Your Instructors
In Fire Dragon Australia, your teachers are:
GRAND MASTER NEAL HARDY
Master Neal Hardy is Chief Instructor of Fire Dragon Australia. He has been training since 1981, earning his Black Belt in Ireland in 1986. Master Hardy commenced public classes in Pai Lum Kung Fu in Canberra's Inner North in 1995. He is now a 10th Higher Level and Grand Master of the Shaolin White Dragon Australian Branch.
Grand Master Hardy is attracted not only by the breadth of Pai Lum Kung Fu techniques and approaches to defence, but also by its philosophy, which is a Way to live, and, ultimately, die.
Grand Master Hardy seeks harmony, and trains Bonsai plants as well as students. In any spare time, he makes Bonsai tables from Australian timbers, and plays Go (Wei Shi), and sometimes plays Irish music, on the Uilleann Pipes and whistle. He also shoots arrows from a bare recurve bow, again seeking perfection.
Grand Master Hardy teaches most classes at the Ainslie Club (unless he is out of town), offers private lessons, and runs day and half day courses in Pai Lum Kung Fu throughout the year.
Grand Master Hardy collects Dragons.
SHR FU JAYNE HARDY
Shr Fu Hardy has been training in Pai Lum Kung Fu since 1994. She gained her 1st Level Black Belt on 4 April 2004. Shr Fu Hardy enjoys Pai Lum Kung Fu, and horse riding. As a veteran athletics competitor, she throws a good spear!
LONG SHR INGRID BEAN
Shr Fu Bean has trained since 1998, and became a Student Instructor in 2006. Shr Fu Bean understands the strength that Pai Lum can give, which adds to her capacities as a professional teacher. Though not large in size, Shr Fu Bean demonstrates enormous courage, and the ferocity of the Leopard. She needed and demonstrated this to earn her Black Belt on 17 July 2011.
In July 2019, Shr Fu Bean became an adopted Granddaughter - Long Shr - Yin Bao Long Mei, or Moon Leopard Dragon Lady.
On 1 June 2024, she earned her Second Higher Level Black Belt.
Shr Fu Bean is a Union organiser for teachers in the ACT, and also raises her two young ones.
SHR FU BERNARD KILIMNIK
Shr Fu Bernard Kilimnik commenced training in 2000, the Year of the Dragon, and has pursued the Way, despite occasional setbacks, with great determination.
He recognises the importance of training not just for physical excellence, but also because it enables self mastery.
Shr Fu Kilimnik earned his Black Belt in Connecticut in 2015, and his 2nd Higher Level in 2019.
On 1 June 2024, Shr Fu Kilimnik was promoted to 3rd Higher Level Black Belt.
SHR FU DANIEL COCHRANE
Shr Fu Cochrane is Grand Master Hardy's only full time private student, and knows well the benefits of training, commitment and practice. He gained his Black Belt in December 2015.
Shr Fu Cochrane runs Canberra's only specialist hedging business, and cuts his hedges as straight as an arrow!
SHR FU JONATHAN THOW
Shr Fu Thow became a Student Instructor in 2018. He enjoyed competing in all-styles tournaments in various sparring and forms events.
Shr Fu Thow has realised the importance of practice and the value he gains in all aspects of his life. He balances the demands of work with looking after his young family and his training. He earned his Black Belt on 15 April 2023, when he showed both his fitness and technical ability!
SHR FU JUSTIN ROSE
Shr Fu Rose became a Student Instructor in 2018, with a great enthusiasm to learn how to teach. Despite sometimes very demanding work requirements, he trains often in his pursuit of the Way.
He achieved his Black Belt on 1 June 2024, overcoming both work pressures and injuries.