In loving memory
Each of the people below has had a major impact on my jujutsu and I wish to honour them here.
Billy Doak shihan (May 1963 - 27 November 2009)
Billy was, without a doubt, the finest exponent of jujutsu that this country has ever seen - he was an honourable man with an amazing sense of duty, fantastic moral values and a true warrior spirit. He has truly enriched the lives of those of us who were lucky enough to know him and is sorely missed by all.
Brian Graham shihan (? - June 2005)
Brian was one of the true characters and gentelman of British martial arts. His life revolved around his family and his extended martial arts family and he lived life to the full.
I shall always remember him for the many hours I spent driving him around the country and his repertoire of 'one liners'.
John Dingsdale jitsuka (? - 26 January 2002)
When I first met John he was a Royal Marine and one of the fitest and hardest men I knew. He used to mumble all sorts of things, good and bad behind his Royal Marine moustache and had the driest sense of humour.
To my mind a successful martial artist needs to posses not only the obvious physical skills but must also have integrity, spirit, honour, trust and love & respect for his fellow man, for most people this is a lifetime's work, but John had a headstart, he already understood and applied all of these things and thus was able to focus on his physical skills. He was an outstanding student and I salute him.
Peter Farrar sensei (September 1960 - May 1998)
Peter was the child prodigy of Brian Graham shihan, he was an exceptionally skilled martial artist and instructor. He had vision and motivational skills way beyond his years and it was the abundance of these skills that enabled him to realise his dream of not only building a jujutsu organisation but turning it into one of the largest in the UK.
I was lucky enough to be involved in his dream and have fond memories of discussing such things into the early hours of the morning.
I have many fond 'mat moments' but not least is being on the wrong end of one of his taiotoshi!
Peter, you always said you'd come back and haunt me - I'm still waiting :-)