Richard Norton – 10th Degree

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 (ZDK). The first Dojo and Honbu was at 48 Elizabeth St in the city of Melbourne.

Soke Bob and I had both been students of Goju Kai since the middle sixties under Tino Ceberano – Hanshi, and it was Bob’s wish back then to create a style that was based in traditional Goju, but with the added emphasis on Reality Based Combat aspects for today’s modern combat arena that so many of our early students found themselves in, due to their work as security personnel.

Of course, today, in keeping with the MMA aspects of today’s combat world, ZDK, following the loose translation of our motto, ‘The Best of Everything in Progression’, has continued to develop and evolve according to today’s combat needs. My partnership with Soke Bob and BJMA led to travelling the world as a personal bodyguard and later, a career in the movie industry as an actor and Fight Coordinator, that continues to this day. I can also proudly say there has virtually never been a time during the past 50 years that I have not proudly worn my Bushido cross when representing BJMA on the movie screen or wherever else I happen to be in the world.

Currently I hold the title of Soke and I am a 10th degree in the ZDK system. I also hold an 8th degree master ranking in the Chuck Norris system of Chun Kuk Do, a level 6th degree in Uquidokan Kick Boxing under Benny, ‘The Jet’, Urquidez, and a 5th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary Machado Brothers.

My passions and aims within the ZDK system are to continue to teach and contribute to the style in any way I can, taking advantage of the extensive knowledge I have gained in various Martial Arts disciplines due to the good fortune of having travelled the world and trained with many of the best Martial Artists on the planet.

My personal focus is to never cease learning and increasing my skills as a Martial Artist and to always view myself as a student of the arts, whilst never, ever, accepting mediocrity in my life or my pursuit of excellence in the arts.

My 50 year plus partnership and friendship with Soke Bob is something I hold very dear to my heart, and as a result, will always strive to do whatever I can to keep our style strong and relevant.

What three attributes do I consider important for a Martial Artist?

1. Integrity – Integrity means following your moral or ethical convictions and doing the right thing in all circumstances, even if no one is watching you. Having integrity means you are true to yourself and would do nothing that demeans or dishonours you, or, in this case, your style and fellow students within ZDK.
2. Respect – Treating people in a positive manner that acknowledges them for who they are and/or what they are doing. Being treated or treating an individual in a dignified manner.  Respect is earned and is never just given. But you must give respect to receive respect. Meaning when you interact with an individual you treat them with dignity and in a respectful manner as this shows your character as a person. And the respect will be reciprocated. You must always behave in a respectful manner as this reflects on you, your character, integrity and values of who you are as a person.
3. Honour – the quality of knowing and doing what is morally right.

Advice I would give to someone who is starting out in BJMA?

To try to be clear on why it is you are wanting to learn the Martial Arts. Is it for self-protection, fitness, an involvement in an art form, or maybe to become a professional fighter? The reason the answer to these questions are important, is because BJMA can offer you suitable courses for any and all of the above, but I do believe you should first focus on one aspect and develop a strong base ‘style’, before spreading yourself too thin. Remember the old adage, ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’. Learning a new skill takes time, so focus initially on your first want. There is time later on to supplement your training by adding extra skills provided under the BJMA umbrella.