JNZ Instructor Profiles
Blake TURNBULL
National Instructor
Dan: 4th-dan
Dojo: Kyoto, Japan (originally Dunedin, NZ)
Blake started training in Goju-Ryu Karate in 1996 at the age of 4. He continued training uninterruptedly, earning his Sho-dan at the age of 16. His first contact with the Jundokan came in 2007, when he trained with Gima Tetsu-Sensei and Kinjo Tsuneo-sensei in Dunedin, New Zealand. The following year, he attended the 2008 memorial seminar in Naha. As a result of this experience, Blake decided to undertake a major in Japanese language studies, and eventually completed his Ph.D at Kyoto University in Japan. He now speaks fluent Japanese and lives and works in Kyoto, Japan. In 2019, he started the Kyoto branch of the Jundokan, and continues to train there regularly today. He is also fortunate to train at the Jundokan So-Honbu Dojo multiple times a year, where he is able to further his knowledge of Goju-Ryu Karate.
Paul ALLOT
Technical Advisor, Shibucho
Dan: 7th-dan
Dojo: Nelson
Paul started training in Judo at aged 10 under Japanese trained instructor, Bill Morrison. His karate training began in 1983, and he was promoted to sho-dan in 1986 under Craig Barlow-sensei (Founder and Chief instructor of Cho-Wa-Do). After 10 years training in this style, he then pursued a new direction in martial arts with Goju-Ryu, eventually forging a relationship with Miyazato Eiichi-sensei and the Jundokan in Okinawa. Paul is now recognised as New Zealand Shibucho (Overseas Head) of the Jundokan Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-do Sohonbu Dojo, Okinawa. In 1999 he was honoured to be promoted to Go-dan by Miyazato Eiichi-sensei, prior to the great master passing. His most recent grading was in Okinawa in 2019 where he was promoted to Nana-dan under Gima Tetsu-sensei, Kinjo Tsuneo-sensei, Higa Kazuya-sensei and Miyazato Yoshiro-Kancho. Paul has over 40 years experience and is keen to encourage young members to participate in the lifestyle pursuit of martial arts.
Bryan WILLIAMS
Shibucho
Dan: 5th-dan
Dojo: Taupaki (Auckland)
David LOW
Dan: 5th-dan
Dojo: Westport
Dave started training in 1984 in Cho Wa-Do; a form very similar to Seido Karate. He trained there for 8 years, eventually reaching Ni-dan. Over the following years, he trained in various different types of martial arts while away with work, including Taekwondo, Chinese kempo, Chidokan karate etc. Dave switched to Goju-Ryu karate in 1993, first training with Higaonna Mori-sensei for few years, before moving to be a part of the Jundokan in about 2002. He had a brief stint training with the kyokai for a few years, before returning to the Jundokan, which he has since found to be his home. His philosophy in training is simple: don’t stop training.
David MARTIN
Dan: 3rd-dan
Dojo: Taupaki (Auckland)
David started training in Goju-Ryu Karate in 2004 when Sensei Bryan Williams opened a dojo in Taupaki, north west Auckland. He earned his Sho-dan at the the 2008 memorial seminar in Naha. David continues to train at Taupaki and was promoted to San-dan on a return trip to the Jundokan in 2015 under Gima Tetsu-sensei and Kinjo Tsuneo-sensei.
Andrew PAXTON
Dan: 3rd-dan
Dojo: Wakefield (Nelson)
Andrew started training in 1983 with the (Scottish) Borders Shotokan karate clubs, an affiliate of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB). He trained there until 1986 when he moved and took up a Shotokan/Goju-Ryu blend of karate, returning to KUGB in 1999. After moving to New Zealand in 2001, he dabbled with a couple of local dojos which he felt didn’t quite fit, and continued to train himself in his garage. In 2008 he started an independent dojo in Wakefield concentrating on Goju-Ryu. In 2012, after taking up employment in Hokitika, Andrew closed Wakefield dojo. It was around this time that Paul Allott-Sensei opened up the Nelson dojo, where Andrew trained while home on weekends. Three years later, after returning home, Andrew reopened Wakefield dojo, maintaining strong ties and affiliation with Nelson dojo.
Blake GIBSON
Dan: 3rd-dan
Dojo: Mosgiel (Dunedin)
Blake started training Goju-Ryu karate when he was seven years old (1995) and has trained nearly uninterruptedly since. When he was 21, he graded to Sho-Dan and began assuming more and more teaching responsibilities in his home dojo. After a brief stint living and working in the UK in 2012, he returned in 2014 and soon took over the instruction for the Dunedin branch of JNZ, supported by Mike Dalton and Blake Turnbull. Soon after his return, he graded to Ni-Dan and very recently to San-Dan. His philosophy in training is to always strive for improvement, whether physical or mental. He sees his training as a significant form of self-improvement and gets great satisfaction out of watching his students improve as well.