Featured School

Interview with Dr Nigel Farrier of The Martial Arts Education Centre

1. Who is the dojo’s founder and what prompted him/her to build the school? Is there any rich history behind its making?

I, Dr Nigel Farrier, am the founder of the Martial Arts Education Centre. I have been teaching the martial arts since 1996 starting with karate. I had rented a variety of halls from the local council but each year had to reapply to the council for the hall. Every couple of years, the council would want to change the times or the days that were available. After several years, this became intolerable. However, there were not enough students to be able to afford leasing a premise. I then decided to bite the bullet and lease somewhere that could be called “home” for my very own style of martial art.

In 2002, I founded the Martial Arts Education Centre which was then teaching a Shotokan based Karate and Japanese Ju Jitsu. The style taught was my very own which I had formed through my studies of several martial arts.

I later added Okinawan Kobudo to the list of styles I have been teaching.

After several years of leasing the premises, the school had grown in size to the point where a new and larger school was required. It was then that I purchased the current home of the Martial Arts Education Centre in Mandurah, a larger unit that would allow for future growth.

2. What forms of Japanese martial arts do you teach in your school? Can you please share with us the history behind them?

I originally obtained my first black belt grading under Kanazawa Sensei of the Shotokan Karate International. It was at that time that I also started to study other martial arts which included Japanese Ju Jitsu and I also continued my studies of Okinawan Kobudo that I had started whilst a kyu grade in karate.

I studied under many different instructors in all three martial arts and gradually formulated my own style which I called Koshin Bushido Kai Karate, Ju Jitsu and Kobudo. The name basically translates as The Old and New Warrior Way Federation of Karate, Ju Jitsu and Kobudo. I felt the name reflected Funakoshi Sensei who once said ‘Cherish the old but embrace the new’. The style embraces my thought as it is a very traditional style (cherishing the old) but also involves new techniques, technologies and modern weapons (embracing the new).

3. What are the principles and concepts that you uphold and try to instill in your students?

When the Martial Arts Education Centre was first formed, I looked for a motto that reflected my way of thinking. I came up with the saying ‘Achievement through Excellence of Character’.

Students are all taught the importance of the traditional values of respect which helps build good character. Other values such as honesty and loyalty are just as important in improving the students’ overall character. We have another saying, ‘Changing the world one student at a time.’

4. Why do you think it is important for people to learn martial arts?

There are many reasons why people should study the martial arts apart from the character benefits. Improvement in health, fitness and flexibility are some of the other benefits that training can give a person.

Add to that the ability to defend oneself and ones family or have the confidence to just walk away makes studying the martial arts a well rounded art. You can not get so many benefits form any other sport.

5. What difficulties and obstacles have you encountered so far with regards to teaching martial arts and how did you overcome them?

The most difficult challenge in teaching is when a student quits. This can really hurt sometimes as one asks questions such as ‘What did I do wrong?’ and so on. Eventually one has to realise that people quit for many reasons and it is not a bad reflection on the instructor. Even so, to realise what they are going to miss out in life still hurts.

6. What advice and/or insights can you share with our readers who want to pursue their interest in the Japanese form of martial arts?

I look back at when I had just started training and realise that it was quite hard work. Some days I just did not feel like going to training but went anyway. After the session, the endorphins were circulating throughout the body and I realised why I should keep going.

New students need to keep in mind that a black belt takes years of dedicated practice to their art. I never thought I could ever aspire to those lofty heights of a black belt so I set goals. As an 8th kyu I set my goal of 5th kyu – about a year away. The next goal was 3rd kyu for another year or so of training. At brown belt, I suddenly realised that a black belt was within reach which then became my next goal. At shodan my goals were several folds – 3rd dan (sandan) for karate but also the study of a new martial art namely Ju Jitsu. And so the cycle of goals went on.

Students need to set their goals realistically. A black belt one year after starting training is not a realistic type of goal (if it is in the club you are at, then you should consider changing!) but it is a goal that anyone can reach. A black belt is just a white belt that never quits.

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1. Interview with Kyoshi Terrell D. Lambert of Ji Kai Martial Arts
2. Interview with Luis Morales of Budo Quest Martial Arts
3. Interview with “Carli Sensei” of Agbulos Martial Arts Studio Philippines (MASPHIL)
4. Interview with Nicklaus Suino of Japanese Martial Arts Center
5. Interview with Joe Morejon of Torukukai Aikijitsu School of Samurai Arts