Peter KIRKWOOD

Peter Kirkwood is a 6th Dan Black Belt in Karate Shihan Peter was born in Maitland and has remained in town all his life. He has always supported the local community by running free Women’s Self Defence classes and Anti Bulling classes for the kids. Shihan Peter has 4 children (The oldest three boys all having gained black belts and his youngest a daughter is currently a Blue belt in the Warrior class). He lives in Maitland with his fiancée Maria (an active member of the Family Fitness class). Shihan Peter started his Martial Arts training in 1985. He first started off in ZEN-DO-KAI freestyle karate in Banks Street, East Maitland and kept training within that style up till 1992 where he had gained his 3rd Degree Black Belt. In 1993 Kaizen Ryu was born and saw Shihan Peter as a Co-Developer of this style. In 1994 Shihan Peter took over control of Kaizen Ryu and he has remained as its Chief instructor ever since. The drive behind his teaching is to prevent Bulling in Children, prevent violence and to offer a better lifestyle through Martial Arts training. KIRKWOOD’S INSTITUTE of KARATE’S Mission statement is to: “CONTINUALLY IMPROVE PEOPLE’S LIVES” This is exactly what Shihan Peter endeavors to teach to every student and Instructor. He has trained with many great Australian and Overseas martial arts and travels regularly to America to gain the latest technology within the martial arts industry, to bring back to the students of Kaizen Ryu. In 2013 Shihan was lucky enough to travel to Japan to obtain his 6th Degree Black Belt in front of his peers and Grand Master Yoshitugu Suzuki.