Instructors

DOJO HEAD

Sensei Chris Gower, 5th Dan

Sensei Chris has lived and breathed Kyokushin for over 30 years. He is a fighter and held the NZ title in his weight category for 7 years, represented NZ many times, including at the prestigious World Open Karate Tournament in Tokyo in 1995. In 2005 Chris won the World Heavyweight title for men aged 35-40, the first Kyokushin World Title ever held by a Kiwi!

Chris has travelled to Japan to train or compete more times than he can remember. He lived the hard road as an early foreigner in Japan, training under the late Sosai Oyama at Tokyo Honbu and being among the few foreigners at the time to be permitted to fight in the All Japan National Tournament. He met the current international director of Kyokushin, Kancho Matsui Shokei in Tokyo just before he became World Champion and hosted him in NZ for a month of training.

Chris maintains close ties to Japan and, while maintaining a traditional Kyokushin school, is enjoying the recent resurgence globally of old style techniques such as grappling and headpunching. Sensei Chris has invaluable personal experience but he is continually seeking new answers and continually drawing on resources offered by the international group or wherever else he can. He is one of the highest graded Kyokushin exponents in NZ and leads the National Technical Committee responsible for syllabus development.

In 2007 Chris decided to aim towards full time instructing. He currently takes all the junior classes and is working hard researching and developing programs for all age groups. Early in 2008 Chris took a group of 20 kids from the dojo to Tokyo for a tournament and training and after all he’s achieved in 30+ years he describes this trip as his ‘best ever Kyokushin experience’.  Chris completed a 50 man kumite to grade to 5th dan under Tokyo Honbu representative, Shihan Honmer, in early 2008.

Sempai Jill Gower, 2nd Dan

Sempai Jill co-founded Mt Vic Dojo with husband and instructor, Sensei Chris. She has travelled to Tokyo to support our NZ Reps, train and compete seven times since starting Kyokushin in 1994. Jill sat Shodan (blackbelt) in 2001 having, earlier in the year, had her first child, organised the National Tournament, won the NZ lightweight women’s title… and taken second place in the kata competition!

With two young kids Jill finds it harder to get to the dojo but has developed an academic interest in sports science and sports psychology for Kyokushin training. Her day job at SPARC has fuelled her interest in getting more kids and adults in the clubs to ‘push play’.  She has done a little cross training in BJJ, fought in ‘combat submission fighting’ and travelled to Japan to investigate the development of women’s mixed martial arts there. Jill drives the popular MVD Match Fight night, promoting ‘giving it a go’, mixed style fighting in a safe and friendly atmosphere.  She graded to nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Oct 08.


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Club Instructors

Shihan Alex Terrace, 5th Dan

Mt Vic Dojo is extremely fortunate Shihan Alex chose to make his training comeback with us!  Shihan brings a bit of ‘old school’ to the dojo on the first monday of every month.  Not sessions for the light hearted!  As the Shihan says “you bring the right attitude and leave the rest to me”!  He also drives the black belts to continual improvement via regular ‘high grade’ kata classes.  We are extremely grateful to have his support and expertise.  Shihan walks the walk & graded with Chris to 5th dan at a gruelling physical grading in early 2008.

Sempai Steve Newby, 2nd Dan

Sempai Steve is more proof Kyokushin can be enjoyed at all ages. Steve attained his blackbelt, took an 18 year respite, then returned to Kyokushin at MVD and in 2007 attained his 2nd Dan at age 50 mumble. Steve is a selfless supplier of advice, motivation and inspiration.

Sempai Dave Maguire, 1st Dan

Sempai Dave has been training in Kyokushin for almost 20 years. He is a fighter and sports arguably the meanest leg attack in the country. Dave is one of the few students to overcome distraction and successfully migrate to Kyokushin training while on OE in the UK. While there he won the British Open. Dave has visited Japan to support the NZ and British teams and more recently to compete in the 2005 and 2007 Senior World Tournaments.

Sempai Phil Kirkman, 2nd Dan

Sempai Phil has been training at MVD since the dojo opened in 1999. He is an inspiring, physically gifted instructor of the adults Wednesday class. Phil is a fighter, regularly participating in tournaments and match fights. He has represented NZ in Australia and in Japan at the 2003 World Open Tournament. Phil has a Japanese wife and daughter, speaks Japanese, studies the culture and visits and trains in Japan regularly.

Sempai Vijay Ranchhod, 2nd Dan

Sempai Vijay has been training at Kyokushin for over half his life! He had attained Shodan (blackbelt) before he entered the adult class. As a youth Sempai Vijay trained under notaries like Sensei Chris Gower, Sempai Paul Kleer and Sempai Robin Hammond, who were in their heyday. He is a talented tournament fighter. The Ranchhods are a Kyokushin family, Vijay’s brother is also a black belt and his younger siblings are both brown belts in the MVD junior dojo.

Sempai Conway Te Rito, 2nd Dan

Sempai Conway is one of MVD’s first blackbelts in that he began his Kyokushin training at MVD as a whitebelt. Conway is a physically gifted athlete and took up Kyokushin in his 30s following years of playing club rugby. Conway achieved black belt in record time and was a guaranteed starter for tournaments. He represented NZ at the World Open Tournament in 2003 and in 2005 took the Heavyweight World Title for men aged 40+. Conway met his goal for 2008 by attaining his 2nd degree blackbelt. He is a regular instructor of the adult’s Monday class.

Success at the 2005 World Seniors Champs in Tokyo for Mt Vic Head Instructor Sensei Chris Gower (right) and Sempai Conway Te Rito (left). Sensei Gower winning the 35-40yr old division and Sempai TeRito winning the 40-45yr old division. Both proving you’re never to old to participate in Kyokushin tournaments!

Sempai Craig Saunders, 1st Dan

Sempai Craig came to MVD as a brown belt from the Waikato where he trained under Sensei Tahi Parata. In his time Craig has migrated successfully between 3 dojos, benefiting from the experience of some of NZ’s top instructors. Craig is a dedicated student and instructs regularly, injecting some Waikato flavour into the dojo. He’s also a valuable organiser & motivator, beware, between Jill & Craig you’ll be talked into a fight before you know it!

Sempai Haines Eng & Sempai Estelle Adamson, 1st Dan

Sempai Haines and Sempai Estelle are recent additions to MVD’s team of black belt instructors.  They both graded to black belt in October 2008.  Sempai Haines is fast becoming the dojo’s kata expert, replacing his obsessive black belt training with, almost as obsessive, kata training!  He’s also known to take KILLER fitness classes. Sempai Estelle is a strong believer it’s what the inside that counts.  Not starting Kyokushin until ‘post kids’ she found the physical requirements particularly challenging.  She provides an excellent role model for anyone who thinks karate is strictly for the young and naturally flexible!

Sempai Jamie Eades, 1st Kyu

Sempai Jamie ranks among the instructors at MVD because he likes fighting so much he’s chosen to make a career of it!   He works in the dojo managing memberships, sales and taking Fighting Fit classes.  He also helps Chris with the juniors and takes a tournament fighters class on Sunday afternoon.  Jamie has been with MVD since it started.  Prior to that he trained at the Tasman Street dojo so he’s been training Kyokushin since he was about 8 years old!  He’s a very talented fighter taking the heavyweight National title in 2008 and going on to win against the light and superheavyweight fighters to become National ‘Yokozuna’ or grand champion.  Fortunately he’s also a motivated coach.

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Others

Sensei Paul Kleer, 3rd Dan

Sensei Paul has been living between Japan and NZ for ten years. Paul has been one of NZ’s top fighters, representing NZ numerous times and competing with the top 32 fighters at the World Tournament in 1995. Sensei Paul has studied Kyokushin extensively in Japan and his studies have extended to the culture and language. He previously operated his own dojo in Newtown. When in Welly students at MVD are lucky to enjoy Paul’s dedicated coaching experience. We also have Sensei Paul to thank for building a relationship between MVD and one of Japan’s largest dojo, Kokubunji Dojo. NZ has benefited enormously from seminars brought to us by kata specialist and head of Kokubunji Dojo, Shihan Eguchi and his wife, World Women’s lightweight Champion, Sempai Miyuki Eguchi. Sensei Kawasaki, full time kid’s instructor in Tokyo transferred to MVD for two years and, since then, has brought some of Japan’s top junior fighters to MVD. In 2008 21 of MVD’s juniors visited Kokubunji in return and were treated to extraordinary hospitality including a tournament in our honour with 200 kids competing!!  Sensei Paul has also forged the way for other MVD students aspiring to study in Japan. Sensei Troy Freeman and Sempai’s Rachael Ray & Sam Minns have all benefited from the hospitality of Sensei Paul and the Kokubunji Dojo.