top of page
•Dean-Khanh_Mug_Shot_2.jpg
DEAN-KHANH NGU-YEN

 

Dean-Khanh is an internationally trained self-defence and martial arts instructor whose journey began in 1984, at the age of eight, and has taken him to other countries numerous times to study, train and teach in Israel, Philipines, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong and to the eastern Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales.

 

Now 50 years of age, Dean holds a 6th Degree Black Belt in the Gadi Kenpo Jitsu System (awarded in 2021). In late November 2025, he was also graded and awarded a 5th Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga by the highly renowned Israeli Professor Dr Itay Gil, founder and 8th Degree Black Belt of the Protect Krav Maga System. Dean is the official Western Australian representative of the Federation of Israeli Martial Arts (FIMA).

 

Back in 2020, Dean was awarded a 5th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do under 9th Degree Kukkiwon Grandmaster Nghia Trong Truong, with whom he has trained continuously since 1984. Across more than 42 years of martial arts training, Dean has also cross-trained in numerous other disciplines, including Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Escrima, Hapkido, Kali, Karate, Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, MMA, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun.

 

Dean has been professionally teaching martial arts and self-defence for over 25 years, beginning in June of 2000 at government-based high schools in Sydney, NSW, Australia.

 

After returning to Perth, Western Australia in 2002, Dean shifted his focus on training towards the tactical elements of mixed martial arts and eventually the self-defence components of Krav Maga in 2008. His training and teaching prioritises survival, real-world application, and personal safety, as opposed to competitive tournament-based martial arts.

 

In mid-2011, Dean decided to run his own academy in Bayswater sharing the space with his Kali Instructor and Boxing coach Mannie De Matos, while also operating private personal one on one training sessions from his home studio in Morley, catering to individuals who prefer the one-on-one interaction. 

 

In early July 2012, Dean took over the lease and ran the academy on his own, and added martial arts and self-defence classes for children from 5 to 16 years of age. This included having his own 3 young children training there as well.

 

His unique teaching methodology centres on prevention and de-escalation, employing an instinctive, simplified, and easy-to-remember ABC method when responding to physical threats or situations involving danger to oneself or third parties.

 

Dean is approachable and welcoming to students of all genders, ethnicities, and ages who are eager to learn practical self-defence skills for real-life scenarios, including home invasions, public assaults, attacks during commuting, workplace and domestic violence situations.

 

In addition to accommodating FIFO workers and everyday 9-to-5 professionals, Dean’s current and past clientele include military and naval personnel, security professionals, correctional officers, detectives, constables, law enforcement personnel, lawyers, pilots, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, ambulance officers, paramedics, highschool educators and even business tycoons — all of whom have sought his expertise for his proven self-defence training methodology in Krav Maga.

 

Whether you are seeking personalised one-on-one training or prefer the dynamic group classes, Dean is committed to empowering and building confidence, ensuring students are well equipped to confront and stand up against physical bullying, verbal threats, and potential violent assaults, whether the assailant is armed or unarmed.

 

His long commitment to excellence is supported by his 25 years of professional instruction and 15 years of successfully operating his business full-time, both from his private home studio in Morley and his academy in Bayswater, Perth, Western Australia.

 

Dean continues to stay current with developments in the field and seeks out internationally renowned martial arts instructors such as JKD Guru Dan Inosanto, Benny the Jet Urquidez and Major Itay Gil. He has remained a student throughout his lifetime and is constantly looking at ways to improve and enhance his training delivery. He regularly updates his training and qualifications. His current certifications include:

​​

  • 5th Degree Black Belt in PROTECT KRAV MAGA. - (November 2025) / Certification issued by Major, Professor, Doctor: Itay Gil.

​​

  • JEET KUNE DO : 5 day Training Seminar. - (December 2022) / Guru: Dan Inosanto ; Brisbane, QLD.

 

  • WING CHUN : 3 day Training Seminar. - (December 2022) / Sifu: Francis Fong ; Brisbane, QLD.

 

  • KICKBOXING : 1 day Training Seminar - (October 2022) / Sensei: Benny the Jet Urquidez ; Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • 6th Dan Black Belt : Gadi-Kempo-Jitsu Award, SKORNIK ISRAELI COMBAT school. - (Nov. 2021) / issued by 10th degree GrandMaster: Guy Skornik.

 

  • 4th Degree Black Belt Certificate in PROTECT KRAV MAGA. - (August 2021) / Certification issued by Professor, Doctor: Itay Gil.

 

  • ISRAELI MARTIAL ARTS Academy Award “International Martial Arts Hall of Fame London" (June 2021) / issued by GrandMaster Gary Wasniewski.

 

  • FIMA : Federation Israeli Martial Arts / KRAV MAGA Representative Award for Western Australia. (April 2020) / issued by GrandMaster, Dr: Neil Farber.

 

  • FIMA : Federation of Israeli Martial Arts KRAV MAGA Instructor Award: (April 2020) / GrandMaster: Moti Horenstein.

 

  • 3rd Degree Black Belt in PROTECT KRAV MAGA. (June 2019) / Professor, Doctor: Itay Gil ; Jerusalem, ISRAEL.

 

  • PROTECT: Israeli Security Solutions Certified KRAV MAGA Personal Trainer. - (June 2019) / Professor: Itay Gil.

 

  • KOYOKUSHIN KARATE: 3 day Training Seminar. - (May 2018) / Sensei: Judd Reid.

 

  • KOYOKUSHIN KARATE: Training Seminar. - (December 2018) / Sensei: Dave Hughes.

 

  • 2nd Degree Black Belt in PROTECT KRAV MAGA. - (June 2017) / Professor: Itay Gil ; Jerusalem, ISRAEL.

 

  • MIX MARTIAL BOXING Instructor, Personal Trainer and Group Trainer Certification Award. - (May 2017) / Master: Mannie DeMatos.

 

  • Fitness Instructor: CERTIFICATE 4 / issued from W.A.F.A. - The Western Australia Fitness Academy. - (November 2016).

 

  • MIX MARTIAL ARTS training at the Malaga MMA Centre. (October 2016) with wrestling coach / former UFC Fighter Brian Erbosole. 

 

  • SENIOR FIRST AID Certificate / CBD College RTO No 91399. - 2016  - (April 2016) Perth, WA.

 

  • COMBAT SKILLS Academy International - Firearm Disarm & Firearm Retentions Award. - (Sep 2015) / Master: Mannie DeMatos. Surigao City, PHILIPPINES.

 

  • Delivered training to the Philippines National Police (PNP), Philippines Military Body Guards & The Surigao City Mayor Body Guards. - (Sep 2015) Manila, PHILIPPINES.

 

  • KRAV MAGA Defensive Tactics Instructor Certification. - (Dec 2015) / Professor: Itay Gil. Jerusalem, ISRAEL.

 

  • FIREARMS Training Semi-Auto Award / (December 2015) / Chief Executive Officer: Ray Mancini. Joondalup, W.A.

 

  • KRAV MAGA Master Instructor Certification. - (November 2015) / Professor: Itay Gil. Perth, WA.

 

  • 1st Degree Black Belt in PROTECT KRAV MAGA (November 2015) / Professor: Itay Gil. Perth, WA.

 

  • 5th Dan Black Belt Master Instructor  TAEKWONDO Award. (October 2015) / Grandmaster: Nghia Trong Truong.

 

  • Semi-Automatic & Revolver Handgun Course. (Dec 2013) / Chief Executive Officer: Ray Mancini. Joondalup, W.A.

 

  • WING CHUN training under the tutelage of Sifu Rolf Clausnitzer - 2014. Bayswater, WA.

 

  • PROTECT KRAV MAGA Instructor Award - (October 2013) / Professor: Itay Gil ; Pattaya, THAILAND.

 

  • TEL AVIV University Sports Diploma SELF DEFENCE Instructor Diploma (July 2013) / Professor: Itay Gil & Dr: Barak Yerocham.

 

  • SECURITY OPERATIONS Instructors Certification. - (March 2013) / Master: Mannie De Matos. ; Manila, PHILIPPINES.

 

  • POLICE DEFENCE Tactics Training Certification. - (March 2013) / GrandMaster: Jaime Quizana ; Marikina City, PHILIPPINES.

 

  • KALI AGOL Fighting System - Combat Instructor Award. - (Nov 2012) / Master: Marlon Ramal Agol ; Manila, PHILIPPINES.

 

  • PANUNTUKAN and DUMOG Training (Filipino Boxing and Locking Restraints) - (Nov 2012) / Lakan: Ronnie Base ; Manila, PHILIPPINES.

 

  • KRAV MAGA Unarmed VIP Protection Techniques course. (October 2012) / issued by Israeli Training Director: Itay Gil.

 

  • ISRAELI COUNTER TERRORISM Krav Maga Tactics course. - (October 2012) / issued by Israeli Training Director: Itay Gil.

 

  • EDGED WEAPON RESPONSE Instructor Certification / TR636 Frontline Officer. - (April 2012) / issued by Master: Mannie DeMatos ; Perth, W.A.

 

  • 4th Dan Black Belt in TAEKWONDO - 2011 /7th dan Kukkiwon TKD GrandMaster Nghia Trong Truong ; Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU (B.J.J.) training in 2010 under Black Belt Professor: Diogo Consoni ; Perth, WA.

 

  • KRAV MAGA Training under the tutelage of Former IDF Combat Instructor Emir Perets - (2008) Maylands, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

 

  • 3rd Dan Black Belt in TAEKWONDO - 2007 /7th dan Kukkiwon TKD GrandMaster: Nghia Trong Truong ; Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • MIX MARTIAL ARTS training at the MMA Fitness and Fight Centre in 2006 and 2007 under former UFC Fighter: Brian Erbosole ;  Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • ZEN DO KAI - 2005: Trained under the tutelage of Kyoshi: Dean Woodhams ; Osborne Park, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

 

  • MUAY THAI training under the tutelage of Master Phon’s Martdee at the Thai Martial Arts Centre - 2004 ; Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • 2nd Dan Black Belt in TAEKWONDO - 2003 / 7th dan Kukkiwon TKD GrandMaster Nghia Trong Truong ; Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • BURRIDGE MARTIAL ARTS Assistant Instructor in 2002 ; under Master: Steve Burridge; Spearwood, Gosnells and Osborne Park Centres ; WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • Sydney’s Highschool TAEKWONDO PhysEd. Sports Instructor: 2000 to 2001 ; Sydney, NSW, Australia.

 

  • Senior Instructors for Wyllie’s TAEKWONDO Academy from 2000 to 2001 ; Grandmaster Greg Wyllie ; Sydney, NSW, Australia.

 

  • TAEKWONDO Assistant Senior Instructor for Hubble’s TaeKwonDo 1999 and 2000. Master John Hubble ; Kalgoorlie, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

 

  • NCAS Level 1 Coach Award. - (June 1999) / National Co-ordinator of TAEKWONDO Australia: Stuart Lee ; Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

 

  • 1st Dan World Kukkiwon TKD Black Belt Certification - (August 1999) / World Kukkiwon TKD Federation President: Un Yong Kim. 

 

  • 1st Dan Black Belt in World TAEKWONDO - (May 1999) / Issued by 6th dan Kukkiwon TKD Master: Nghia Trong Truong. 

 

  • First certification Award - Yellow Belt under the World TAEKWONDO Federation - (June 1984) / Issued by 7th dan Kukkiwon Grandmaster: Sok Pok Kim ; Perth W.A.

Gil 7.JPG
DR./PROF. ITAY GIL

 

Dr. Itay Gil is the founder and chief instructor of “Protect: Israeli Security Solutions”, with which “Defensive Kombat” is affiliated.

 

Dr. Itay Gil is an IDF Captain and served in Israel’s special forces paratroops brigade. After completing his compulsory service, he was chosen to join Israel’s elite counter-terror and hostage rescue commando unit “Yamam”, where he became a career combatant operative, then an instructor and is now a consultant.

 

In the Yamam, Dr. Gil participated in as many as three missions each day over the course of ten years. The Yamam is regarded by many as the top special forces unit in the world. Partly because of the hardest selection process in the world, with the mandatory requirement of applicants having previous experience from Special Forces to even apply.

 

Dr. Itay Gil has adapted his 33-years of hand to hand and Krav Maga actual combat study to meet the needs of the real-life situations he faced in his fourteen years of active duty combat experience. Consequently, Mr. Gil became the chief close-quarter combat instructor for the unit.

​

From 1992-1997 Dr. Gil was the executive director of all training programs for the Israel Border Police as well as the undercover police intelligence unit. During this period, he directed training programs for 5000 policemen and security personnel each year. Dr. Gil continues to serve in the IDF reserves where he is Captain and senior combat instructor and strategic mission planner for an elite undercover counter-terrorism team. Dr. Gil was responsible for the training for the security of the Israeli President for 10 years and trained the security of the Ukrainian President on several occasions, as well as HRT, FBI, SWAT, Spetsnaz Alpha Group among others.

 

Dr. Gil is a counter terror and hand to hand combat expert, with experience from several thousands real life confrontations, few come even close. Dr. Gil was head of training for the security of the Israeli Presidents office, an Honorary Distinguished Professor at Aspen University, former Director of Counter Terror, Homeland Security and Intelligence at the Magid Institute/ Hebrew University and currently at Ariel University. Dr. Gil is the founder of what is today called by IATA Unruly and Disruptive Passenger Training.

​

IMG_2061.jpg
KRAV MAGA - BLACK BELT LINEAGE

 

Dean-Khanh - Black Belt 5th degree in Protect Krav Maga under Itay Gil.

 

Dr./Prof. Itay Gil - 8th Degree Black Belt. Itay received his 1st Black Belt degree under Eli Avikzar.

 

Eli Avikzar - Was the 1st Black Belt student in Krav Maga under Imi Litchenfield.

 

Imi Lichtenfeld - Founder of Krav Maga in Israel.

SELF DEFENCE TRAINING - KRAV MAGA - MIXED MARTIAL ARTS - PERSONAL TRAINING - KALI - KICKBOXING - BJJ - TAEKWONDO - WING CHUN - PERTH - BAYSWATER - MORLEY

  • Facebook

© 2019 - 2026 by P. Zhbanova for DEFENSIVE KOMBAT

bottom of page