Paul Noel Starling (born 1948) is an Australian martial artist renowned as a Gōjū-ryū Karate master.

After graduation from Barker College in Sydney with the Leaving Certificate, Paul was recruited by Unilever Australia who supported his world championship participation 1970- 1972[9] where he commenced a managerial trainee-ship whilst he simultaneously commenced duties with the Australian Army CMF, following in the footsteps of father: Lieutenant Colonel Noel George Reid Starling, who was arguably the longest serving Australian Army Officer, (46 years) enlisted 1927- 1973.

[11] Along with Australian politician and fellow karateka, the late John Newman, he promoted Australian Karate do in the media and helped to organise colleague Instructors in Australia in those fledgling days, into a cohesive group whereby Australia's reputation and success at International competition during the 1980s was unprecedented for a country with such a limited population.

Starling was chosen from Australia's top karate-do athletes to portray the Karate Instructor in this classic Australian movie 'The Coolangatta Gold in 1983, by producer John Weiley; director Igor Auzins and writer Peter Schreck, whereby Starling was noted by the reviewers of respected American Variety (magazine) as having played a most commendable and convincing role.

Whilst at the Japan Karate do College (Nihon Karate do Senmon Gakko) where Starling trained full-time for one year in 1973, he was taught by Gogen Yamaguchi (Goju Kai), Hironori Otsuka (Wado Ryu), Iwata Manzao (Shito Ryu), Motokatsu Inoue (Ryukyu Kobujitsu Hozon Shinko Kai).

[21] When in Tokyo 3 years previously during 1970 whilst representing Australia in the Team kumite event at the inaugural Karate World Championships, Gogen Yamaguchi suggested the name of Sydney Goju Kan for Starling's own Dojo, and the School has been in operation ever since.

It was in 1989 that Paul Starling became the Chief Instructor of Goju Kai Karate do Australia until retiring from that position 15 years later in 2004 due to a sudden illness.