Our Club & History
Mozhdeh Martial Arts was founded by Master Arash Mozhdeh, a world-renowned Taekwondo athlete who has represented both Iran and Australia competing at the highest level of Taekwondo in the world.
Arash was born into Taekwondo. His father and all four siblings hold black belts, and from the age of 3 he was watching them train and compete in Iran, before beginning to train with them at home himself. See Arash pictured below after his first competition, where he trained only under his father and brother.
By 9, after training only with his family, he entered his first state championship and won gold. From there, he went on to win multiple state titles and placed 5th at a national level in Iran, a clear sign early on of his potential.
At 11, Arash joined a local Taekwondo club and transitioned into a more structured training environment. This is where his focus shifted from natural ability to mastering the fundamentals, understanding that Taekwondo is not just about fighting, but about respect, discipline, perseverance, and character.
By 16, Arash was selected for Iran’s National Team, a major achievement given Iran’s reputation as one of the strongest Taekwondo nations in the world. He continued competing at a high level, including in the Super League on the junior team, and by 17 was representing Iran internationally.
In 2012, Arash faced a defining decision. He had been selected to represent Iran at the Asian Games in Vietnam, but at the same time received an opportunity to move to Australia and study Sports Science. He chose to pursue his education and made the move to Australia. While studying at Victoria University, his competitive career continued to grow. In 2013, he joined the Australian National Team, competing both nationally and internationally, all while coaching himself and coaching other athletes part-time.
Arash is truly a titan of the mats, having competed at the highest level on the world stage. His journey has been one of both success and challenge, from navigating visa constraints, to coaching himself, to balancing the demands of being a professional athlete while also building the next generation of Australian Taekwondo athletes..
Through it all, one thing has remained constant: his grit, determination, and willingness to help others. In 2017, Arash founded Mozhdeh Martial Arts to bring a different standard of Taekwondo to Australia, one built on discipline, respect, strong fundamentals, and the high-performance mindset that comes from one of the strongest Taekwondo systems in the world; Iran.
Competitive Career Highlights
Across his career, Arash established himself as one of Australia’s most accomplished Taekwondo athletes. A 10-time Australian National Champion and 4 time consecutive Australian representative at the World Championships, he competed and medalled across some of the sport’s most prestigious international events.
Since 2017, Mozhdeh Martial Arts has produced multiple Australian National Team athletes, with competitors reaching world rankings as high as No. 5 globally. The club welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds, from children as young as four years old, to parents training alongside their kids, through to members in their 70s. Many of the club’s instructors are also former students and champions themselves, creating an environment built on experience, mentorship, and understanding how to bring out the best in every student.
Through the foundations, systems, and culture established in Melbourne, Arash helped support his brother, Eisa Mozhdeh, in establishing a second Mozhdeh Martial Arts location in New Zealand. See Arash & Eisa pictured above. Eisa also qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Taekwondo. Taekwondo remains a strong family legacy within the club. Noori Arash’s older brother who was the catalyst for Arash starting Taekwondo holds a 5th dan black belt. Arash’s sister, Shahnaz is an international referee for World Taekwondo, while his sister Behnaz who caches along side him was awarded Best Female Coach in Iran. Within the Melbourne club, two of Arash’s siblings now coach alongside him, while his niece and nephew are also part of the Olympic Taekwondo pathway through Mozhdeh Martial Arts.
Beyond medals and titles, the club has built a genuine community that extends far beyond training sessions, with hikes, social events, and fundraising initiatives bringing members together and supporting one another both inside and outside the dojang. While the club is proud of its many competitive achievements, success is ultimately measured by students walking out the door smiling, more confident, and stronger than when they walked in.
His achievements include multiple Oceania Championship gold medals across different weight divisions, medals at the World Taekwondo President’s Cups, and podium finishes across major G1, G2 and G4 ranking events throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Central and South America. During this period, Arash also recorded victories over Olympic and World Champions, including athletes ranked world No.1.
His career reflects years of consistency, resilience, and success competing against some of the best athletes in the world. Arash qualified for the 2016 Olympics, however after facing visa constraints he was unable to attend Oceania Olympic Selection.
Today
Arash has retired from competing professionally (while still continuing his professional development and training across multiple martial art forms) and is now fully focused on developing athletes at all levels, from beginners through to Australian National Team representatives and international competitors. In 2025, Arash was also selected as an Australian National Team Coach, reflecting his ongoing contribution to elite athlete development in Australia.
Since 2017, Mozhdeh Martial Arts has produced multiple Australian National Team athletes, with competitors reaching world rankings as high as No. 5 globally. The club welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds, from children as young as four years old, to parents training alongside their kids, through to members in their 70s. Many of the club’s instructors are also former students and champions themselves, creating an environment built on experience, mentorship, and understanding how to bring out the best in every student.
Through the foundations, systems, and culture established in Melbourne, Arash helped support his brother, Eisa Mozhdeh, in establishing a second Mozhdeh Martial Arts location in New Zealand. See Arash & Eisa pictured to the right. Eisa also qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Taekwondo. Taekwondo remains a strong family legacy within the club. Noori Arash’s older brother who was the catalyst for Arash starting Taekwondo holds a 5th dan black belt. Arash’s sister, Shahnaz is an international referee for World Taekwondo, while his sister Behnaz who caches along side him was awarded Best Female Coach in Iran. Within the Melbourne club, two of Arash’s siblings now coach alongside him, while his niece and nephew are also part of the Olympic Taekwondo pathway through Mozhdeh Martial Arts.
Beyond medals and titles, the club has built a genuine community that extends far beyond training sessions, with hikes, social events, and fundraising initiatives bringing members together and supporting one another both inside and outside the dojang.
While the club is proud of its many competitive achievements, success is ultimately measured by students walking out the door smiling, more confident, and stronger than when they walked in.
.jpeg)
