JOHN MARRABLE

HOMETOWN: Dunedin New Zealand
BORN: Romford, England 1956
TYPE OF DISABILITY: T 5-7 (incomplete) due to a climbing accident at the ageof 11.
AGE: 52
OCCUPATION: Information Officer
PERSONAL: Married
MAIN STYLE OF MARTIAL ART: Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate under Sensei Higaonna
SCHOOL AFFILIATION: International Okinawan GojuRyu Karatedo FederationCURRENT RANK: 5th degree black belt
TIME INVOLVED IN THE MARTIAL ARTS WITH A DISABILITY: +33 years
WEBSITE: http://www.karate.org.nz/
VIDEO LINK: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBEFcGh-eG0
OTHER ACTIVITES: Wheelchair Basketball, Gym, Handcycling, Skiing,
CONTACT: jnjzm@clear.net.nz

John became interested in martial arts in the early 1970’s due to the Bruce Lee movies and “Kung Fu” series. As a paraplegic, since the age of 11 due to a fall while climbing, he felt vulnerable in various altercations whilst growing up so he was keen to learn some form of unarmed combat. He approached various martial art clubs in his area of North London, England but was told that beacuse he was in a wheelchair he “couldn’t” do it. This made John more determined and he taught himself from books and trained with friends who did kung fu.

In December 1974 John emigrated to NZ and in January 1976 he started formal training in Kyukoshinkai karate. The Club was a member of “The Rembuden Institute of Martial Arts” whose chief instructor was Sensei Jarvis. John held the rank of 3rd kyu in Kyukoshinkai when Sensei Jarvis invited Higaonna Sensei to New Zealand which resulted in “The Rembuden Institute of Martial Arts” being accepted into IOGKF.