Terrence Travis & Tristan Fernandez

Martial Arts Spirit was founded by brothers Terrence Travis and Tristan Fernandez, lifelong martial artists whose journey began in early childhood.

Terrence and Travis both began training in Taekwondo at the age of 6, while the youngest brother, TJ (Tristan), started even earlier at just 4 years old. From a young age, martial arts became a defining part of their lives, shaping their discipline, character, and vision for the future.

In 2006, at only 16 years of age, Terrence opened the first Martial Arts Spirit classes at Green Valley Community Centre, while still attending school and training as an elite athlete representing Australia with aspirations of competing at the Olympic Games. His motivation for opening MAS was deeply personal.

Growing up shy and lacking confidence, Terrence struggled to make friends during primary school. Martial arts provided an environment where he could improve at his own pace — without pressure, comparison, or fear of making mistakes. Through Taekwondo, he developed confidence, resilience, discipline, and self-belief, along with the skills to defend himself against bullying during his high school years.

This life-changing experience became the foundation of Martial Arts Spirit —
to create a safe, inclusive environment where people of all ages can grow as individuals, gain confidence, build friendships, and learn practical self-defence skills.

The first students of MAS were Terrence’s own brothers, Travis and TJ, and together the three brothers have since built one of Australia’s most respected martial arts organisations. All three have expanded their expertise beyond Taekwondo, studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Boxing, and Weapons, and have been members of multiple Australian National Teams.

Their achievements include:

• State and National Champion titles

International medals and Commonwealth Gold Medals

Representation of Australia at elite international benchmark competitions

Selection of Terrence for the Beijing and London Olympic shadow teams

Beyond competition, Terrence has coached numerous Australian representatives, as well as national representatives from other countries, guiding athletes at the highest international and world-class levels.

Travis Fernandez brings an added level of professionalism to the organisation, having earned a university scholarship through Taekwondo and studying Law, reinforcing the values of discipline, leadership, and excellence that define MAS.

Tristan Fernandez is now one of the Lead Coaches of the MAS Competition Team, coaching athletes at state, national, and international levels, and playing a key role in developing the next generation of champions.

Highly respected within the martial arts community, the Fernandez brothers are also the founders of Pantheon, a world-class martial arts equipment brand. Their innovative Taekwondo armour, designed from deep technical knowledge of the sport, is worn by elite athletes worldwide and reflects their contribution to advancing the sport.

They are also the creators of the Sydney Taekwondo Festival, now one of the largest Taekwondo competitions in Australia, further cementing their impact on the martial arts community both nationally and internationally.