Andrew Priest - Assistant Instructor

My first introduction to Martial Arts was when as a young boy I, by mistake, wandered into a karate class at my local sports centre. I was hooked. Unfortunately, my family’s beliefs and other commitments prevented me from joining that class but the desire to train in Martial Arts never left me.

In 1995 I left the UK and moved to New Zealand, where in 1998 I joined the Police. At the Police College I was introduced to several styles of Martial Arts practiced by other recruits. This fuelled my ambition to one day be a Black Belt.

My first formal training was at the Shaolin Kempo or KBR School in Dargaville and my association with Ron Mason was started. I trained to Green Belt level in KBR then left New Zealand to head back to the UK for a year. It was during this time I gained an interest in the Philosophy of Martial Arts.

A trip to Malaysia deepened this interest and the idea of living as a Martial Artist rather than simply doing Martial Arts.

I recommenced my training when Ron finally broke away from the constaints of KBR and started his own school with the intention of studying Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. I was honoured to be apart of the expansion of the school into Whangarei where I had been living for about a year.

I gained my first degree Brown Belt in May 2009, which was very satisfying and a real milestone in the Kenpo system. I am now training towards my Black Belt, a dream formed so many years ago in the mind of a young boy.

I cannot recommend Ed Parker’s Kenpo highly enough. It is simply awesome. The same can be said for being able to train with Ron Mason who’s skill and dedication to the art is nothing short of humbling. That dedication has been passed on to William Paki who I have known for many years and who’s Black Belt grading will remain one of my best memories. It is extremely fortunate for myself and the other senior students that we have Ron to learn from and in turn pass the knowledge on (William’s progress to Black Belt is a good example). Ron’s technique has been tested and approved by some of the greatest American Kenpo exponents not just in New Zealand but in the world.

Kenpo for me has become a lifestyle and my 5 children also train at the School. My wife also has an interest and will hopefully start training when she has finished her nursing degree.

I gain great satisfaction in passing the art on to other students as an assistant to Ron. Seeing students grow in confidence and understanding is a wonderful thing. If you are already a student of Kenpo, never give up. For those thinking of joining you will never regret it.

To my friends Ron and William and all the students of the school, thank you and it’s an honour to be on this journey with you.