITF Taekwon-Do club in 2006. Many of his Karate friends were there for his very first class.
It was during this period that he heard that martial arts instructors had to have some type of academic qualifications. This prompted him to enrol in a cert 4 course in coaching. Finding the information useful he decided to continue and added a cert 4 in personal training and fitness.
Later, with the help of Karate friends, Carlo organized the Australian Martial Arts Games, where competitors could compete in various styles. After that period, he went on to become the Secretary of the Australian Martial Arts Federation, helping Master Ionita organize tournaments and seminars.
Carlo is currently a 5th degree in ITF Taekwon-Do. During his journey, he continued to train with many Karate, Hapkido, and BJJ friends. In November 2024, he earned a black belt in BJJ.
One of the many friends he made over the years was Hanshi George Adams, whom he trained with twice a week for 16 years to earn his BJJ black belt. George Adams is a Master in Karate, a 3rd degree in BJJ, and also introduced him to Kali. Carlo indicates it has been a great honour to share the mat with him for 16 years.
Carlo’s ITF club has many black belts, some of whom have been with him for over 20 years, and some who have brought their own children to come train. He feels it has been a great honour and privilege to watch his students grow and achieve their goals. His hope is for them to continue this legacy of contributing to the greater society.
Carlo still trains twice a week in Taekwon-Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and hopes to continue until he is physically unable to so.