Q Tell us a bit about you: "Who is the AGKK Chief Instructor's right-hand Man?"

A I work as a Systems Administrator. I have a background in education so I have a lot of experience working with people.

Q How long have you been instructing at AGKK, and which locations to do teach & train?

A I have been instructing for 10 years and I teach at the Hamilton and Clayfield dojo.

Q When did you start training at Australian Goju Kai Karate with Sensei Bernie Haughey?

A 1997

Q What initially got you started in Martial Arts?

A My older brother did a bit of judo and I wanted to follow him. Later on some of his friends did karate and I think my interest developed from there.

Q What qualities about the Goju Kai style do you find most satisfying?

A The balance between hard and soft, straight and circular techniques.

Q You're fairly tall and solidly built. What techniques of Goju Kai Style do you feel suits a Big Guy like yourself?

A Naturally I find the more powerful techniques more suited. Our training places a lot of emphasis on "heavy" (or "go") techniques, especially in the beginning. Later on when you begin to develop a more powerful technique you need to balance this with the more pliant or "Ju" side of Goju. I have to spend a lot of time working on this. Actually I have always been interested in how you can neutralise an attack with the minimum amount of force. Developing a harmony between hard and soft and between strength and flexibility is not easy and this is the challenge of martial arts in general, particularly with Goju. In general you should not met force with force directly but with "relaxed" circular movements which can trap an opponent in a situation in which they find them selves helpless. The other side of the coin is that a weakness in your opponent's guard can be exploited but a sudden entering movement. The character for "Ju" is often translated as soft or gentle or even as giving in to; but giving into an opponent's technique in order to trap them is not the same as giving in to your opponent.