Kyl has been involved in Zen Do Kai Martial Arts and BJC Muay Thai since 1994. Currently Kyl holds the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt Shihan in Zen Do Kai and 4th Degree (Kru) in BJC Muay Thai.Kyl is also a brown belt in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under BJJ Black Belt Darren McKean.
Kyl began his Martial Arts career more than twenty years ago in another style. In an effort to find a style that based its teaching principles on real-life self defence and practical solutions to confrontations in today’s society, Kyl made the switch to Zen Do Kai under the tutelage of Shihan Brad Ross. Kyl has no regrets whatsoever and still retains Brad as his original Zen Do Kai and BJC Muay Thai instructor. During this progression Kyl has had the assistance of best friend probationary Kyoshi Bruce Maile.
2011 will see Kyl’s 15th year of teaching and spreading the philosophies of Zen Do Kai. Currently Kyl teaches Zen Do Kai, BJC Muay Thai, CFS, Kidz Karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In the last nine years Kyl has developed a love for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Kyl was drawn to art in an effort to become a ‘complete’ Martial Artist and be comfortable and able to defend himself both standing up and on the ground, which is statistically where the greater majority of street orientated encounters end up. Under the expert instruction of Gracie BJJ Black Belt Darren McKean, Kyl has been able to form a very solid foundation of techniques which he passes on in his BJJ classes.
Through his years with Zen Do Kai, Kyl has had the opportunity to train with such prominent Martial Artists as Soke Bob Jones (Zen Do Kai Founder), Richard Norton (Martial Arts Movie Star, 8th Degree Black Belt Zen Do Kai), Peter De Been (Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt), Ivan Rakitic (6th Degree Black Belt Zen Do Kai and BJJ Black Belt) and Billy Manne (8th Degree Zen Do Kai Black Belt and BJJ purple belt).
Kyl uses the experience gained from the real life situations to pass onto his students invaluable experience that will prepare them for any street orientated encounter they may face.
CURRENT RANK: Third Degree in Zen Do Kai, Third level instructor in BJC Muay Thai and a Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
WHICH STYLES DO YOU DO? Zen Do Kai, Muay Thai and BJJ.
ACHIEVEMENTS: (FIGHTS/COMPETITIONS ETC) Entered in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu completion once. Worth giving it a go for the challenge and experience, but it’s not for everyone. Early February 2010, I entered a ring fight for Mauy Thai. One broken nose later and a black eye forming I won the fight. The fight took alot of dedication, hard training and sweat to get there.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM THESE STYLES/MARTIAL ARTS? To combine the stand up techniques of Muay Thai with the ground work of BJJ, to become a more complete and well rounded martial artist.
INTERESTS? Fighting, UFC, Sports, playstation 3, movies.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Hardest question to answer yourself, easier solution is that once you get to know me, then you’ll know.
ROLE MODELS, WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS? I am inspired by all the martial artists who I have had the privilege to train with and learn from including seminars with Soke Bob Jones and Kyoshi Billy Manne and many others who I train on a regular basis.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR? IN EACH STYLE? My Journey began in 2000 under Renshi Kyl in Zen Do Kai. After training in Zen Do Kai for a year I began training in Muay Thai under the instructions of Kru Kyl. After 6 years of training in Muay Thai, I began running my own classes and I continue to love the style as much as I did when I first began in my first year. Which I then focused on training in Brazlian Jiu Jitsu to combine the stand up techniques of Muay Thai with the ground work of BJJ. Giving me a fresh look at the world of martial arts as I was constantly learning new techniques and a new approach to self defense.
WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM TRAINING WITH CHIKARA MARTIAL ARTS? You gain a stronger understanding of the ideas and principles that are taught in Zen Do Kai, l which I realized is not just martial arts taught in a dojo but a way to approach life and the many obstacles it presents.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS? It was originally just a good way to stay fit in between soccer seasons. However after achieving my first belt I realized it was more of a way of life for me.
BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? AND BY WHOM? There are so many people who have inspired me and continue to push me to strive for a higher level of training and where I have resulted in a more comprehensive look on life. I would recommend to be inspired by all of their journeys and continue to look for it everywhere.
ANY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING? The people you meet along your journey will inspire you and set a high standard that is worth striving for everyday just as they all did for me.
 After spending a day watching a training camp followed by a tournament, I found it fascinating and that I would like to give it a go. I got to see all the coloured belts training and focused on what the white belts were doing – I couldn’t see why I couldn’t do that and everyone made me feel so welcomed. I never thought about where it would take me or what I wanted to get out of it. So the following Wednesday night I turned up to the Scout Hall at Graceville for a night of training that would take me on a great journey, ten years and I’m now a third degree!
I think it is important to have a mixed training experience because a great part of our training is self-defence. What are the chances of any encounter being just a stand-up, throw a few punches scenario.
What keeps me training is the fact you can never get bored. You are never able to really get so good at anything you don’t need to keep going over it and so you are always pushing yourself to do better.  Being able to share this with the others in the club also makes it so much better, enjoying their achievements along with you really highlights that feeling of a family rather than just some people you train with once or twice a week.
One thing I hope never to say is…”I used to be a black belt ” or “Yeah, I used to train Zen Do Kai, but that was years ago”. I can’t imagine not training or just having it there. Having it in the family helps to enjoy it even more as you are always supported, which is great. I can’t wait to the day my daughter asks to come to training, I look to the higher ranks too to see their enthusiasm and am greatly encouraged by this, to know it just doesn’t stop or die down. I think the harder decision would be why to stop training, rather than why keep training.
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Richie currently holds the ranks of second degree black belt in Zen Do Kai and first degree black singlet in BJC Muay Thai. He is currently training with Chris Rada at our Mitchelton dojo.
Kerry currently holds the title of Dai Sempai and the rank of second degree black belt in Zen Do Kai. He is also a second degree black singlet in BJC Muay Thai. With over 20 years of training under his belt he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Chikara classes. Kerry is involved in teaching our seniors as well as our junior students, including his own children who have also begun their progression through the ranks.
CURRENT RANK: Shodan – 1st Degree Black Belt ZDK, 1st Degree Black Belt Muay Thai, Blue Belt BJJ.
WHICH STYLES DO YOU DO? ZDK, Muay Thai, BJJ
ACHIEVEMENTS: (FIGHTS/COMPETITIONS ETC) Completed in BJJ competition but didn’t win.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM THESE STYLES/MARTIAL ARTS? To be fit, healthy and strong and to be a kickass fighter of course.
INTERESTS? Martial arts, live music and my family.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? An easy going guy who likes to have a joke.
ROLE MODELS, WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS? Geoff Thompson, Renzo Gracie, my mum and my grandfather.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR? IN EACH STYLE? Approximately 5 years in ZDK, 4 years in Muay Thai and BJJ
WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM TRAINING WITH CHIKARA MARTIAL ARTS? It’s a hard style with a hard teacher which produces strong students who are also the best people I know.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS? Decided one day that I wanted to be a more refined fighter and knew that ZDK was a hard style so found the nearest club and went from there.
BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? AND BY WHOM? The worst moments of our life are only there to help us appreciate the best moments of our life without one we can’t have the other, my mum.
ANY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING? Training is hard. If it was easy then there would be no challenge and in the end no satisfaction. Work hard, stick with it and perceive than before you know it, you will have gone beyond what you ever thought possible.
CURRENT RANK:
Zen Do Kai – Sho Dan – 1st Degree Black Belt
Brasilian Jiu Jitsu – Blue Belt
WHICH STYLES DO YOU DO?
Zen Do Kai, Brasilian Jiu Jitsu, CFS
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM THESE STYLES/MARTIAL ARTS?
My initial reasons for becoming involved in martial arts with Chikara Martial Arts are still the same now as they were when I began – fitness, fun and discipline. Along the way I have learnt that these and much more can be achieved in our club. I have learnt to take the ideas and concepts taught at our club and apply them in all areas of my life. In this way, each lesson I am involved with progresses me further with my training and my personal progress.
INTERESTS?
My interests inside the context of martial arts are in “fight fit” conditioning training, realistic applications of self-defence techniques, and psychological balance and control. Outside of martial arts, I’m an avid fan of music, rugby union, drumming, travel and business.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
I would describe myself as a keen student of life with an extremely twisted sense of humour. I’m a man of strong opinions and conflicting thoughts and always open to learning from mistakes.
ROLE MODELS, WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS?
I am often positively inspired most by those closest to me, but also by those least like me. I derive inspiration by identifying negatives qualities of others and working to ensure these are not qualities I embody.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR? IN EACH STYLE?
My martial art experience began in roughly March of 2006 with my first lessons in Zen Do Kai. As our club expanded I became involved in Brasilian Jiu Jitsu in 2007 and CFS in 2009.
WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM TRAINING WITH CHIKARA MARTIAL ARTS?
My training with Chikara Martial Arts provides me with energy and motivation which reaches beyond the time spent sweating in the dojo. The physical benefits of being healthy and conditioned provide me the stamina to handle a busy schedule, while the mental strength I have learnt helps to guide me through any challenges I am presented with.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS?
As far as introductions go, I was very lucky to be living with a (at the time) first degree Zen Do Kai student who immediately recommended I give the style a chance when I told him of a weight loss competition I had entered. I have never looked backed since those first lessons, and the fitness conditioning I undertook helped me to win the weight loss competition.
BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? AND BY WHOM?
The best advice I have received – by way of literature – comes from Timothy Leary: “Think for yourself, question authority”. At first glance, this may seem counter intuitive in a forum such as martial arts, where discipline and respect are key foundations; however the power of this advice is in its contextual interpretation.
In relation to martial arts – one interpretation I have is:
If you do not understand what you are being taught, ask questions, begin to understand what it is you are doing. To follow blindly without understanding what you are doing is without value. Question authority – seek their interpretation, seek to understand the knowledge that has propelled them to their current rank.
Outside of martial arts, this advice has many applications and has led me to a life of continuous questioning, understanding and learning and acceptance.
ANY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING?
Chikara Martial Arts will change your life, but only if you want it to happen. Training the body is easy, training the mind is definitely more tricky – but definitely possible. The sooner you can control your mind from making excuses and ways to avoid hard work the sooner you will begin to show your inner abilities. We are all students in our club and welcome anyone who wishes to learn about martial arts, fitness and themselves.
CURRENT RANK: BJJ: Blue Belt
WHICH STYLES DO YOU DO? Brazlian Jiu-Jitsu
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM THESE STYLES/MARTIAL ARTS? Confidence, recreation, fitness, fun
INTERESTS? Sleeping, Eating, Cinema, MMA, Cultural studies (foreign cultures and customs etc)
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Very relaxed, easy going and approachable.
ROLE MODELS, WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS? Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, because he overcame a life threatening injury (being run over by a truck) in which he was expected to die. He recovered and then learnt to walk again. Doctors told him he would never be able to do martial arts again, yet he had determination, pushed through his physical struggles and rose to be Pride heavy weight champion. Someone else would be the late Evan Tanner, because of the way he battled his own inner demons, was a philosopher, a poet and saw the beauty of the world.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR? IN EACH STYLE? I’ve been training in BJJ for 19 months commencing in March of 2009
WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM TRAINING WITH CHIKARA MARTIAL ARTS? A team environment, fitness, mutual respect and of course fun.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS? I had been watching MMA for several years before I thought “why not?” and gave bjj a try as I saw it as something I might be able to physically do. I respected the philosophy that it is designed for the smaller weaker individual to triumph over the larger stronger opponent.
BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? AND BY WHOM? “Follow the advantage, And master opportunity: This is the dynamic” – Sun-tzu: The art war. This quote has always been in my mind when I think Of Jiu-jitsu.
ANY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING? Give it a try! If at first you don’t succeed keep trying to you do. Everyone is capable at achieving and succeeding, especially when you have such a great support base of instructors and fellow students to help you at Chikara. To give up because something is too hard is to tap-out without trying to escape. You can learn and gain so much from training at Chikara.
CURRENT RANK: Blue Belt BJJ
WHICH STYLES DO YOU DO? BJJ
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM THESE STYLES/MARTIAL ARTS? I want to one day get my black belt, and to help teach everyone that wants to learn. To take every bit of knowledge from anyone who wants to teach.
INTERESTS? BJJ, Sport, Soccer, Mechanical work, hanging out with mates, cars
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Pretty easy going, always wanting to help, easy to get along with, hard working
ROLE MODELS, WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS? Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, he was run over when he was 11 by a truck and should have died, he was in a coma for 4 days, lost a rib and part of his liver, he was hospitalized for 11 months, but has worked hard to become a devastating BJJ Black belt
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR? IN EACH STYLE? Since the beginning of 2009 in BJJ, and I did 4 years in judo.
WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM TRAINING WITH CHIKARA MARTIAL ARTS? Friends, the ability to ask questions without stupid answers, always being open for conversation and teaching
HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS? With my Brother, when we both had keen interest in it
BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? AND BY WHOM? Always be an open minded, take in as much knowledge as you can, cause every person has different way of doing things, find what works for you. (don’t know who told me that, Could have been Kyl)
ANY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING? Be open minded, ask questions, you’ll never get in trouble for asking questions, its better to ask and learn, rather then be quiet and not learn.
