WORLD UNION OF KARATEDO ORGANISATIONS-WUKO WORLD KARATEDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Alexandra Starling Shihan 5th Dan

Bronze Medalist   1982- TAIWAN. ROC  1st-Japan-[Mie Nakayama]. 2nd-Taiwan-

Alexandra Starling was the first Australian to win a place in an internationally
 recognised  World Karate do Championship. She was also the first Australian woman  to receive a Black Belt in the New South Wales branch of the Australian Karate Federation (AKF) and the first in New South wales to gain referee/judge status. In the International Goju Kai Association she was also the first non Japanese woman to be graded to Shihan (Master rank) & 5th Dan [1989] , by the world reknown gojuryu master Yamaguchi Gogen. Over 60 Nations were represented from throughout the World at the 6th World Karate Championships in 1982 with Mrs Starling being the oldest competitor in the tournament , then aged 33yrs. In the final round of the Kata competition she gained a higher score from the Japanese judge than the eventual winner- Mie Nakayama, and was awarded a Bronze medal for Australia.

Alexandra Starling retired from competition after the World Tournament, her first and only attempt at an International event. She then went on to become the first female coach on a state/national level, and trained a large group of state and national champions as well as International competitors until 1989. The majority of her teaching has been confined to traditional Goju Ryu rather than tournament style. 

Qualifications~ 5th Dan Shihan 1989;   
BA-Modern History: MA Modern History
Macquarie University Sydney Australia.

Australian Champion-1982-Female Kata event.
New South Wales Kata Champion 1978,  1979,  1980,  1981,  1982.
New South Wales Kumite Champion u/53k, 1980
Australian Kumite Silver Medalist 
Australian Karate Federation- (Formerly FAKO. Australia's only  recognised body for Karatedo.)
Australian Team Member &  women's captain. 1982