Guest
2010-10-06

ex martial arts dewd

Hi all

I was just surfing the net and came across your site and the visitor comments on John Bonniface, so thought i'd add my two bobs worth!

I used to live in ChCh years ago and in the early 70's I was at Papanui High school. Hank Fekkes was my Physical ed teacher and I remember the awe which surronded him in regards to his martial arts prowess. Rumour had it that 5 students who were graduating decided on their last PE session to throw hank in the school pool for a prank, apparently they all ended up in the pool with Hank unfazed and smiling without even raising a sweat.

Anyway I got on pretty well with Hank who I think also did some training after school with the high school judo king ( Graeme Spinks).

It was sometime during that period and without knowing of any connection that I stumbled across and joined the Goju Ryu school run by John Bonniface at the YMCA. Later it was obvious that Hank and John knew each other and I believe at the time they were the highest ranked Ju Jutsu exponents in NZ (although I am only going off memory).

I trained with John in Goju Ryu and Judo, 6 days a week for a couple of years but he was exceptionally hard (due to the extreme training regime he had in Japan) and held few gradings but many exceptionally hard classes. I remember going on winter runs with the whole class down past the museum and every hundred meters we would stop and do 50 press ups, heaven help those that couldnt keep up and he would also come round and inspect your knuckles, no cuts on them meant 50 more! My knuckles are still calloused years later!

John went to Japan several times as I recall usually to get another grading as there was noone in NZ high enough to do it. I also remember that he brought a visitor back occasionally so we had the interesting experience of training with tradditionally trained Japanese.

I trained with Stan who as I recall worked like a trojan and was occasionally identified to us by John as the example to follow. I think Stan was green belt then. The Shehan was a Maori guy, John Shortland, and all the guys at green, brown and black level were seriously good, they had to be for John to grade them there, when it came to John there were no punches pulled (pardon the Pun).

 John was a personal friend and I remember being in awe when I first saw his office and realised how many Dan he had in all the different arts. I havent lived in NZ for years and had no contact with anyone from martial arts so it was a shock to learn John passed away all those years ago!

I went on to boxing at crichton cobbers and a little Aikido before moving overseas. I have since done a little more Aikido and a few years of ninjutsu but that is more than 10 years ago now and I couldnt find the time now to put into martial arts training even if I wanted.

Anyway I just thought i'd add to the Bonniface legend, because thats how I remember the most capable martial artist that I ever met.

nikolaypet
2010-06-23

dom2
Cool site, thx for your work!

alexpimer
2010-05-16

News
Very cool site. Keep up the great work!

Guest
2010-02-15

John Bonniface
Hi all, I hope you do not find this instrusive, but I have been reading blogs on here about John.  I am Johns youngest cousin, his Father and mine were brothers. Many good times spent with John when we were really young, and then when I moved to Christchurch fresh out of school - off to the big city!    I would come to the dojo sometimes as John tried to encourage me I guess, but I was young and partying hard at the time .  I am putting together family information for my own interest, and wonder if you could point me to a person or persons who would have information about Johns years in marital arts, his accomplishments, his travels , his acquaintances ( do any of you  remember Taka Nakajima??) . John was a bit of an inspiration to me as a young woman, and I think of him often.  I would just like to get something down on paper about him - my own interest only. Would really appreciate any information.  Thanks.  

Guest
2009-11-27

Konbanwa!

Just looking through the web and found the site.Great to see the picture of Stan. Remember training years ago with Stan, Dave, Simon, Eliya and the rest of the lads at the YMCA.Legendary stuff.Take care.

J.Burns
2009-08-11

Senpai

What a demonstration of skill and technique from the students I saw grade at Crichton Cobbers the other night. 3 hours of non stop torture.

It was a pleasure to watch and I will take this memory back to my own classes when I leave. Inspiring, skillful, and committed.

Well done, you should be proud.

Rod Silverman
2009-03-02

USA

Are you guys hooked up with anyone in the States? We could get some exchange going. I have trained with Shihan Hamada. Good to see you guys down there. 

Guest
2008-03-04

Great website

Very professional set up you guys have over there. Well done and keep training hard.

Bob Krane

Tactical Soutions Inc 

Allan Tattersall
2008-01-24

Hanshi Kyudan

My trip to NZ was very long. I have always wished to see it and I wasn't dissapointed when I landed. A truly wonderful country. The hospitality shown to me was over the top. Fantastic! My host Julian Anne and Maia was like being at home at christmas.

And not one complaint from the boys when we trained. Twas a joy to be here. The trip to the hot springs, the town pub and the shopping trips were a true delight and great days.

The grading - I only wish some of the boys in Europe had the same bottle as the lad being graded, I have no problem with him, the heart of a lion and the guts to go with it.

And the fantastic gifts I brought back to hang in my dojo has also opened a few eyes here....what else can I say.......kiwis really!!

The salt of the earth...

Allan Tattersall, Hanshi Kyudan

UK Officer: Dai Nippon Butoku Kai

Vice President: European Jujitsu Union

Vice President: International Jujitsu Federation

International Director: United Kingdom Jujitsu Association International

President: Britsh & European Iaido Association

Guest
2007-12-20

good memories

during the 80's...good hard training at Chch Polytechnic dojo...Shihan John Bonniface was a great colleague, mentor and friend.

I often wonder where our karateka went after Shihan passed away.

for me Goju Ryu still leads my life and having trained in Naha this year for a short period there are so many more mountains to climb.

yours in Budo, Geoff Blokland