Instructors
Instructors |
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Rick Dobson ~ 6th Degree. Chief Coach & Founder of Phantom Kickboxing. Oceania President for World Association of Kickboxing Organisations. President for World Association of Kickboxing Organisations New Zealand .
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Training in Martial Arts since 1974.
Graded for 1st Degree black belt in 1985. Studied Wado Ryu Karate to 3rd Dan. Under the
International Budo Association. Switched to Freestyle Semi-contact Karate and graded to
4th Dan under Sensei Joe Tierney. Ricks clubs changed direction to Kickboxing and in 2001
was honoured by the World Kickboxing Association, being awarded 5th Degree by his long term
mentor, tournament rival and friend, Sensei Dave Morris 6th Degree. President of Elite
International Martial Arts. Rick Migrated to New Zealand in 2002 and opened the first
Phantom Kickboxing club out of the UK in 2003 in Te Awamutu. Rick was further honoured by World Association of Kickboxing Organisations in January 2007, being awarded 6th Degree Black Belt. Rick was also awarded 6th degree by the Elite Martial Arts International Association in England in 2008. Some of Ricks former titles:
Rick has trained a number of students to international level. Named in the WKA Black belt roll of Honour. He was a Control & Restraint Instructor to the British Prison Service and the New Zealand Department of Corrections. He has been employed in the 'Close Protection of a number of British TV and Music celebrities, and was in charge of the Internal security at some of the North of Englands top nightclubs. Rick's personal club is based in Te Awamutu, and he is the Chief Coach for all Phantom Kickboxing clubs. There are Phantom Kickboxing clubs operating in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Ricks career highlights:
Phantom Kickboxing Chief Instructor Te Awamutu Instructor |
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Josh is currently training for the 1st Degree Black Belt under Phantom Kickboxing -having trained under Phantom Kickboxing for three years, he has accepted the position of instructor for the Hamilton Phantom branch. Josh believes that becoming a Martial artist is to learn new skills and enjoy the journey as you voyage on thru your training, developing your confidence and self-worth tailored to that individuals pace and needs. He encourages everyone to give it a try young or old and experience the fitness benefits that come as a bonus with any sport. Learning a martial art is a privilege and with hard work and dedication incredibly rewarding. Josh is an active Full Contact Fighter. Hamilton Instructor |
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Josh Clarke 7th grade |
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(Bio Coming Soon) Te Kuiti Instructor |
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(Bio Coming Soon) Te Kuiti Instructor |
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Leith is presently a 2nd Degree Black Belt in kickboxing and has had 3 years training in MODKA (modern karate). It is his aim that in time he will run not only the Otumoetai club, but also clubs in Papamoa, Te Puke and Matamata, with the thought of giving up full time boat building to take on full time training. Leith is still actively participating in semi- and full-contact tournaments and represented NZ at the full-contact world championships in Portugal in October 2007. and the K1 Intercontinental Professional Championships in Britain in 2008.Tauranga Instructor |
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Mike was encouraged to start kickboxing by an English uncle who gained a blackbelt at the age of 60. Mike was one of the first students through the door when Cambridge Phantom Kickboxing Club opened and didn’t miss a training until achieving his blackbelt in April 2007. Mike sees kickboxing as a great way to build fitness and self-confidence while also learning the sporting and self-defence skills associated with a martial art. Cambridge Phantom runs a kid’s class at 6pm at the Leamington Primary School Hall on Monday nights, followed by an adult’s class at 7:15pm. Though some Cambridge students train purely for fitness and fun, most participate in the grading system that provides the ideal incentive to increase technical skill and physical stamina. Mike took over as instructor in July 2007 and his students include his son and daughter, a niece and nephew and a brother-in-law. Even his wife is threatening to train! While kickboxing is ideal for people of any age or sex, he especially recommends it to men who are entering the ‘mid-life crisis stage’. It’s great for the health and it’s considerably safer and much less expensive than a motorbike or a mistress! Mike plays a range of sports but rates achieving a blackbelt as his biggest athletic achievement to date. Cambridge Instructor |
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(Bio Coming soon) Putaruru Instructor |
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Craig Stokes ~ 4th Degree |
Craig started martial arts training at the age of twelve. His first style was Tae Kwon Do which he studied for twelve months where he reached the grade of yellow belt green tag. At that point his friends were studying Wado Ryu with Rick Dobson in his local area, so he decided to give it a go. He studied for three years with Rick, until leaving school. He had reached brown belt, but due to starting a new career he took a two year break from martial arts. At eighteen Craig rejoined Rick's class where Rick had moved away from the traditional and into kickboxing. This gave him the motivation and confidence to progress to starting his own class under Rick's guidance. In 1993, he passed his black belt with Joe Tierney “5th degree”. Joe was the chief instructor of the Shorai association, which they were a part of at the time. In 1996, Craig achieved his Second Degree and then in 2003 was awarded his Third Degree by Rick who was then “5th degree” and Chief Instructor of Phantom Kickboxing. When Rick decided to migrate to New Zealand the running of Phantom Kickboxing in the UK was handed over to Craig by Rick. Craig started martial arts to build his confidence and self belief. From a lot of training and commitment, he has built his confidence up to a level, where he believes there is nothing he can’t achieve. He has run a successful class for the last twelve years and several of his students have been awarded their Black Belts and competed for Great Britain at International level. This has all been possible through Rick's direction support and management. Craig has been ranked nationally, but found coaching and the results more rewarding for himself and the club. Craig's son Bradley now trains with him making Phantom Kickboxing for him a true family affair. Castleford (UK) Instructor |
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Joe Howells ~ 3rd Degree Black Belt |
Joe started in Martial
Arts in 1988 at the age of 12. He trained with the W.C.K.A (Welsh Contact Karate Association) under Sensei Clifton Brown (who is now the Chief Instructor) and received his 1st Degree Black Belt in September 1991 at the age of 15. He then went on to train in Tae Kwon Do achieving green tip before emigrating to New Zealand in Nov 1994. Whilst living in Tauranga he joined a Muay Thai club and participated in a number of Full Contact ring fights. In early 2003 during a chance meeting with Rick Dobson he was given the opportunity to help in the set up of Phantom Kickboxing New Zealand. Since then he has been involved in the on going set up, teaching and gradings. In September 2003, he received his 2nd Degree Black Belt in Kickboxing from Chief Coach and President of Phantom kickboxing, Rick Dobson 6th Degree, and the New Zealand National Manager of WAKO. On the 13th October 2003 the doors to his own satellite club of Phantom Kickboxing in Kihikihi were opened to the public. Joe now resides om the Gold Coast in Australia. Australia Instructor (Gold Coast) |
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