I have a number of hobbies and interests, but to some extent, they also overlap with my professional and academic career as they include natural and cultural history, and human and animal behaviour.
Hoplology (the study of human combative behaviour)
In 1978 I first took up Shukokai karate and switched to Goju-Ryu Karate in 1980 until I was called to compulsory military service (1983-1984). Subsequently I have studied several East and South-east Asian martial arts (Okinawan, Chinese and Filipino), mostly under my teacher, André Du Preez until his death in 2020; I have since pursued Japanese swordsmanship. However, having a broader interest in hoplology (the study of human combative behaviour), I attempt to regularly revise what I have learned over the years.
Yuishinkai Ryu Kyu Kobujutsu
In 1984, I started training in Yuishinkai Ryu-Kyu Kobujutsu (唯心会琉球古武術). Ryukyu Kobujutsu, the ancient martial art of the Ryukyu Islands, consists of "Toshu-jutsu" (empty hand techniques) and "Emono-jutsu" (weapon techniques). In modern times they are generally considered as two different arts - the former known as "Karate-Jutsu" and the later "Ryukyu Kobujutsu".
Eight kinds of weapons are used in Ryu-Kyu Kobujutsu - Bo (Kon), Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kama, Tekko, Tinbe and Surujin. Each weapon, with its own characteristics, embodies elements and techniques of Ryukyu martial arts. Most surviving kata (forms) were created up to two hundred years ago but had evolved from older ones. I had the privilege of meeting and training with the head teacher of this martial art, Inoue Motokatsu Hanshi (1918-1993) in 1985. The current president of the organization is Inoue Kisho Hanshi.
In 1984, I started training in Yuishinkai Ryu-Kyu Kobujutsu (唯心会琉球古武術). Ryukyu Kobujutsu, the ancient martial art of the Ryukyu Islands, consists of "Toshu-jutsu" (empty hand techniques) and "Emono-jutsu" (weapon techniques). In modern times they are generally considered as two different arts - the former known as "Karate-Jutsu" and the later "Ryukyu Kobujutsu".
Eight kinds of weapons are used in Ryu-Kyu Kobujutsu - Bo (Kon), Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kama, Tekko, Tinbe and Surujin. Each weapon, with its own characteristics, embodies elements and techniques of Ryukyu martial arts. Most surviving kata (forms) were created up to two hundred years ago but had evolved from older ones. I had the privilege of meeting and training with the head teacher of this martial art, Inoue Motokatsu Hanshi (1918-1993) in 1985. The current president of the organization is Inoue Kisho Hanshi.
Tai Chi Chuan
In 1985 I added the Chinese martial art, Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) to my repertoire to complement the Ryu-Kyu Kobujutsu. Tai Chi Chuan (more correctly 'Tai Ji Chuan'), loosely translated, means “Supreme Ultimate Fist”. It started out primarily as a grappling system but is now considered an “internal” Chinese Martial Art for defense training, health benefits and meditation. Many forms are practiced, both traditional and modern. Most modern styles trace their development to the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu and San. I practice the Yang style which was introduced to me by my teacher André Du Preez, who trained under Eduard Jardine and Duan Yu Chang Sifu from Taiwan. I was fortunate to spend many hours under the generous instruction of Duan Sifu, mostly focused on the forms of the Jian (double edged sword). I still practice this whenever I can as a form of relaxing exercise.
In 1985 I added the Chinese martial art, Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) to my repertoire to complement the Ryu-Kyu Kobujutsu. Tai Chi Chuan (more correctly 'Tai Ji Chuan'), loosely translated, means “Supreme Ultimate Fist”. It started out primarily as a grappling system but is now considered an “internal” Chinese Martial Art for defense training, health benefits and meditation. Many forms are practiced, both traditional and modern. Most modern styles trace their development to the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu and San. I practice the Yang style which was introduced to me by my teacher André Du Preez, who trained under Eduard Jardine and Duan Yu Chang Sifu from Taiwan. I was fortunate to spend many hours under the generous instruction of Duan Sifu, mostly focused on the forms of the Jian (double edged sword). I still practice this whenever I can as a form of relaxing exercise.
Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)
The south-east Asian martial arts are somewhat different to the east-Asian ones in that they are practiced much more informally with a very practical, creative and pragmatic combat ethos. Around 1994, I was introduced to Eskrima (also known as Kali or Arnis). Eskrima is the national martial art of the Philippines. This is an umbrella term for the traditional martial arts of the Philippines broadly known as the “Filipino Martial Arts” or FMA. These emphasize weapon-based fighting with rattan sticks (bastons), knives (dagga), bladed weapons (espada) and various improvised weapons, as well as “empty hand” techniques (pangamot). We were introduced to this fascinating fighting system by Abner Pasa from Cebu City, Philippines.
The south-east Asian martial arts are somewhat different to the east-Asian ones in that they are practiced much more informally with a very practical, creative and pragmatic combat ethos. Around 1994, I was introduced to Eskrima (also known as Kali or Arnis). Eskrima is the national martial art of the Philippines. This is an umbrella term for the traditional martial arts of the Philippines broadly known as the “Filipino Martial Arts” or FMA. These emphasize weapon-based fighting with rattan sticks (bastons), knives (dagga), bladed weapons (espada) and various improvised weapons, as well as “empty hand” techniques (pangamot). We were introduced to this fascinating fighting system by Abner Pasa from Cebu City, Philippines.
After training in ‘Pangamot’ (barehand fighting) system from Ka Temyong and Kid Tayong, and in the Balintawak System of Eskrima, Abner Pasa, along with eleven friends, founded the Excalibur System in 1960. The school was deeply involved in knife and single stick fighting forms and their instructor, Alcuizar, learned Eskrima from Fernando Candawan, a senior instructor of the famous Momoy Canete. From training in multiple FMA systems, Grandmaster Abner Pasa developed the Warriors Eskrima System, a so-called 'multi-style system' which I had the privilege of learning from him and my primary teacher André Du Preez.
Japanese Swordsmanship
After the passing of my teacher, André Du Preez in May 2020, I turned to something I had wanted to do for decades – Japanese Swordsmanship. In 1985, I watched the 1982 BBC documentary, The Samurai Way about the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流) but at that time, the school was still closed to the world outside of Japan; I vowed to pursue it if and when it became more accessible. This is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of the koryu ( 古流 - old school martial traditions). This school was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village (modern Tamomachi, Chiba Prefecture), and lived near the Katori Shrine (Sawara City, Chiba Prefecture) at the time. The school gives 1447 as the year it was founded, but some scholars state that it was about 1480. This was during the 'warring states' period of Japan. Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is the source tradition of many Japanese martial arts. It uses a comprehensive weapons system, but is centered around swordsmanship. The school has handed its tradition down almost unchanged for more than 500 years in an unbroken lineage and is recognized as an intangable cultural asset. I have been fortunate to start training in this school at the beautiful Shobukan Dojo (尚武館道場) in Bryanston, Johannesburg under the guidence of Richard Allen and Richard Dykes since 2020. They have trained regularly in Japan under the head teacher, the legendary swordsman Otake Risuke Sensei, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 95. The current head teacher (Hanshi) is Kyoso Shigetoshi Sensei.
After the passing of my teacher, André Du Preez in May 2020, I turned to something I had wanted to do for decades – Japanese Swordsmanship. In 1985, I watched the 1982 BBC documentary, The Samurai Way about the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流) but at that time, the school was still closed to the world outside of Japan; I vowed to pursue it if and when it became more accessible. This is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of the koryu ( 古流 - old school martial traditions). This school was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village (modern Tamomachi, Chiba Prefecture), and lived near the Katori Shrine (Sawara City, Chiba Prefecture) at the time. The school gives 1447 as the year it was founded, but some scholars state that it was about 1480. This was during the 'warring states' period of Japan. Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is the source tradition of many Japanese martial arts. It uses a comprehensive weapons system, but is centered around swordsmanship. The school has handed its tradition down almost unchanged for more than 500 years in an unbroken lineage and is recognized as an intangable cultural asset. I have been fortunate to start training in this school at the beautiful Shobukan Dojo (尚武館道場) in Bryanston, Johannesburg under the guidence of Richard Allen and Richard Dykes since 2020. They have trained regularly in Japan under the head teacher, the legendary swordsman Otake Risuke Sensei, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 95. The current head teacher (Hanshi) is Kyoso Shigetoshi Sensei.
Scuba Diving
Also a life long ambition, but only fulfilled in 2017 when I did my Open Water scuba training, followed by a number of specialities (deep diver, nitrox, navigation, wreck, night diver), Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver. I thoroughly enjoy this activity. I don’t get to go to the ocean often, but dive regularly at inland fresh water quarries and springs. When I do get to the ocean, it is usually the Western and southern Cape coast, north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal and I have been fortunate to have dived in the Similan Islands, Thailand.
Shooting, Hunting, Fishing and Conservation
Since I was a child, I enjoyed the outdoors and wanted to experience them as intimately as possible. The “country pursuits” are an excellent means to do this. I am a member of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association, with the purpose of promoting conservation of our African fauna and flora through the sustainable use of resources. I enjoy sporting shooting events with this organization, including the use of hunting rifles, shotguns (clay pigeon), handgun, muzzle loader and archery (both traditional and compound). I also pursue flyfishing, to date exclusively in fresh waters – mostly trout (rainbow and brown) and bass, which are not endemic to South African waters but plentifull, and yellow fish. I don’t get to do all these activities too often, but do so enough not to get rusty.
Since I was a child, I enjoyed the outdoors and wanted to experience them as intimately as possible. The “country pursuits” are an excellent means to do this. I am a member of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association, with the purpose of promoting conservation of our African fauna and flora through the sustainable use of resources. I enjoy sporting shooting events with this organization, including the use of hunting rifles, shotguns (clay pigeon), handgun, muzzle loader and archery (both traditional and compound). I also pursue flyfishing, to date exclusively in fresh waters – mostly trout (rainbow and brown) and bass, which are not endemic to South African waters but plentifull, and yellow fish. I don’t get to do all these activities too often, but do so enough not to get rusty.