Well, I would like to say that 2018 was a very good year for me as I chalked up my 40th year of training, started in 1978 at the age of 36. The first few years were very hard as you all know by your own training. The last 40 years that I have been in BJMA  have been...

My journey in BJMA began back in 1982 with the attainment of my first belt, “The first step in a journey of a thousand miles,” had begun. My Instructors at the time were Ian Ryan and Peter Rowe, both whom went on to become mentors and friends. Both are still highly...

Hello, my name is Matt Wickham. My journey of martial arts started 1982 in Judo and taekwondo, then in 1986 a friend introduced me to Zen do Kai. I started in Echuca under Rick Mawson at that time he was a Sensei. I went through the ranks normally until I went for my...

Nigel Kendall - DOB 11/9/1952 I began my Zen Do Kai journey in 1974 training at Springvale – Mornington under Dave Berry (the first member to join ZDK in 1970) from white belt through to probationary 3rd degree. From then through to today, Soke Billy Manne has...

Chief Instructor, Founder of Fight Rite Gym Rhett has been Training in the Martial Arts for 40 years, now teaching for over 20 years. Rhett originally began training in Judo at age 10 but soon moved on to Tae Kwon Do which he stayed with until he was 17. At 17 he...

Hanshi Wayne Spear My sporting and interests were in AFL and Surf Lifesaving until I discovered Zen Do Kai in 1980. I was invited to watch a grading and became obsessed with the discipline, effectiveness and attitude of the students. The Instructor [ Rod Stroud] had...

Hanshi Peter Rowe 9th degree started training in Frankston in 1972 under Billy Manne and Dave Berry. From 1974-1977 whilst serving with 2 Commando Company he trained in Melbourne under these instructors at various clubs like Springvale, and from 1978 until 1980 he...

My Martial arts journey started in 1982 doing Karate in Glenroy and I am in my 37th year of a fantastic journey. I have encountered many influential instructors on my journey and they are too numerous to mention but two stand out. One being Soke Bob Jones and the...

Hanshi John Leondaris began his official Martial Art journey at the age of 11 (1974), learning the fundamentals of Chinese Boxing. 3 years later John was introduced to Karate under the guidance of William (Bill) Vaughn. John’s best friend at that time, George Pokkias...

My life is Martial Arts. It has been my joy, my salvation, my passion, my frustration, and my work: my pathway in life. It’s true to say that I (like many others) am defined by martial artsand BJMA is my home, while my dojo at BMMA Frankston is my sanctuary, my happy...

My beginnings and consequent journey in Zen do Kai began in 1970, after being asked by Soke Bob to join him as his right-hand man and Chief Instructor in the creation of Australia’s first really eclectic system of Martial Arts, later to become known as, Zen do Kai...