LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL - 2001

In 2001 Bob Jones wrote a biography of these behind the scenes touring adventures titled ‘LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL’ which still sells today to most new members of his Martial Arts Empire.

Bob Jones Corporation

From the very beginning, even before my beginning in martial arts, my organisation has always been known as the Bob Jones Corporation and/or BJC.

From the early sixties when I first began dance hall promotions and then as I moved into the security manpower business - all the guys that formed an alliance with me, were proud to be known as the BJC.

Then in 1970 (after having begun my training in 1965), I became a professional martial arts instructor.

In what seemed no time at all, I had hundreds of black belts and many of them worked nights with my bouncers (crowd controllers). As this was all connected to me, they all felt apart of this new growth pattern of the
Bob Jones Corporation (BJC).

Then came the festivals and major events, we just kept producing more and more black belts and the BJC continued its growth rate, and the pride grew equally as powerful.

Then came the touring around the world with anyone who was anyone and the rest became history.

In the new millennium, I became aware these black belts were now ten, twenty and some thirty years older than when this all began. From the scope of this, I saw how diversified these thousands of black belts had become throughout our community and indeed throughout the entire world resulting in the coming together (the gathering) of these thousands of black belts as:

Bob Jones International Associates - Resource Management Group

INSTRUCTOR TO STARS COMES TO BLACKTOWN

A KARATE ''instructor whose students will provide security for the Fleetwood Mac Australasian concert tour is to open a school in Blacktown.

Bob Jones karate school will run each Monday and Thursday night at Blacktown High School. Bob Jones has been involved with karate for more than 15 years and his built hist talents into a highly profitable business.

INSTRUCTOR TO STARS COMES TO BLACKTOWN

A KARATE ''instructor whose students will provide security for the Fleetwood Mac Australasian concert tour is to open a school in Blacktown.

Bob Jones karate school will run each Monday and Thursday night at Blacktown High School. Bob Jones has been involved with karate for more than 15 years and his built hist talents into a highly profitable business.

The Blacktown school will be run by Mr.Tom Slaven,an exponent of martial acts for more than 20 years. Mr Jones said his.schools placed strong emphasis on traaining women in seld-defence.

His technique is made up of a variety of Oriental styles which have been developed into a hghly successful format in America. Mr Jones has 120 karate schools throughout the country. Mr Jones said apart from the obvious benefits to women karate was an ideal discipline for Childrento learn. He says that children who have not performed formed well at school sports can usually improve their performance by studying karate.

Mr Jones says it can also have a good influence on young trouble makers. These school bully and fighter types can learn to channel their energies into the martial arts and in some cases can take advantage of their ability by becoming tournament fighters.

30 years of Zen Do Kai...Part 1

Interview in Blitz Magazine - Vol. 15 No.1
by Mark Castignini

Bob Jones is one of the pioneers of martial arts in Australia and has come along way in 30 years.

Mark Castagnini caught up with the founder of the Bob Jones Corporation (BJC) to congratulate him on his 30th anniversary and throw a few curly questions his way.

30 years of Zen Do Kai...Part 1

Interview in Blitz Magazine - Vol. 15 No.1
by Mark Castignini

Bob Jones is one of the pioneers of martial arts in Australia and has come along way in 30 years.

Mark Castagnini caught up with the founder of the Bob Jones Corporation (BJC) to congratulate him on his 30th anniversary and throw a few curly questions his way.

MC: Bob, congratulations on the establishment of one of Australia''s most successful martial arts organisations. What has been your most memorable moment during the past 30 years?

BJ: Anyone who really knows me, knows I am not the kind of person to dwell on the past. I try not to oversleep (which means never); five to six hours sleep is enough for me. The rest of the time is spent helping all my instructors to put the big picture together, which is like creating this big jigsaw puzzle with many of the pieces having to be handmade. My 30 years (really 35 years counting my coloured belts since 1965) martial arts career has afforded me a million wonderful memories (which by the way I am writing a series of books about).

My most recent memory, which gives me most pride, was the Victorian State Gradings for the end of year 2000 and our 30th year annual ball. Wow! What a day and what a night. Our largest ever blackbelt gradings, with so many 5th, 4th, 3rd degrees and so many browns to black and second degrees (The Zen Do Kai Marathon). I wouldn''t mind betting it could have been a world first. I personally don''t know any style to grade that many in one day.
(Check out www.zendokai.com.au)

That night, as always, the evening was sold out. BJC representatives had come from all over New Zealand and every state of Australia for a week of positivity and planning for 2001. That night we had banded together, with only one thing on our minds, and that was to let the good times roll. And we did.

MC: Tell us about the formative years. Memories of training in those early days?

BJ: On March 3, 1965, I entered the East St.Kilda training hall at the rear of the post office. Jack Rozinsky put me through two hours of hell. This was the day 1 met the crossroads of my life. I had been almost totally undisciplined up to this point in time. Jack introduced me to the way (the path) of the martial arts.

Through his Tae Kwon Do training I saw a self discipline that would create such a positivity that I would imagine anything to be possible. He sparked within me the concept that if you can conceive and believe... you will achieve. Jack Rozinsky''s classes were raw, tough, he expected and demanded only the best of every student in every class. Many years after I remember trying to make my blackbelt classes as physically demanding as Jack''s pioneering training sessions.

From the Korean style of Tae Kwon Do, I then continued this martial arts journey with Tino Ceberano and his Japanese Goju Kai style. Tino''s popularity had him expanding into new clubs at an incredible rate. Within one month I was a white belt helping teach beginners and feeding them onto Tino in the advanced white belt classes. Tino taught all of us advanced white belts on Saturdays at the Goju Kai Canterbury headquarters, then every weeknight, we were out there in the suburbs teaching the Goju gospel.

Some time later my teaching skills earned me my first green tags ...then another two green tags ...and then later still, yet another two green tags on my white belt. Then those beginners would look at me in awe, with my six green tips and I''d sense them thinking `Wow, if only I can make it that far, one day''.

My next experience on this martial arts journey came years later as a brown belt, when Sal Ebanez arrived on the scene. He came in the guise of a short, bald, fat man and taught me one of my major lessons about being a man among men. You cannot judge a book merely by its cover. To really learn from a book you must go into its pages one chapter at a time. He taught me that the softest gentlest man, could also be one of the most powerful. Training with Sal Ebanez, I saw that there really was a light at the end of the tunnel. The knowledge of the martial arts really was through the other side?just waiting to be found and explored.

MC: To what do you attribute your success and the growth of the BJC?

BJ: A large part of my success is due to my grounding, the grass roots of my three initial instructors giving me a strong base. Due to each of them I was able to build myself a foundation that today has produced a martial arts empire of more than a thousand clubs. My personal logo tells the story by having the three primary colours of red, yellow and blue within a triangle surrounding a white circle. At first viewing you would be correct if you interpreted the colours, being mixed in perfect proportions as producing the white circle of karma. Any of the three primaries mixed even slightly out of balance ventures off into many varied colours, symbolically giving us strength in only certain areas. Endeavouring to balance the three primaries along our journey is the way to experience the vision of the white tunnel to seek out the truth while exploring the martial arts way.

"Due to each of them I was able to build myself a foundation that today
has produced a martial arts empire of more than 1000 clubs"

Jack Rozinsky (Red Physical) taught me to channel aggression that for every day of hard work comes a day of good pay was not necessarily about money.

Tino Ceberano (Yellow Psychological) taught me above all to have respect for rank within the martial arts. I might not like the person wearing the belt, but it is the `belt they wear'' that guides us along the way. Through Tino I also saw a way to mass produce the clubs something as good as our martial arts philosophy should be for everyone, not just a few.

Sal Ebanez (Blue Spiritual) gave me three principles to help me balance my colours: Never set myself up to be a judge of others; The way of a group leader is to lead by group example ...
And lastly, if you want respect, you have to first give respect.

I was given this information during the five years prior to 1970, this gave me the people skills and my work in security gave me the people. Martial arts, Bob Jones, the security industry and people just started coming together ...on mass. Nationwide we took over security of pubs and clubs. We did everything, major outdoor rock festivals and we toured the world with every major rock act as the bodyguards. Nationwide I just kept opening more and more Bob Jones clubs until now there are well over one thousand in Australia and New Zealand.

MC: Bob, can you explain the evolution the BJC has undertaken: The changes fighting systems and techniques and how they have progressed?

BJ: The last question explained the grow of the BJC the biggest advantage of building such a large empire where we have mass communication with all kinds of people from all walks of life ...feedback! Twenty years of myself, Richard Norton, Noel Rush, Tony Quinn and dozens of other blackbelts travelling the world as bodyguards. More than 30 years myself, Stan `the Man'' Longinidis hundreds of kickboxers travelling the world as competitors. All of this kept the BJC abreast of trends anywhere in the world as they happen sometimes even before. I always knew that to become the biggest and remain out in front, BJC would need room to change and evolve. With the influence of every BJC black belt as far the 1970s always working in security there has, since day dot, been the philosophy that if it works use it, if it doesn''t work, put it aside until your understanding of the arts has more depth.

Thus simple and practical techniques we always prescind.

From a wild adolescence of gang days our ethnic population explosion due to our Prime Minister of that era offering a one way ten pound (the equivalent then of 20 dollars) passage from Europe to Australia, to running of a Sly Grog establishment prior to extension of 6pm (Liquor laws every closed at 6pm), to my very violent bouncing escapades of the ''60s , this 20 years of street smarts gave the BJC advantage over opposition dojos.

Plus, from the beginning we boxed, played Judo, wrestled and always made plenty of contact as a part of character development. Severe and multiple injuries had us finally don boxing gloves and kick with shin pads and boot pads. A trip to Thailand (12 trips in 10 years) introduced us to new rules that allowed us to get rid of all the padding and at the same time more weapons. The Thai style stand up grappling proved so effective, it led us to ground fighting of course we went to the best to the best of Brazilian grappling.

From Australia''s violent past and our disgusting abuse of indigenous people, to the British enslavement of Welsh, Scottish and mostly Irish prisoners, to the days when `bare knuckle boxing'' was this country''s most popular sport. Major world wars with Japan, Korea and Vietnam would expose their ancient Asian fighting arts to the western world. Currently we are borrowing from the Philippines their Escrima Kali techniques, as sadly sticks and knives are becoming more prevalent within our society''s violence. Along with this little romp through history ...the most exciting thing I discovered recently (since 1990) was my own Celtic heritage, now I read everything I can find on Celtic literature and as I acquire this literature of the ancients and the millenniums change, I find myself more at peace with myself as a martial artist.

MC: Do you believe that martial arts training is as tough as it was 20 years ago? What do you perceive to be the main differences in training styles today as compared to yesteryear?

BJ: This is often the first question I get all the time and it still pisses me off. Put simply, you get out of martial arts what you put in. This bullshit of olden times being the tough old days is just that ...bull! Just prior to this coming Christmas, the BJC had gradings in all regions of Australia and all over New Zealand. I saw literally hundreds of brownbelts traded for ShodanHo (The First Step) and as many again, maturing blackbelts trading their current degree for one higher. Now, I do not judge a father in his late 40s who has been recommended after two heart by passes by his doctor to take up Zen Do Kai with his two teenage sons.

I don''t sit in judgement of the sole parent mother in her late 30s carrying those extra unwanted kilos as a result of childbirth she''s desperate to learn self defence because even the cops can''t do anything about her drunken ex who comes home just long enough to beat on her and her kids.

I don''t even pass judgement on the 18 year old who fell off his motorbike and was told by his physio that receiving his brownbelt would improve the coordination of his new limbs above all else. So you don''t think martial arts training would be tough on these guys. Okay, how about you get your weight up to 110kgs and train to take on Peter Aerts at the next K1 or Sam Greco in the WCW. Perhaps you''d prefer the next UFC against Maurice Smith or one of the Machados or Gracies. Then again you could weigh in around 80kgs against Paul Briggs whose new boxing career has him knocking out Australia''s best boxers. Yes, I remember the good old days when we were all first, second and third degrees.

Answering question one I said anyone who really knows me, knows I am not the kind of person who dwells on the past. I have far too much work (plus my own personal training) to prepare for my next grading in 2003. That will be eight years since I took seventh degree. The BJC expects that when the number of years coincide with the number of the next degree you do it! Zen Do Kai''s 8th Degree states that we must break our world down and replace it back in in its correct constituents. Who ever it was that said it was tough 20 years ago, I''d like to punch you!

The major difference between training today and 20 years gone is knowledge. You are cheating your students and worse, yourself, if you do not travel and do the seminars. There is so much knowledge out there these days. You have to cross style train, no one style has all the answers. One other thing about the students of today ...they expect you to be their friend as well as instructor. In today''s self defence market you have to be more approachable, more accessible.

MC: Who has had the most influence over Bob Jones throughout the years and who do you admire most outside the BJC.

BJ: During the late 50''s and early 60''s, I was constantly attracted to magazine articles, daily newspapers and television exposure about these amazing blackbelts in Sydney and their escapades. I remember first thinking "I wonder what" and secondly "how" these Sydney guys became blackbelts in this new karate craze. That was just a decade after the Japanese World War and Australia had just returned from the Korean war. It would be another 20 years before Vietnam, thus my questions: "what?" and "how?".

The very first person I ever knew as any sort of `blackbelt'' was Joe Miessner. Joe was tall (two metres six foot plus), good looking, reputed to be one of the strongest (via weightlifting) teenagers ever to come out of Bendigo, Victoria.

Now in his late 20s in Sydney, he was a definite celebrity who got all the girls whether they aspired to be movie stars or hookers. A self promoted `first time ever'' world champion (by winning a Japanese tournament) was taken to task and debated by Mike Willisee on a national Current Affair show. The second blackbelt of notoriety at this time was Fred Vella. He first hit the national media by demolishing a whole house in Karate Gi no padding or protection of any kind he chopped and kicked the whole house down with bare hands and feet. Fred was equally as good looking as Joe and both men were strikingly handsome. Both of them were naturals to be action plus Karate movie stars, what a pity no one thought of it at the time.

After I got my black belt and ventured into Sydney in my role as a bodyguard to the rich and famous rock stars Joe and Fred and I became buddies (this makes for good reading in my series of books, this one entitled `The Greatest Story Never Told''). One of them went to prison for attempting to borrow a bunch of MI6''s from the NSW''s army base ...and the other always argues with me that the BJC in .martial arts does it all wrong.

1963

I can''t believe it! Thursday, August 25 at 1pm. "Live": Martial Arts Expert in Karate, Kendo and Aikido at the Melbourne Sports Depot. Famous American author, (Don Draeger) lives in Japan, speaks fluent Japanese, has beautiful Japanese wife...One appearance only...Come and see him. He will be signing copies of his new book that can be purchased at this demonstration.
At 46years of age he looked more like 26. Bare topped, wearing only a black hakama, he moves with the grace and fluidity of a python while seemingly he contained the power of a panther, As he sliced the air with double swords, the long Katana and the short Wakizashi. I was spellbound, mesmerised, I had never seen anything like this. All I knew was somehow, someway, someday this was going to be me. Out of the hundreds of people at this demonstration at the Melbourne Sports Depot, I''m not sure if he sensed the effect he had on me, or if instinctively knew August 25 was my birthday. Either way he scribbled something inside the cover of his latest book and said

"Here, this is from me to you, consider it a gift."

On the way home I realised that I had not said hello, thank you or anything at all. When I got home I looked at what he had written inside the book.

"When you see a worthy person, endeavour to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, take a closer look at your inner self."

It was signed "From your Guide" along with his signature. It would be 18 months of serious searching before I would find Mr Jack Rozinsky and begin my journey that so many others would follow.

1972

Victorian Head Instructor, Steve Nedelkos and Bob Jones

In six months extensive training and competing in Canada and North America, I met, trained and/or fought the best: Peter Urban, Aaron Banks, Mike Anderson, Steve Armstrong (10th Degree), Jimmy Jones (BKF Tournament Promoter), Tadashi Yamashita, Fumio Demura, Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris, Howard Jackson, Pat Johnson, Skipper Mullins, Ken Knudson, Joel Ward (he beat me in Chicago), John Nativitad, "Super"'' Dan Anderson (he beat me once, I beat him twice) and the list goes on. Hundreds of fabulous martial artists who were an influence on me in the ''70s. One name in this era does stand out as a major influence on me (I was 2nd degree at this time), "Mr Unbeatable" Mike Stone (Mike was the reason Prescilla and Elvis went separate ways). Mike was my major instructor during the American Tour of Duty in 1972.

While training with Mike I often worked out with one of his green belts whose name was Howard Hanson. In a couple of years Howard would become the founder of the WKA, which would soon be the first worldwide kickboxing organisation sanctioning fights in Japan and Europe. Hanson gave me the reigns for the WKA South Pacific Region in 1976.

Kickboxing during the ''70s and ''80s, I was strongly influenced by Benny `The Jet'' Urquidez, Don `The Dragon'' Wilson and Pete `Sugarfoot'' Cunningham when he fought on a card in 1983 in Edmonton, Canada. On this card I refereed a heavyweight kickboxing title defence with Jim `The Stalker'' Walker.

I also refereed an exhibition boxing bout between Muhammad Ali and local ice hockey giant, Dave Samenko in a three round friendly war. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself - me in the ring with Ali! On that night I knew Pete would go on to be a true champion. Later in 1983, Benny Urquidez and I met up at a promotion at a military base in Hawaii. Benny was there as a special guest and I was there as an international referee for a world cruiserweight title fight. This title was won by a really ripped cruiserweight having his first shot at a world title. He won by knockout in the seventh round. It was the beginning of his fame. His name was Maurice Smith.

Western Thai style fighters to influence me during the 1970s - 80s were Tekkin Donmez, Ramon Dekker and of course, Rob Kaman. Tekkin was a Chukuriki student of Thom Harink, who was one of the first modern, western fighters to venture into Thailand and into their major stadium, Lumpini. The first time he was knocked out in the first round. Still licking his wounds, in his second trip he was stopped half way. On his third trip to the country of warriors, Tekkin Donmez made it to the final bell only to lose on points. Some say three strikes and you''re out. Not Tekkin. He started winning in Thailand and is now fighting in Europe. He was far too strong for anyone. What Benny Urquidez had done to the Japanese in the ''70s and ''80s is what Ramon Dekker did to the Thais in the both knocked everyone out! Kaman influenced me simply because he was the ultimate fighting machine. Rob Kaman in the ring is what a white pointer shark is in the ocean ...don''t go there!

So my training with Howard Hanson is the reason I brought kickboxing to Australia. Benny `The Jet'' Urquidez is the reason I introduced leg kicks. Those three Dutch champions influenced me to bring Thai fighting here.

Just being on that global circuit, away from home for long extensions of time, just so Billy Black Belt and Wally White Belt can share their latest technology in stand up, takedowns, groundgrappling, pressure points, human anatomy, diet and nutrition etc, that the different masters have to share ...I have admired every one of you, you are all gentlemen. Many hundreds have come and gone, but one man I met in 1972 and who is still doing his thing spreading the word of the martial arts to millions via his movies for almost 30 years Chuck Norris.

Don''t miss part two of our Bob Jones special when Bob pulls out the big guns and answers his critics in the only way he knows how, with all guns blazing. Commercialism, the security industry, training methods, quality control, splinter groups and government legislation. It''s all there in the nest issue of Blitz.

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30 years of Zen Do Kai...Part 2

Interview in Blitz Magazine - Vol. 15 No.2
By Mark Castignini

Bob Jones has done an enormous amount of work for the martial arts, spreading his teachings from Australia all across the world.

In part two of our interview with the BJC founder, Blitz''s Mark Castagnini finds out just how far Bob Jones'' influence extends.

', '

30 years of Zen Do Kai...Part 2

Interview in Blitz Magazine - Vol. 15 No.2
By Mark Castignini

Bob Jones has done an enormous amount of work for the martial arts, spreading his teachings from Australia all across the world.

In part two of our interview with the BJC founder, Blitz''s Mark Castagnini finds out just how far Bob Jones'' influence extends.

MC: There are many instructors who have questioned and criticised you in the past who now appear to be taking on some of the commercial ideals you employ. What do you say to those people?

MC: The security industry was once a very large facet of the BJC. Do you feel this prominence has diminished and if so, why?

BJ: The answer to this question is both yes and no. Many years ago I made a conscious decision due to some negative publicity to go full steam ahead with the expansion of the martial arts and move away from the security industry. This is the `Yes'' of the paradox.

The `No'' is the fact that black belts all over Australia kept working in security. In almost any city in Australia security personnel are wearing their BJC crosses on the inside of TShirts and jackets to avoid confrontation. Many black belts started their own companies and knowing they were all imitators, some of them were happy to pay a `concept commission''. Well, they were happy before our government imitated Europe''s GST.

During the last ten years security has been one of the major growth industries worldwide, this will double again during the next five years. Negotiations are currently under way for a mother company (Axiom Security) to marry all of these individuals back together under one banner by 2003 in a win/win situation for everybody. But I guess you already saw that coming...knowing my 8th degree is all about putting my world back into its correct constituents.

MC: Can you tell us how your training has evolved?

BJ: My training, after 35 years in the martial arts, has never been more exciting. All those seminars we talked about in the last issue, they have introduced so many ''new'' techniques. The scope now for crossstyle training is very exciting. Seems like every advanced rank in the BJC is getting really good ''at this'' and others are getting good ''at that'' and when they get together now on black belt workshop seminars, you can''t shut them up ...and that''s healthy for the BJC in general.

Probably my greatest challenge in training now is trying to work out where all these ''other style'' innovations fit into our Zen Do Kai forms (Katas) and what new technique fits in with what set of form movements…Once this ''Mnemonic Principle'' is accomplished the technique is set, locked in.

This way I can recall it at will and I won''t forget what seminar I saw it. Other than that I''m working up a new seminar to go out on the road to promote `Let the Good Times Roll''. It will be all about responsible self defence, plus it will feature how to use what, when, where of your techniques and avoid going to prison simply because you were protecting yourself!

This seminar is being compiled by Bryson Keenan (Gold Coast, ZDK), Trevor and Julie Rimmington (Sunshine Coast, ZDK), Peter Shannon (Vic, BJC Escrima Kali) Steve Nedelkos (Vic, ZDK Chief Instructor). Mick `Magic'' Marshal - WKA Ex World Champion) and Kevin Smith (Fighting Fit, stolen from Perth, WA).

I will take this seminar right around Australia in May/June. The seminar is open to all imitators of all styles and all are welcome. If you are at the seminar you will receive a copy of my book, signed by me. I''m looking forward to training with everyone."

MC: How do you maintain quality control over so many clubs and branches?

BJ: This is generally quite simple, as long as everyone abides by two very simple rules: communication and participation. To participate you have to do seminars. If not the cross?style training then the BJC `Train the Trainers'' seminars. Taking this information back to your students is the communication.

Once or twice a year (depending on numbers of students) we hold stage gradings, everyone comes together for these gradings.

I always try to make these days personally to keep my finger on the pulse, if I can''t there are always enough higher grades to check on lower grades. Most grading days and seminars are videotaped for the local area higher ranks to judge for themselves the standard of their area. When I am not present these videos are sent to head office. Between gradings, seminars, videos and our two simple rules of communication and participation, we have good quality control overall.

MC: The BJC has always been proud of the fact that you have had very few splinter groups given this what do you attribute the current Queensland situation? (Malcolm Anderson has recently broken away from the Corporation.)

BJ: Again your question has two parts. Of course 30 years without splinter groups has been something without monetary value, how can you put a price on loyalty. Zen Do Kai sticking together has been its strength, this has always given me great pride.

On a recent training camp (about a year ago), Patrick McCarthy had just finished a three hour weapons seminar for more than a hundred Zen Do Kai black belts. He and I were sitting together in the shade waiting for Richard Norton''s turn to take control. "You know Bob, travelling the world doing my seminars, I train so many different styles, nationalities, customs and different egos ...but in New Zealand and Australia when I teach Zen Do Kai students they are so accepting, so respectful. The unity of your black belts is so strong, there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. Zen Do Kai is so strong, you could never be harmed from without, you could only be harmed from within."

Around about ten years ago (perhaps a little longer), on a training camp in Perth sitting in the shade, Rod Stroud said to me: "You now chief, this thing about Malcolm Anderson being number one, Billy Manne being number two and Rod Stroud being number three ...well could you do me a favour and not ever make me number one, I''m the kinda guy who always needs to be climbing up the mountain. I''d be better off if I was about number 20, that way I would be less conspicuous and I''d be better at doing my job protecting the style. You''re the founder, you''re the only real number one, you''re the one on top of the mountain. Us black belts shouldn''t have any bloody numbers."

One year later I''m not sure if Patrick was giving me a compliment or a warning. Ten years later and Rod will be right, there will be no bloody numbers.

The second part of the question asks me to "attribute the current Queensland situation", if I did that I''d be setting myself up as the judge and a wise spiritual advisor once told me never to do that. The fact of the matter is, for whatever reasons, Malcolm Anderson has decided to go his own way to break away and do his own thing separate from me. Like any family breakdown it is often the child who suffers, in this situation it is the blackbelts and their students whose loyalties become divided. Worse still, they may not even be informed.

That wise man also once said, "Good leaders lead by good example", that''s what I''ve always done and plan to continue doing in the future. Remember whatever decisions we make in life, if it doesn''t kill you it makes you stronger. All Queensland blackbelts and all Queensland students do have the choice to stay with Zen Do Kai with me as their leader if they wish to make that choice.

The third thing that wise man taught me "If you want respect you have to first give respect." Malcolm Anderson, I respect your decision and I wish you well. Perhaps you could return that same respect to me. Go your own way with your own name. When I chose to take my own direction, I respected my master, Tino Ceberano and his system of Goju Kai. Today, 30 years down the path, Tino and I are the best of friends, we have each other''s respect. Perhaps you and I can go our separate ways and still remain friends?

MC: Finally Bob, new Government legislation has banned all martial arts weapons. What are your thoughts on the use of martial arts weaponry and this current ban?

BJ: Those bloody idiots, can''t they get anything right! I didn''t make that statement simply to grab your attention (but I''m glad it worked), it''s just that the topic of martial arts, government and legislation frustrates me.

Years ago I got a phone call from Inspector Stephen Frost.

"Hello, is that Bob Jones. My name is Inspector Frost. Of course you don''t know me but I''ve heard a lot about you. I''ve been given the job to head up a committee to go about some form of legislation for bouncers. Now I know absolutely nothing about bouncers and you invented the word, therefore I would really appreciate it of you could come to some meetings and and help me put this legislation together. I''m also going to ask Dave Hedgcock and a few other people in the industry and see if we can bowl this legislation thing over asap. "

"What seems to be the problem with bouncers?" I asked at the first meeting I ever attended.

"Well Bob, you know they always seem to be punching people and of course this can''t be tolerated. At first we thought ban the bloody bouncers and then we thought, no, that would be bloody stupid."

Four years of meetings like that and presto! Legislation for bouncers says ''If a bouncer punches anyone yesterday, today or tomorrow, he/she will be out of a job for ten years no exceptions to the rule!

Now in Australia I also invented the words `Martial Arts Freestyle'', `Kickboxing'' and `Thai Boxing''. But no one from any government body has ever, not in 35 years, rang me and asked me what I thought about any of these things.

Although there was one time they invited me to a meeting and I started to ask, "What seems to be the problem with..."

Just then a member of the martial arts board of Victoria screamed at me in front of about 30 black belts from as many different styles..."Shut up you don''t have a voice here."

At least Inspector Frost let me ask questions. I remember back around 1985, Canberra was going to ban all martial arts weapons.

Our BJC barrister, Mr Peter Rowe (six degree blackbelt) and myself flew to Canberra for a Monday 10.30am meeting.

Prior to the meeting I went to the Canberra base hospital and did some research on causes of injuries. Then at the meeting the first question I asked was, "What seems to be the problem with martial arts weapons?"

The woman and the other three male Government representatives all looked down at their files and flummoxed through their notes, then had a look at one another''s notes. I felt someone should break the silence so I offered:

"I called into your hospital early this morning and told reception about the meeting and could they supply me with any stats on types of injuries. The duty nurse told me they had 28 injuries in casualty on Saturday from all of the rugby matches played in the ACT. She said there was nothing unusual about this number, except two young teenagers had their necks broken. Two females had been admitted due to assault and rape and there was a bouncer in a serious condition due to being beaten with a baseball bat. I asked if during the weekend or during recent times they had any stats on martial arts injuries regarding the use of weapons. She said she did not know of any, if there were any it was not enough to show up as any sort of statistic. By the way I also picked up a copy of this morning''s Canberra paper here''s the story about the young kids with their necks broken."

The meeting pretty much felt flat after this, particularly when I suggested we could discuss the possibility of banning baseball bats. They must have added to their notes for this matter to be reviewed again in the year 2000, because here we are again, talking about banning martial arts weapons fifteen years later.

For 30 years, since 1970, I have taught every one of my blackbelts the art of weaponry and they perform with weapons for 4th degree blackbelt (average time for this rank in training is 12-15 years). But I suppose if they ban our martial arts weapons, and even of they did ban baseball bats, I guess my 4th dans will use golf clubs at gradings.

MC: Thank you Bob for your time.

In the next issue Bob Jones talks about the emergence and evolution of kickboxing and Muay Thai in Australia., the K-1 concept and the future of martial arts. Don''t miss the third and final instalment as we celebrate Bob''s 30 years in the martial arts industry. His book "Let the Good Times Roll" will be available shortly.

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30 years of Zen Do Kai...Part 3

Interview in Blitz Magazine - Vol. 15 No.3
by Mark Castignini

In this third and final part of our interview with BJC founder and pioneer, Bob Jones, Bob fills us in on the future of the BJC and his kickboxing years.

It has been 30 years full of excitement and great developments in martial arts and Bob Jones has been at the forefront.

Mark Castagnini gets the story, but first recaps on Bob''s thoughts about government legislation and weapons bans.

', '

30 years of Zen Do Kai...Part 3

Interview in Blitz Magazine - Vol. 15 No.3
by Mark Castignini

In this third and final part of our interview with BJC founder and pioneer, Bob Jones, Bob fills us in on the future of the BJC and his kickboxing years.

It has been 30 years full of excitement and great developments in martial arts and Bob Jones has been at the forefront.

Mark Castagnini gets the story, but first recaps on Bob''s thoughts about government legislation and weapons bans.

BJ: I know the question was asked of me in the last issue, but I just wanted to regroup on this subject of our self defence/martial arts industry and its connection to weapons. It would seem to me that it is a matter of common sense. Every household is littered with a variety of objects that are capable of being used as a dangerous weapon, far too numerous to ever consider government legislation and the outlawing of every second utensil used in our day to day existence around the home.

Simplicity and common sense suggests to me that a Shinnae and Bokken or a Bo etc., standing next to a set of golf clubs in the study or in the son''s bedroom wardrobe next to a fibre glass baseball bat or in the garage next to a pick shovel would be no more dangerous than one or the other. It is not cars or even guns that do harm ...it is the human in control or lack of control.

If I play baseball or golf or I do gardening around my property, I am allowed to possess the above, I do not have the right to ignore the rules of society governing any of the above. Whether I am going to or coming home from baseball practice or a weapons class at my dojo, and I am not acting irresponsibly against our laws of the land Kai and our associated what are we even discussing here. If I have any of the above, away from my home , not within reasonable times of going to or coming from practice, and there is an infringement of any governing law, then of course I should suffer any legal ramifications of my actions.

MC: Bob, how has your own teaching style changed and what progressions do you feel you''ve made personally?

BJ: Several years ago, Steve Nedelkos, my Victorian Chief Instructor started organising various inter style training via seminars being held by people touring Australia. One of the early ones we attended was by Wally Jay with his small circle defence system. I was so impressed we decided to become more involved with the various touring martial artists.

We pursued Rick Clarke and several of his pressure point seminars and found him extremely interesting. Then Vince Morris came out from England and was an immediate hit with his no nonsense street applications. Rick Moneymaker was most interesting with his theories of energy transference…between the three of these gentlemen''s world of knowledge, Zen Do Kai and associated BJC systems found many new interpretations of our Traditional forms (kata''s).

Along with these seminars, during the past decade we had a dozen trips to Thailand (see part 1 of the Bob Jones interview of this account of the influence of Thai fighters Tekkin Donmez, Rob Karmen and Ramon Dekker and their experience in Thailand). The superior techniques of Thai Boxing really improved a lot of our basic techniques, especially our stand up grappling.

Then Rod Stroud in WA raised the question of what happens in Zen Do Kai if our black belts fell to the ground with someone bigger landing on top of them.

It was decided to ask a favour of an old friend (John Will) who had recently earned his black belt in the Machado system ...and we began attending John''s seminars. Some of my black belts also began grappling classes with Peter de Been. Then an original student of Dave Berry''s and Billy Manne (down on Victoria''s peninsula), John Donoghue came home to Australia. These three have all been instrumental in improving BJC''s student groundwork ...especially John Will, who has been doing seminars for me all over Australia and New Zealand.

The next thing we felt our teaching style needed was a better understanding of weaponry. One of my managers, Peter Shannon suggested Escrima Kali from the Phillipines had a structure that would be suitable for improving our current fourth degree grading syllabus. We have since aligned ourselves with Doce Perez; this system has been invaluable and greatly improved Zen Do Kai''s fourth Dan standard.

For even more depth, and many new insights into our forms, plus an endless realm of historical facts and the intricate lineage of Asian Masters of the arts, we began working with Patrick McCarthy.

He and I also have a strong Irish (Celtic) connection, and it is in this area of ancient martial arts that we both share a passion. My own teaching style is constantly evolving along with Zen Do Kai and all of these masters of these various arts have been instrumental in these ''changes''.

MC: You brought kickboxing and Muay Thai to Australia, how and why did this come about.

BJ: During all of my early years of traditional training (1965-''70) I had felt that when the day came that I might earn the rank of black belt and start teaching that I might add some of my ideas and see if I could help my students learn a system that would transfer to street practically that anyone could learn. During the early years (1970-''75) of formulating Zen Do Kai, we experimented with many variations of contact training ...

After a few years of trial and error, we found the basics of boxing was the answer a boxing ring, using boxing gloves and the Marquis of Queensbury Rules slightly modified to incorporate kicking above the waist. This was the basis of full contact Karate and we staged our first event on September 9, 1976.

At the suggestion of Benny the Jet Urquidez in early 1983 we introduced kickboxing into Australia with the inclusion of leg kicks. Other than above and now below waist kicks, everything was based on conventional boxing concepts. Much to the displeasure of everyone connected to the world of boxing!

In 1986 during a world tour (fully paid for by Allan Bond for the Americas Cup celebrations in Perth) of myself and Rod Stroud ...we did some training with Tom Harinck in Holland, and he introduced us to Thai boxing. Two years later in 1988, I trekked off for the first of 12 trips during the following 10 years to Thailand. This was the beginning of Thai boxing as an Australian sport.

MC: Speaking of kickboxing, K-1 is now very popular and you actually judged the first K-1 in 1995. How did this come about and what do you think about the K-1 concept?

BJ: Stan Longinides was booked for the main event draw card supporting the first K-1 promotion of Mr Ishii''s in 1995. Stan''s manager at the time was Nick Kenos and he told Ishii they would not fight without at least one Australian judge. They said there would be no problems if I went over with them, and as Nick said at the time, I would also get to see that inaugural event.

As for what I think about the K-1 concept, the evidence is the proof in itself, the K-1 has just got bigger every year for the past six years. Don King paved the way many years ago by being the first promoter in the world to pay an athlete one million dollars ...He paid Ali ahead of any other sportsperson at the time one million dollars. King charged television sponsors .and a casino double that amount to be involved, paid all, kept as much for himself and then sold 25,000 tickets.

Listening to Mr Ishii talk via his interpreter at a prior meeting to that first K-1, he told us a story that I related to the above Don King story. Except Mr Ishii started at $100,000 and promised a million sometime in the future.

MC: What new martial arts innovations are there to come from the BJC in the short/long term?

BJ: Well, we''ve just covered kickboxing, Thai boxing and the K-1. Since 1976 kickboxing is well established on the Australian scene, since my world trip with Rod Stroud in 1986 Thai boxing is still gaining popularity on a national basis with very strong roots in Queensland, WA and New Zealand. Having been responsible for introducing both sports into Australia gives me great sense of pride. Since that first K-1 in Japan in 1995, I have watched Mr Ishii take this idea and develop it around the world. With careful planning Tarik Solak will take it to the next level. As for the BJC (Bob Jones Clubs), the gound fighting is finally spreading around my system.

With the recent stabbing murder (Lalor, Victoria) of Nick Serrevski, one of my 18 year old black belts (Shodan), we have picked up the pace of the Escrima Kali training for our students nationwide purely for self defence strategies against knife attacks.

Personally, I am back into training with a passion. I am training with a 30 year plus Aikido master, Mr David Brown. He is sharing his wealth and knowledge with myself and higher ranked instructors several mornings a week at my house, which is really a giant training centre (dojo). His Aikido is extremely effective and practical, but the big bonus is its flowing principles of internal strength really suits some of us ...our mature age disciples.

I''m excited as I see it as a direction for my next 30 years of training in the martial arts I hope to have some of the basics down for my upcoming extensive tour of Australia to promote my biography ''Let the Good Times Roll.''

MC: Bob, finally, 30 years have passed, what is the future?

BJ: The future for all Bob Jones Clubs is the web. I can''t turn on a computer (not my job), but when I look at the amount of work Steve Nedelkos and Tony Shearer (and associates) have done in establishing: www.bobjonesmartialarts.com.au and the plans they have for the future our website will be a Disneyland for all martial artists. Personally, I am writing a series of books. Part one of this series is an autobiographical trilogy of my life''s adventures and experiences. These are colour coded into the three primary colours: Red, yellow, blue (Physical, Psychological and of course spiritual).

The story of the yellow dragon will be the first book released on May 1 (Celtic Mayday).. As you may have already noticed it is titled ''Let the Good Times Roll''. It does not matter what style of training you are involved in, this is a book I believe, if you study the martial arts, you will enjoy.

Anyway, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Silvio Morelli, Mark ''The Hammer'' Castagnini and Blitz Magazine for giving me this ''space'' in their magazine allowing me to share some of my martial arts journey with you guys. Remember, whatever your art, train hard, stay strong.

MC: Bob, thanks for the last 30 years.

', 1, 5, 0, 34, '2009-08-30 21:05:56', 62, '', '2009-09-04 22:21:29', 62, 0, '0000-00-00 00:00:00', '2009-08-30 21:05:56', '0000-00-00 00:00:00', '', '', 'show_title=\nlink_titles=\nshow_intro=\nshow_section=\nlink_section=\nshow_category=\nlink_category=\nshow_vote=\nshow_author=\nshow_create_date=\nshow_modify_date=\nshow_pdf_icon=\nshow_print_icon=\nshow_email_icon=\nlanguage=\nkeyref=\nreadmore=', 3, 0, 3, '', '', 0, 507, 'robots=\nauthor='), (61, 'Bob Jones - Untold Stories', 'bob-jones-untold-stories', '', '

BOB JONES - The Untold Stories

Interview in Blitz Magazine
Vol. 15 No.1

This interview follows on from the previous article featured in the last issue of Blitz magazine.

It focused on Bob Jones'' autobiography ''Let the Good Times Roll'' the first part of the triology reflects on Bob''s 20 years in his securty industry and the big name martial arts that he and his corporation was responsible for, both in Australia and overseas. It chronicles his rise as a misguided and troubled youth to the lofty heights of security specialist to the stars.

The following is a candid interview with Bob that reminisces on a different part of his life. One that most of us were probably unaware of.

', '

BOB JONES - The Untold Stories

Interview in Blitz Magazine
Vol. 15 No.1

This interview follows on from the previous article featured in the last issue of Blitz magazine.

It focused on Bob Jones'' autobiography ''Let the Good Times Roll'' the first part of the triology reflects on Bob''s 20 years in his securty industry and the big name martial arts that he and his corporation was responsible for, both in Australia and overseas.

It chronicles his rise as a misguided and troubled youth to the lofty heights of security specialist to the stars.

The following is a candid interview with Bob that reminisces on a different part of his life. One that most of us were probably unaware of.

Blitz: Bob, you have met many talented people over your lifetime throughout the security industry is the lifestyle of a celebrity or rock star, from your point of view, as glamorous as we all perceive it to be?

BJ: Working in security as long as I have you meet a lot of interesting people and characters. It''s been quite an eye opener actually. The lifestyle can be great... money, variety, fame and people bending over backwards for them. But, it can take its toll. I''ve seen so many of these guys succumb to the quick fix of drugs or alcohol because the pressure can sometimes be too much to bare. You have to keep a level head if you''re going to head into the entertainment industry. It can be very destructive.

Blitz: Was it hard to distance yourself from the drugs, alcohol and sex that many of these bands got involved with? Did you find that you got caught up in their world? Was it hard to say `no''?

BJ: When you''re so close to these bands like I was, you almost become part of the family, pact of the band. But being a professional, you have to distance yourself sometimes. Security can be a 24 hour job and you have a reputation at stake, so you don''t want to muck that up. It takes time to build that confidence and respect amongst the entertainment community.

Blitz: How did it feel to be the man in `charge'' of looking after the superstars? Did you feel like a `God'', or was it just a job?

BJ: Oh, without a doubt, you get this power surge and you think you''re the greatest (laughs). It was, and still is a huge privilege and responsibility to look after some of the biggest names in rock''n''roll an honour. Initially, you''re on a high, but it settles down, and it''s business as per usual. But we made it fun to work, we kind of let the good times roll.

Blitz: Do you think you could have been as successful as you were without the aid of your students helping you out?

BJ: Well, that''s right. I had my own brown and black belts working for the BJC and they were fantastic. I couldn''t have had a better bunch of guys helping me out. I could rely on them when it came to the crunch and you need people like that.

I could not have done such a good job at massive festivals like Sunbury, Mulwala and Walacia, if it had not been for the mass numbers of our Zen Do Kai students who had been trained to work in security. And of course the elite of the elite, like Richard Norton, Dave Berry, Nicky Pappas, Paul Flemming and Turn Joe. These were the elite of my Blackbelts that went on tour as bodyguards with the Rolling Stones and every major act from then on.

Blitz: Any memorable moments when it did come to the `crunch''? How graphic is the violence in your book?

BJ: There was a moment at a concert in Auckland where I confronted, alone, a group of bikies known as Highway 61. They were causing a disturbance and I knew that if I didn''t sort it out, there was going to be chaos.

Let''s just say that my methods of persuasion were quite effective on that day. I would have to admit there is a fair amount of violence in the book. In fact I would advise that no one under 15 years of age reads it because of how graphic the descriptions and language is in some parts. All the violence, sex and drugs and rock and roll. Among others, there is a description of me having a fight with an islander in Maui, one of the Hawaiian Islands. Richard Norton and myself were backstage at a concert (in Maui) and I threw one punch, a short right hand punch, but it is described in the book over eight pages. The lead up to it, the strike and the effect. Needless to say the book is full of memorable moments while being very explicit and up front.

Blitz: Out of the people that you have looked after, who would you say has been the best individual?

BJ: Joe Cocker is the best guy I ever worked with and is the reason the book was written, because he got busted in Adelaide in October 1972. By February 1973 the Rolling Stones wouldn''t come here without the best security because of the bust with Joe. Of course BJC promised the best security and that is the only reason why they came to Australia.

So Joe Cocker is responsible for me getting the job touring in the first place. He is mentioned several times through the book and the last chapter is about him. The finish of the book, which I can''t spoil, is Joe Cocker and I doing something together that shows what good friends we were. But you will need to read the book, and not read the last part first.

Blitz: The best Band?

BJ: The best band I ever worked with was Fleetwood Mac. It was the longest story in the book because there was the most to tell. There are some amazing insights into the sex and drugs behind the scenes of rock and roll with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham and Christine McVie, the five members of Fleetwood Mac. Most of that story is set in Japan, and begins at the martial arts capitol of the world, the Budokan.

Blitz: Who would be the worst and why?

BJ: It won''t take you long to find out, it''s around chapter four, and it is all about a guy called Paul Rodgers. He was the baddest guy I ever had to work with. His band was called Bad Company. He was a bit of a knock about guy from England, from the same bad area as Joe Cocker and Keith Richards and many of Rocks `Bad Boys''.

He had heard from the promoter that `Bob Jones'' was some sort of martial arts expert, so he had a keen desire to see me fight. So everywhere we went Paul Rodgers tried to get me into fights, and halfway through the chapter he and I get into an explosive situation. It''s a real fight scene which you will have to read about as you journey through the book!

Blitz: Do you think your book offers a realistic view of the drugs and violence of the times?

BJ: I think that young people are going to enjoy the book. I had one girl, Donna, read the book who unknowingly is responsible for some of the recent marketing decisions. At 20 years of age she thoroughly enjoyed Let the Good Times Roll. I asked her why she enjoyed the book so much and she said to me, "you took me back to the Rolling Stones tour, backstage with the limousines and all."

She said, "it really felt like I was there with you with the Rolling Stones tour and also at the Sunbury rock festival:" She said that was really why she enjoyed the book, because these days people go to rave parties at the Docklands, and all the crazy kids are doing two and three ecstacy pills, and all sort of other drugs and crazy things, but she said it was interesting to find out about all the drugs that were around when her parents were teenagers.

Instead of going to rave parties, they would go to a farm with 50,000 people for three or four days, like Sunbury and smoke marijuana and drop acid tabs.

Because of her feedback Perdiem Publishing is marketing the book so that " 20 year olds can find out what their parents got up to." There is a saying, "if you can remember the seventies you weren''t really there." I guess I should be warning people over 40 years of age that they should be very careful reading the book. I can remember the seventies because I stayed straight. The warning is there because the book may cause some people to remember things they have done, things they have tried to forget.

Blitz: Looking back at some old photos and press clippings your outward appearance was pretty menacing and visual. Was that a deliberate decision on your behalf?

BJ: (Gives a scary stare then breaks into laughter) Well, I guess I needed to look a little intimidating. Yeah, when you look back at those early press clippings I do look kind of impressive.

No, it was just me, it was the ''70s what do you expect

Blitz: Bob, could you give us your brief thoughts on some of the following people you''ve met over your time.

BJ: Sure.

Richard Norton:
Back then he was my right hand man. The best. He was there from the start and he''ll be there till the end.

Billy Thorpe:
Again, another Australian icon, and true friend. Made it worthwhile. Great talent.

The Rolling Stones:
Those guys are special. Mick, Keith, Charlie (when I did see him) were all entertaining and charming. They have their own personalities and that''s what makes them great.

AC/DC:
It sure was a long time ago, but those guys are so down to earth and were great fun to be with. It was sad to see Bon go. He was a true entertainer.

David Bowie:
I think Bowie tried to sh#!?stir me on a few occasions. I wasn''t sure where this guy was coming from.

Joe Cocker:
I had to seriously keep an eye on this bloke. Boy, did he like to drink.

ABBA:
Fantastic, can''t say enough kind words about that band.

Fleetwood Mac:
Stevie Nicks was gorgeous. Such a dreamer and a fantastic voice. Mick (drummer) is a fantastic individual, and one textreme practical joker.

Blitz: You have said that `the miracle in your life was being introduced to the philosophical principals of the martial arts''. How was it a miracle, and does the book contain insights of those philosophies?

BJ: The miracle was the martial arts, because there was nothing else that could get me out. I''d been through 20 years of extreme violence. My whole life was violence and it was getting worse and worse. People were getting killed, dying from drugs or going to prison.

I even got married because I thought it would get me out, but the marriage didn''t work. After I split up I found Jack Rozinszky and he introduced me to my crossroads. That was the night in 1965 that I said `this is the new life for me''. He knew I was coming with a bunch of my bouncers so he clamped five bricks with five big steel clamps to a long bench seat. Between the two classes, beginner and semi advanced he smashed these five bricks with every part of his body. His elbows, his knees, the heel of his foot and his palm heel. And we went `God Damn!'' If we could fight like that we would be unbeatable! So we joined up that night. Jack introduced us to honour and valour and everything else that goes with martial arts. As I became a better fighter I used violence less and less. It got me back to normal and now it has taken me beyond normal in that after thirty years of training I feel very good in my life. That is the miracle of martial arts, and Let the Good Times Roll also explains part of that journey.

align="left" />This is a company I established in the very early stages of my martial arts career. The concept was devised for all of my many instructors running Bob Jones martial arts clubs.

They could purchase stock from Clubshop International for a percentage discount. This enabled these instructors to subsidize the running of these clubs, and in some cases they could develop an extra income. Add this to the security work they did for the BJC, many of them could go full time.

We have always manufactured our own club uniforms. When we import safety equipment, training gear or anything to do with the martial arts, we always demand quality control to assure our students ''only the best''.

Our Head Office -Showroom/warehouse is at Suite 6-26 Miller Street, Victoria, Australia, 3076. It is open weekdays from 9.30am to 5pm. The manager is Michael Kenna and he can be contacted during these working hours on +613 8401 4861.

Our Head Office is also our major distribution point, and stock is sent out daily, fulfilling stock orders to clubs in towns, suburbs and major cities nationwide. Instructor pick-up points in all states of Australia and both islands of New Zealand have this stock delivered to our students in the quickest way possible.

Thus the name ''Clubshop International'', we deliver from our shop to our clubs allowing all of our students to have that direct service delivered to them while they are in training.

Magazine Front Covers

Current Affairs Programes

All through out the decade of the eighties, I alternated between Queensland (three times) and Western Australia (four times) doing a ''violence awareness'' segment.

The more often we did the segment (always with a different theme) the higher the ratings became (after all that''s the name of the game as ''60 Minutes'' and explained to me.

Glen Taylor was the host in Brisbane with ''Today Tonight'' and Terry Willisee was the host in Perth with ''TPW'' (Terry Willisee Perth).

', '

Current Affairs Programes

All through out the decade of the eighties, I alternated between Queensland (three times) and Western Australia (four times) doing a ''violence awareness'' segment.

The more often we did the segment (always with a different theme) the higher the ratings became (after all that''s the name of the game as ''60 Minutes'' and explained to me.

Glen Taylor was the host in Brisbane with ''Today Tonight'' and Terry Willisee was the host in Perth with ''TPW'' (Terry Willisee Perth).

The concept was to train any female member of their team: secretary, publicity, research, preferably a female journalist off the show that the audience could identify with. I would teach them for an hour a day for a week, then go on the show to see if the techniques would work under pressure. We would then assimilate all kinds of scenarios, again that the audience could relate to.

Each time I did this between the two states I found I could condense the training time , the next episode I got it back to one hour of training. This was a result of a newspaper article in Perth on a Monday morning about a young woman who had been dragged from a phone box in broad daylight on the Sunday afternoon. She had been raped and hospitalized with absolutely horrific multiple injuries. After the mornings paper report we re-enacted the exact scene as it had been reported...with only one hours instruction we had Terry Willisee''s researcher capably defending herself.

Eventually on Glen Taylor''s show we did a live assimilated rape attack with Glens private secretary. Directly after the mock rape scene I trained her for five minutes on very basic techniques. The rape scene was so graphic she was still in shock during my training, it worked and actually she applied everything I had shown her, all in a five minute instruction.

With the rape segment taking less and less time we covered other community assault issues: The house wife at home alone during the day, taking a cab driver to a remote area to assimilate a mugging, elderly women in a car park after leaving a shopping centre, assaults on public transport (filmed segments on trains in railway underpasses), abducted young girl on her way home from school and many more. The ratings just kept on climbing due to the fact our segments really taped into the viewers ''every day'' lifestyle.

Glen Taylor culminated my segments by promoting a free lesson at my main school...Three hundred and fifty women responded at the time the free lesson had been promoted. There was no way they could all train at once, we had to organise them into groups and they were coming to lessons for the next month.

In Perth I mentioned to Terry Willisee that we should promote this free lesson, except we should use a public venue. We promoted the event to be staged at at the Fremantle Town Hall, also warned his production team that we might get a crowd as big as Brisbane. They must have felt it would be mediocre and draw perhaps a couple of hundred, and sent enough sound and lighting effects to suit. This was filmed to go to air that night....we were all caught unaware...I didn''t even have enough assistant instructors to help handle this crowd not to mention the lights and sound were lacking. This turned out to be one of the biggest crowd seminars I have ever stood out front of....Twelve Hundred and Fifty (1250) concerned women turned up for this free lesson with Bob Jones.

', 1, 9, 0, 50, '2009-08-30 21:19:41', 62, '', '2009-09-17 02:35:10', 62, 0, '0000-00-00 00:00:00', '2009-08-30 21:19:41', '0000-00-00 00:00:00', '', '', 'show_title=\nlink_titles=\nshow_intro=\nshow_section=\nlink_section=\nshow_category=\nlink_category=\nshow_vote=\nshow_author=\nshow_create_date=\nshow_modify_date=\nshow_pdf_icon=\nshow_print_icon=\nshow_email_icon=\nlanguage=\nkeyref=\nreadmore=', 3, 0, 8, '', '', 0, 936, 'robots=\nauthor='), (73, 'Delta Promotions', 'delta-promotions', '', '

Delta Promotions

The following letter is a press release sent to our Chinese partner Mr James Xu in Shanghai on March 14th 2003.

This has been translated into Mandarin and will be sent to all major media in the Peoples Republic of China.

This will coincide with Mr Gianni Caldarera and myself arriving in Shanghai.

March 14th,2003

To whom it may concern

The Bob Jones Corporation Pty Ltd is a company that with great honour and respect trades under my personal name. This company has associates in every quarter of the globe. These associates of Bob Jones come together to combine their resources and unite as a management group (RMG) for business ventures.

Bob Jones Martial Arts Pty Ltd is a company that trains all of these associates through to Black Belt and instills all of the traditional values of the martial arts. This develops an unbreakable bond and the diversity of characters within his organisation allows Bob Jones to draw expertise in any area of business endeavor. Besides my martial arts empire I have worked extensively in entertainment, security, hospitality, construction and property investments.

Recently I was blessed with the luck and good fortune of meeting my Chinese business associate Mr. Zhi Ming Xu. We have since formed an alliance of Delta Promotions - Shanghai, to promote a major event titled Delta 3 - Pyramid Kickboxing. This will bring the eight best heavyweight champion fighters into Shanghai from Eight different countries. At the one event, they fight and eliminate down to only one Grand Champion for One Million Dollars (US$1,000,000) prizemoney.

On behalf of Delta Promotions - Shanghai, I have been negotiating with various entertainment performers to tour the Peoples Republic of China. Currently Elton John and Billy Joel are on an extensive four-month tour of America finishing in June of this year. This tour could be extended into China during July for Delta Promotions - Shanghai. There are several other international entertainment acts that Delta Promotions - Shanghai would like to tour throughout China during 2003.

I am leaving Australia to come and live in Shanghai and plan to launch a National Sporting/Entertainment magazine to promote all aspects of Delta Promotions. Leading up to the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, we plan to stage an Australasian Expo called ''Treasure Island''. This will be ''a state of the art'' cultural and social exchange between the governments of Australia and China.

Yours truly,
Bob Jones
Delta Promotions - Director

Update: We departed for China on Tuesday 15th on a midnight flyer via Malaysian Airlines. The war in Iraq is all but difused, now the SARS virus is the latest danger alert in Asia. The Shanghai press conference is soon after the Easter weekend, by then we will have signed contracts for the Delta 3 Major Event to be filmed by a Shanghai media group. Much more to come via this section ''Delta Promotions''...stay tuned.

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The Don Lane Show

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My first national television appearance was in 1970 on a show called ''Happening 70''.

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The host of this show was Ross D Wylie, who was a good friend of Russel ''It''s The Real Thing'' Morris. Russel was a very dedicated martial arts student of mine at the time and he hooked me up with Ross and his production team.

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This appearance led to the television producer Di Rolle at Channel Nine''s ''Don Lane Show'', booking me for her production which was an evening (top rated) family type entertainment show.

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The Don Lane Show

\r\n

My first national television appearance was in 1970 on a show called ''Happening 70''.

\r\n

The host of this show was Ross D Wylie, who was a good friend of Russel ''It''s The Real Thing'' Morris. Russel was a very dedicated martial arts student of mine at the time and he hooked me up with Ross and his production team.

\r\n

This appearance led to the television producer Di Rolle at Channel Nine''s ''Don Lane Show'', booking me for her production which was an evening (top rated) family type entertainment show.

\r\n

Eventually I would appear on Don Lanes Show five times over as many years, and a friendship with Don and his straight man Bert Newton evolved, which or course, led to appearances on several of Bert Newtons television adventures.

\r\n

\r\n

Don was a hands on kind of compere, and on every appearance I did for him he always involved himself in the physicalness of the occasion. This was certainly the reason (besides the push from Di Rolle) for my multiple appearances.

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', '

“The most beautiful thing we can ever experience – is the mysterious… It is the source of all true art and science.”
-Albert Einstein

NEVER WITHOUT THREE

1. FADO: The Beginning (songs of long ago via the debate)
2. FANDANGO: The Journey (dancing, poetry and comedy)
3. FAENA: The Future (fertility – birth, life and death)

WHAT IS CELTIC FADO?

CELTIC FADO – SYMBOLIC OF THE ‘WONDER OF BIRTH’ is the bardic fadisto passing on their version of ‘true’ history through their songs. In the Ancient Gaelic language, Fado literally means ‘songs of long ago.’ Modern Fadisto singing Fado in this new millennia have a larger role than ever before in history, they must inspire the people of the world to work together to bring about the change. From the time known as Pisces (our previous 2,160-years) to now, this time of our future on earth, known as Aquarius – the time for new awareness wisdom. What is seriously important for all songwriters’ lyrics being written for today and tomorrows fado, we must study the pre-history of Antediluvian Celtic Culture. We must learn from our mistakes of yesteryear, so as not to repeat them again today, or create any distortion of what is happening worldwide, now and in the immediate and distant future.

CELTIC FADO, in the modern world it is not uncommon for Fadisto to sing their songs of Fado as songs of Destiny, although not necessarily wrong, as it is not wrong to have such a word open to interpretation. But, according to the Gaelic dictionary Fado has one meaning, and that is ‘long ago’. When anyone sings Fado with a true heart, in today’s entertainment market they will become a ‘FAD’ (an abbreviation of Fado) ‘a new fad’ unknowingly, a common Gaelic expression in many countries. And as a fad, they will enjoy being extremely popular. When one has achieved this acclaim from Fado, one must remain diligent in bringing forth the Truth, this way you are sharing with the source, and all Fad status will be maintained. If not, if you deviate from any of the Truths, your notoriety will surely suffer the duality of ‘Fado’ and ‘Fade’, quickly and simply - disappear.

CELTIC FADO, what is not only WRONG, but is a part of the crime against all Celtic Consciousness is that some of the oldest countries around the globe are ignorant of their own Celtic blissfulness. Take Portugal for example, the academics there think Portuguese Fado is less than 200- years old. And even worse, they think it came to Portugal from Brazil, with origins in Africa. One would think that Portuguese with their thousands of years of Celtic Culture, prior to being named Portugal by ‘the powers to be’ in relatively modern times (in fact, only eight hundred years ago), would be more aware of their Lusitanian Celtic cultural heritage. The word Lusitanian is Gaelic, Fado is Gaelic, and either one is more than likely, as old as the other. During December 2004 our company, Celtimania Productions was negotiating to start a Television Series in Portugal. During our research stage we had phoned and spoke to a Marketing Director of The Lisboan ‘Museum for Fado’. She was promoting a new book release, penned by its author from Brazil stating that’s where Fado came from? Less than 200 years ago? With its origins dating back to Africa? This same Marketing Director was using this book for the sixth annual acknowledgement of the death of Portugals most famous Fadisto singer. Amalia Rodrigues with her extra extraordinary singing, had helped sustain her compatriots through decades of the fascistic Salazar dictatorship. We endeavoured to explain to this Marketing Director that due to this fascism, Amalia was restricted to singing only hygienic Government accredited Fado, totally edited and controlled by that dictatorship. We tried reasoning with this woman wether she thought this word Fado, was either Portuguese, Brazilian, African or perhaps it might even be of Gaelic tradition - totally negative response - nothing… we hung up the phone!

CELTIC FADO, another of countless examples of this ignorance is my Country Australia, founded as a ‘British colony’ by Celts just two hundred years ago in 1788 AD. (Another part of this cultural crime is that Australians in general are also ignorant of their Celtic lineage). Early convict settlers were given 20 lashes with the cat of nine – tails, enough to rip multiple layers of skin entirely off their backs, for daring to speak in Gaelic, this being their native tongue, and the second most common language spoken in Australia at this time. Those early arrivals did however at some stage communicate with Australia’s Indigenous peoples, the Elders of this truly ancient race (having been on this continent for much more than - perhaps as much as double – the current popular belief of 60,000 years). And from this, these Celts learned of their music Fado being passed on to these aboriginal tribes by these early Portuguese (Lusitanian) Celtic seafarers visiting Australian shores in the sixteenth century (between four and five hundred years ago). ‘Dreamtime’, it was explained is about Aboriginal creation mythology, and for more than 60,000 years this indigenous race have passed down their knowledge of the ages by ‘oral communication only,’ including their ‘songs of long ago’. Their warriors, in preparation for battle, would paint their face and entire bodies with indigenous war-like artwork. They loved nothing better after a ferocious battle than to perform their spiritual ‘Corroboree’ (dance of appreciation to their Gods), their sacred lore stated that this must occur down by the ‘Billabong’ (the waters edge), and after having crucified a ‘Kangaroo’ (never tied to a tree – this battle for survival was truly man against beast – and man occasionally lost) for a feast around the fire these warriors loved bragging of their exploits during the winning of the battle, both against their ‘very brave’ opposing tribe and of course, the kangaroo, for their on going battle with nature for their own survival.