David Bannister:
The senior instructor of Zen Do Kai Mundaring is Sensei Dave Bannister who trained in Rhee
Tae Kwon Do for 3 years prior to joining Zen Do Kai in 1985. At the time he was looking for
a more practical street orientated martial art and this he found with the self defence and
kickboxing classes under instructor Gary Childs, a former heavy weight boxing champion and
sparring partner to World title holder contender Frank Bruno.
In 1985 Sensei competed in a kickboxing tournament and finished as runner up in a contest that
involved 20 students. Over the next 9 months with intensive training Sensei successfully attempted
his Blue, Green and Brown belt gradings.
In 1988 Sensei started teaching in Kalgoorlie and it was here that he trained with Dean Woodhams and
Leigh Montgomery who were both working in the mining industry.
In 1989 Sensei was presented with his Bushido Cross.
When Dean and Leigh left Kalgoorlie Sensei Dave took over the running of the club, at this time he
successfully attempted his Black Belt (1989) and
first degree black belt weapons grading (1991).
Classes at John Paul College and Eastern Goldfields High School started to grow with the club
having 55 members during the 90’s, it was normal for classes of 30 to train during the adult
night classes- not bad for a shift working mining town!
Part of the popularity of the club was the emphasis on fitness, friendship and no nonsense self defence
training. A huge plus for the club was the regular visits to Kalgoorlie of Kyoshi Dean Woodhams, the
tyranny of distance did not allow for standards to drop, in fact, many Kalgoorlie students who graded in
Perth would out perform the local gradees on a regular basis.
A highlight of the nineties was Sensei passing his 2nd degree black belt and then a trip to Thailand with
Kyoshi Dean and members of both schools. In Thailand they trained with the former National Muay Thai Trainer.
After passing his 3rd degree black belt in 1994 and being awarded probationary 4th dan in 1998 Sensei turned
his sights on running fight nights and training his kickboxers to compete in Perth. A number of his fighters
won best and most promising kickboxing awards during Perth fight nights run by Kyoshi Rod Stroud.It was during
this time that Sensei trained with former New Zealand Kickboxing champion Dean Timms.
In 2001 sensei was awarded the instructor of the year award and then moved with his family back to Perth in 2002
and aquired a teaching position at Helena College teaching Phys Ed and History saw the opportunity for a new school
to be opened.
Dean Woodhams:
Rank:
6th degree black belt Zen Do Kai freestyle
6th degree coaches rank in BJC kickboxing
1st degree black belt BJC shoot wrestling
Martial arts background:
Dean Woodhams began training in 1981 and currently holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Zen Do Kai, 6th degree coaches rank in BJC Muay Thai, Shoot Wrestling, and is a first degree black belt instructor in BJC Shoot Wrestling in the hierarchy of Zen Do Kai in Western Australia he is ranked equal third. In late 1982 he achieved his black belt ranking and changed his training venue so that he could assist at a satellite school being run by a 3rd degree black belt named Peter Saddler.
Under Peter’s tuition Dean rose quickly through the ranking system whilst learning how to teach and run
a school by 1985 he was a third degree black belt himself and he had taken over the management of the satellite
school. The mid to late eighties was a big time in the competition circuit for the Zen Do kai. Dean competed
regularly in the forms, touch-contact and full circuit competitions, as well as the undefeated state champion,
obligations to school and working lif
e now prevent Dean from competing titles.
In 1987, the founder of Zen Do Kai, Kyoshi Sama Bob Jones, came to Perth to officiate at Dean’s 4th degree black belt
grading, a grading which involves a display of open hand combat and traditional Martial arts weaponry.
Dean’s proficiency in this grading prompted Kyoshi Bob Jones to elevate Dean to Probationary 5th degree black belt in recognition of this achievement. In the early nineties Dean moved to Kalgoorlie to work and promptly opened a school there. This school is still open today and is being run by one of Dean’s / Dave Bannister's students, a First degree blackbelt named David Walker. Dean returned to Perth and opened a school in McDonald Street. This school ran for 5 yearsbefore a need of bigger premises led him to move to the Woodrow avenue location. The McDonald street premise servedDean well, and was the site of many of Dean’s tournament promotions.
Dean’s vast experience both in the ring and as a competition official, led to his appointment as one of the two current senior referees for state and national titles. These titles bouts are held at ‘night fights’ promoted by Rod Stroud and other promoters across the state.
Teaching philosophy:
Dean has a personal philosophy, which in the original Japanese is “BUN BU ICHI”, this literally means “PEN AND SWORD AS ONE”. Dean believes that as much as fighting skills (the sword) are important, you need to use your mind (The Pen) in your fight to achieve your aims.