New Zealand Eagle Spirit Jujitsu was founded in January 1999 in Wanganui, New Zealand, by Robin Howard, a Shodan black belt at the time. It grew from humble beginnings to become an important life milestone for hundreds of child and adult students in the Whanganui district and beyond. During its time, the organisation even had foreign students from as far away as Greenland, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan.
The style of jujitsu was primarily comprised of components of self-defence, rather than having a focus on competition and sports martial art. This was entirely down to the pragmatic style and teachings of Robin's UK instructors, in particularly, Professor John Williams, 6th Dan, of Stalham Spirit Combat, in Norfolk.
It contained a number of different elements including more traditional Japanese breakfall techniques or 'Ukemi', throwing and sweeping techniques or 'Nage Waza', groundwork techniques or 'Ne Waza', as well as other 'stand-up' striking, blocking and kicking techniques (drawn from Kick-boxing, Karate, Hapkido and Panantukan/Pananjakman).
At each belt, the student graded against these techniques as well as the ten unique formal techniques or 'forms' of the style, drawn from the organisation's original founding English aiki-jujitsu system, Spirit Combat Jujitsu.
During the early days of the organisation, Head Instructor Robin Howard regularly returned to the UK to train and teach in jujitsu until in April 2007, Soke Brian Dossett (the Founder and Grandmaster of Spirit Combat Jujitsu), along side Master Jim Cochram, visited New Zealand on their World Tour. They taught a number of seminars as well as officiating over an advanced grading for senior ranked students. In this grading, over a dozen new black belt ranks were awarded to the training group giving recognition from the highest level within Spirit Combat International of their efforts and training dedication.
In December 2009, Robin returned to the UK to attend an International grading seminar. He was successful in achieving and being awarded his 4th Dan Black Belt. In addition to this, he was also awarded a special "honorary"/probationary 5th Dan and promoted to be the International Kancho (or "Head of House") for New Zealand for Spirit Combat Jujitsu (one of only nine in the world at that time). It was an incredible day of recognition for New Zealand on the International martial arts stage and the culmination of a decade of hard work by all students and instructors.
Alongside his jujitsu, Robin was also training in the Filipino Eskrima system of Warriors Eskrima. He was very privileged and honoured to be a private student of Pangulong Guru Krishna Godhania, a grandmaster in his own right. This relationship culminated in January 2011 when he and his training group received a private grading from PG Krishna, and, amongst the dozen awards given that day to the NZ training group, he received his 2nd Dan black belt rank of Nakatataas Katulong Guru. Robin then adopted this system into the NZESJJ syllabus as a perfect compliment to the original jujitsu syllabus. Also grading to 1st Dan on that day were Bryce Rider and Christian Merten, which was welcome recognition for the hard work they had put in over the years. Twelve students graded that day and all received new ranks and recognition of their efforts. More information on this can be found under the January 2011 summercamp link below.
The style of jujitsu was primarily comprised of components of self-defence, rather than having a focus on competition and sports martial art. This was entirely down to the pragmatic style and teachings of Robin's UK instructors, in particularly, Professor John Williams, 6th Dan, of Stalham Spirit Combat, in Norfolk.
It contained a number of different elements including more traditional Japanese breakfall techniques or 'Ukemi', throwing and sweeping techniques or 'Nage Waza', groundwork techniques or 'Ne Waza', as well as other 'stand-up' striking, blocking and kicking techniques (drawn from Kick-boxing, Karate, Hapkido and Panantukan/Pananjakman).
At each belt, the student graded against these techniques as well as the ten unique formal techniques or 'forms' of the style, drawn from the organisation's original founding English aiki-jujitsu system, Spirit Combat Jujitsu.
During the early days of the organisation, Head Instructor Robin Howard regularly returned to the UK to train and teach in jujitsu until in April 2007, Soke Brian Dossett (the Founder and Grandmaster of Spirit Combat Jujitsu), along side Master Jim Cochram, visited New Zealand on their World Tour. They taught a number of seminars as well as officiating over an advanced grading for senior ranked students. In this grading, over a dozen new black belt ranks were awarded to the training group giving recognition from the highest level within Spirit Combat International of their efforts and training dedication.
In December 2009, Robin returned to the UK to attend an International grading seminar. He was successful in achieving and being awarded his 4th Dan Black Belt. In addition to this, he was also awarded a special "honorary"/probationary 5th Dan and promoted to be the International Kancho (or "Head of House") for New Zealand for Spirit Combat Jujitsu (one of only nine in the world at that time). It was an incredible day of recognition for New Zealand on the International martial arts stage and the culmination of a decade of hard work by all students and instructors.
Alongside his jujitsu, Robin was also training in the Filipino Eskrima system of Warriors Eskrima. He was very privileged and honoured to be a private student of Pangulong Guru Krishna Godhania, a grandmaster in his own right. This relationship culminated in January 2011 when he and his training group received a private grading from PG Krishna, and, amongst the dozen awards given that day to the NZ training group, he received his 2nd Dan black belt rank of Nakatataas Katulong Guru. Robin then adopted this system into the NZESJJ syllabus as a perfect compliment to the original jujitsu syllabus. Also grading to 1st Dan on that day were Bryce Rider and Christian Merten, which was welcome recognition for the hard work they had put in over the years. Twelve students graded that day and all received new ranks and recognition of their efforts. More information on this can be found under the January 2011 summercamp link below.
New Zealand Eagle Spirit Jujitsu always had a strong community focus and over the years ran several summer-camps for its students and their families. There were training groups for children and adults in Wanganui (run by Robin and Rochelle Howard) and also in Ratana (run my Mathew Shepherd and Matt Rayner).
From January 2011, with a student base of almost 200 spread amongst four training groups, New Zealand Eagle Spirit Jujitsu started running a sequence of annual summer-camps at Scoutlands by Lake Wiritoa. This is an amazing venue with space for grading, activities (both indoor and out), dormitories, family and assistant's accomodation. The idea of these camps was to promote local community martial arts clubs of all styles and to provide a safe and happy environment for families to enjoy activities and train and grade in NZESJJ.
The following are links to those summer-camps :
January 2011
January 2012
December 2012
December 2013
December 2014
From January 2011, with a student base of almost 200 spread amongst four training groups, New Zealand Eagle Spirit Jujitsu started running a sequence of annual summer-camps at Scoutlands by Lake Wiritoa. This is an amazing venue with space for grading, activities (both indoor and out), dormitories, family and assistant's accomodation. The idea of these camps was to promote local community martial arts clubs of all styles and to provide a safe and happy environment for families to enjoy activities and train and grade in NZESJJ.
The following are links to those summer-camps :
January 2011
January 2012
December 2012
December 2013
December 2014
Unfortunately due to a number of changes in circumstances, New Zealand Eagle Spirit Jujitsu had to close its doors after 21 years of running in the area and training groups moved on. This was a sad day and very much an end of an era for many.
Respect and honour should be paid to all students and instructors who have been involved over the years, but special thanks to the following : Mathew Shepherd (4th Dan), Bryce Rider (3rd Dan), Rochelle Howard (3rd Dan), Matt Rayner (2nd Dan), Christian Merten (2nd Dan), also Robbie Hill, Ethan Hill, and Stuart Lindsay (all past assistant instructors)
Head Instructor Robin Howard is still involved in martial arts in New Zealand, teaching seminars across the North Island. He is an active member and supporter of the New Zealand Jujitsu Federation, having taught at a number of their national seminars. He is also a registered 5th Dan Yudansha, and has been a NZJJF registered C2 Instructor since January 2019. He is also involved with a number of clubs in the North Island, in particular Jitsu NZ, and is very happy to provide support, teaching and a few laughs.
Respect and honour should be paid to all students and instructors who have been involved over the years, but special thanks to the following : Mathew Shepherd (4th Dan), Bryce Rider (3rd Dan), Rochelle Howard (3rd Dan), Matt Rayner (2nd Dan), Christian Merten (2nd Dan), also Robbie Hill, Ethan Hill, and Stuart Lindsay (all past assistant instructors)
Head Instructor Robin Howard is still involved in martial arts in New Zealand, teaching seminars across the North Island. He is an active member and supporter of the New Zealand Jujitsu Federation, having taught at a number of their national seminars. He is also a registered 5th Dan Yudansha, and has been a NZJJF registered C2 Instructor since January 2019. He is also involved with a number of clubs in the North Island, in particular Jitsu NZ, and is very happy to provide support, teaching and a few laughs.