My Martial Arts Background

Ever since I can remember, I have been watching martial arts movies. Growing up, I had four uncles that lived with us and they would watch martial arts movies constantly.

When I was 12 I started training in the martial arts. The first style that I did was a Vietnamese martial art called Vovinam. I did this for four years and then decided to give TaeKwondo a try under Master Jung Oh.

TaeKwonDo

I managed to earn my black belt under Master Oh after 4 years of training. It was a great achievement for me.

Breaking tiles at blackbelt grading	Master Oh and I after the grading

I continued to train TaeKwondo for another 2 years and became a little disillusioned as I began to question the real world practicality of some of the techniques and training methods.

Experimenting

By the year 2000 I had finished my physiotherapy degree and was working as a physiotherapist at a local YMCA. Most of the guys that worked there had a martial arts background so we decided to meet up one day to train and exchange ideas.

As we were training, one of the guys demonstrated a nerve destruction technique. I had never heard of a nerve destuction technique before but with my physiotherapy background I could see that it would be extremely effective in a real life situation, even against larger, stronger opponents.

To say the least, I was very intrigued.

Jeet Kune Do Concepts

After a few questions I found out that this work colleague had been training Jeet Kune Do Concepts under a Progressive Fighting Systems (PFS) Instructor. To find out more about PFS click here.

After a short period of investigation, I began my journey of studying and training JKD concepts within the PFS framework. The material presented was unlike anything I had seen before and was totally applicable to a real life violent encounter. I thoroughly enjoyed my training over the next few years.

My journey in PFS lasted 6 years. Regrettably, it ended due to personal differences I had with my instructor.

Seminars

I have also had the privilege of attending seminars conducted by Sifu Roy Harris and Guro Dan Inosanto while they were in Australia. Both of these men are a wealth of information and experience. It was an honour for me to meet them.

Guro Dan Inosanto and I at a seminar in 2003

Over the years, I have researched and studied many arts and training methods. I have done this through reading, watching, experimenting and training with friends from different martial arts styles.

My background as a physiotherapist has given me an excellent base to analyse how the body moves in different arts and techniques. It also give me a firm understanding of exercise science and injuries.

When I train or research a training method, it has to make sense to me from scientific point of view. I don’t have much time for the mystical or the magical martial arts methods.

Today

I am 30 years old and my passion for the martial arts is stronger then ever. I continue to study, practice and train with a group of martial artists who are just as passionate as I am.

I can’t imagine a time when martial arts will not be a part of my life.

If you have any further questions or enquiries about my martial arts background or this website please send me a message via the contact me page.