International Combative Martial Arts Academy

The air-​conditioner, we are told, is only there to cover the hole in the wall.
«If you spent more time in the gym and less time in the fridge; maybe we wouldn’t have this problem!»
It’s a Tuesday night boxing conditioning class, that voice is coming from former IKBBF world middleweight pro-​boxing champion Grand Master Vince Palumbo «GMV» and you are going to work.
Some gyms impress with the latest equipment and fancy facilities. This gym impresses for the opposite. Wood floors, a few kettlebells, half a dozen punching bags and a boxing ring front and centre — this is an old school, proper boxing gym.
But don’t be too intimidated. GMV is a great teacher and he mixes great humour and fun into the workouts and you’re as likely to collapse from your pushups from laughing as you are from exhaustion. That said, and I cannot emphasise this enough, you WILL WORK.
The boxing class is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7−8pm and is the most popular class at the gym. 60 people will crowd into the upstairs area of the gym to work to their limit. But its not a meathead gym: maybe 30% of the class is female and ages range from 15 to well into their 50s. Everyone is welcome and everyone gets personal attention from the Grand Master. Thursday night is often live sparring, so bring boxing gloves and a mouthguard. Don’t let that stress you out though — everyone is there to teach you and to help you — nobody is there to hurt you and anyone who doesn’t fit that mentality is dealt with quickly.
If you just want to lose weight, GMV will help you lose weight. If you want to learn to defend yourself, GMV will teach you. And if you want to fight, GMV will give you the skills, coaching and opportunities you get you punched in the head.
Outside of boxing, the gym offers probably the best Eskrima Filipino stick fighting class in Australia (GMV has some 20 full contact stickfighting world titles to his name and is a 9^th degree black belt in Eskrima) and the team regularly leads medal counts in both Australasian and World stickfighting competitions. But again, there is no pressure to fight or be a tough guy — if you want to only learn the art that’s just dandy. Classes are 6 – 7 Tues and Thurs.
Brazillian Jiu Jitsu is taught Mondays and Wednesdays 6 – 7 and incorporates elements of the Filipino Pangamot style of combat jiu jitsu into a thorough and very enjoyable syllabus.
Karate (both adults and childrens) and Kickboxing classes round out the offerings at the gym and you can participate in as many or as few classes as you like for the same monthly fee — you can train every day if you like.
Not a place for posers. Not a place for meat heads. An awesome gym.