BMA - Busselton Martial Arts

01/06/2026

Western Australia Day Public Holiday

Dojo is CLOSED today, enjoy your day and see you tomorrow for classes

23/05/2026

One of the things many people rarely experience anymore is the feeling of being fully switched on.

Modern life has conditioned people into comfort, routine, screens, and safety. We sit too much, move too little, overthink everything, and slowly begin shrinking ourselves to fit inside predictable routines that keep us existing — but not truly living.

Karate interrupts that process.

There is something powerful hidden inside hard physical training and controlled pressure. When training becomes intense, something changes. The breathing sharpens. The senses wake up. The mind becomes present. Suddenly the noise of everyday life disappears — stress, bills, politics, self-doubt, anxiety — all pushed aside because for those moments your focus is completely in the here and now.

That feeling is important.

A person who regularly steps into discomfort inside the dojo begins changing outside the dojo too. They carry themselves differently. They handle pressure better. They become calmer under stress, harder to intimidate, and more resilient when life becomes difficult.

People often misunderstand martial arts and think it’s about aggression or learning to hurt people. In reality, good karate teaches the opposite.

It teaches people how not to fall apart under pressure.

One of the biggest problems today is that many adults and children have become disconnected from challenge, movement, and physical confidence. People stop testing themselves. Stop moving with purpose. Stop believing they are capable of hard things.

Over time, many simply accept low energy, poor confidence, anxiety, and stress as “normal life.”

But human beings were never designed to live fragile lives waiting for the weekend to feel alive again.

We were built to move.
To adapt.
To struggle.
To overcome challenge.

Karate is simply one of the vehicles we use at BMA to reconnect people with those parts of themselves again — in a safe, structured, and supportive environment.

Not everyone who walks into the dojo becomes a fighter, in our older years that's not what we're there for.

But almost everyone who stays becomes stronger — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

And that changes lives. 🥋

20/05/2026

Most people don’t realise how slowly confidence can fade.

We have a great mums and dads group running at the moment. Take a chance!

It rarely happens all at once. It usually begins with small changes over time:
• standing a little shorter
• speaking a little quieter
• avoiding challenges
• stepping back instead of stepping forward
• slowly convincing yourself you’re “just not that type of person”

I’ve watched this happen to both children and adults over many years of teaching karate.

The body often reflects the story a person has been telling themselves internally for a very long time. Poor posture. Hesitation. Anxiety. Lack of confidence. Low energy. Social withdrawal. The belief that “I’m not capable” or “I’m not enough.”

But I’ve also seen the opposite.

I’ve seen the moment a person decides they’re tired of feeling stuck. The moment they walk into the dojo nervous, uncertain, and uncomfortable — but still willing to try.

That decision alone changes something.

They begin standing taller. Speaking clearer. Making eye contact. Pushing through discomfort. Slowly becoming stronger physically and mentally.

But confidence does not come from motivation alone.
It comes from repetition.
Consistency.
Community.
Showing up again and again — especially on the days you don’t feel like it.

That’s one of the most important things karate gives people.

Not just punches and kicks — but structure, accountability, resilience, self-respect, and a community that encourages growth instead of excuses.

For children, it builds confidence and discipline during the years they need it most.
For teens, it provides direction, challenge, and belonging.
For adults, it becomes a way to reconnect with themselves again physically and mentally.

This is why we train.

Not to become perfect martial artists — but to become stronger, more capable human beings over time.

And sometimes, all it takes to begin changing your life… is stepping onto the mats for the first time. 🥋

17/05/2026

Peter Shihan and I share a very closely mirrored path in the martial arts and instead of trying to write my own articles of the exact same topics we agree on, he has kindly said I can share his.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GdbYoCXS1/

WE DON’T teach “high-level” competitive Jujutsu here. In fact, I reckon a Jujutsu purist would cross the street to avoid getting stuck in a conversation with a great pretender like me. Whatever!! Given the chance, I would probably corner them and comatose them into a state of boredom by telling them in detail about my buggered left knee.
What we do teach and preach is an original form of karate that developed and evolved waaaaaay, way back before modern karate was even a thing. The concepts were simple and straight forward - situation arises, assess situation, deal with situation quickly and decisively, GET HOME SAFE.
Clearly here in the 21st century, the child version of what I pretend to teach is somewhat watered down from the adult version for some really good ‘Use Your Own Imagination ‘type reasons but the message remains intact.
Alongside the best-known aspects of physical karate training, we also give instruction on basic holds, throws and takedowns, and submissions. In addition to this a major part of our philosophy here is how we educate our young students the importance of keeping our assailant safe from harm.
I fully understand how this approach to self-defence and growth development in kids does not resonate with everyone which is why I am more than happy to promote and guide anyone towards more competitive schools that produce some very good Jujutsu fighters if this is their ambition for themselves or their children. As it happens, I know a really good local Jujutsu school whose young instructor is very passionate and a great teacher of Jujutsu. Just ask 😊
Don’t read this the wrong way, I am not underselling what we do here. I just have a very different idea of what Playground Politics looks like for kids. They only need a few simple tools and strategies to maintain control in situations that give them limited options for negotiation. I also understand that kids don’t need forty-nine positions for great submissions to become someone to be proud of – They only need a few things in their toolbox that gives them the confidence to take on their world with confidence. Isn’t that the point anyway?
Our training isn’t built around fantasy or trophies. It’s built around pressure testing basic concepts, simplicity, and real-world decision making.
Strong. Confident. Capable.
That’s the goal.

25/04/2026

Take a minute out of your day today to remember those that fight for us.

See you all back on the mats Tuesday.

05/04/2026

Have a wonderful Easter break everyone.

Training resumes Monday 13th as per usual.

30/03/2026

🥋 Junior Gradings — Effort, Courage & Growth 🥋

Sunday morning saw some of our junior students step onto the mats for their gradings, with ages ranging from 6–12 years, from beginners through to blue belts.

Gradings are always a big moment for our younger students. Nerves, pressure, excitement and the opportunity to show what months of consistent training have built.

Every student was asked to give their best effort, demonstrate strong fundamentals, and show the attitude and focus expected of martial artists.

What stood out most was the determination. These students pushed themselves, supported each other, and showed real growth not only in technique, but in confidence, discipline, and resilience.

Gradings are never just about belts, they are about learning to stand up under pressure, try your best, and keep going even when things feel challenging. That is where the real lessons are found. Gradings are also about how the dojo will progress over the next 4 months.

Congratulations to all juniors who graded.

Your hard work showed, and you should be proud of the progress you’ve made.

Arigato🥋
Craig Shihan

28/03/2026

🥋 Grading Preparation Seminar, Hard Work Across All Levels 🥋

Today we completed a major step toward our senior gradings with a full seminar bringing together 40 participants, ranging from beginners through to 4th Dan black belts.

The week began with 90 minutes of intensive fundamental training on Thursday night, setting the physical and technical standard required moving forward.

Today built on that foundation with three hours of partner work, focusing on HAPV self-defence principles, application drills, and the core fundamentals that underpin everything we do in classical karate.

It was great to welcome visiting black belts and students from Pemberton, Manjimup, and Perth, all coming together to train, share knowledge, and push each other in the spirit of traditional martial arts.

The focus was simple — fun through fundamentals. Regardless of rank, everyone returned to basics, refining movement, body mechanic's, timing, structure, and practical application. This is where real progress happens.

It was especially rewarding to see so many students successfully complete their gradings, and to watch our advanced juniors step forward and test themselves while maintaining the high standards expected of their ranks. Moments like these show the strength and future of the dojo.

We also recognised an important milestone, with three students achieving their 5-year and 10-year training anniversaries — a testament to perseverance, loyalty, and long-term commitment to the martial arts journey.

The seminar was personally led as part of our ongoing grading preparation, drawing on experience within Koryu Uchinadi (3rd Dan) and Classical Karate Goju Ryu (6th Dan) — blending traditional principles with practical, application-based training.

We cannot thank enough McCarthy Hanshi for his support and the support of the Australian Koryu Uchinadi

A huge congratulations to everyone who attended. The effort, attitude, and willingness to work hard across all grades showed exactly what strong martial arts culture looks like.

The work continues — gradings are earned through preparation, persistence, and consistency.

BMA🥋

28/03/2026

It's on today!
Nice and cosy weather

Upcoming Seminar

The first of our tri annual seminar we run in house at Busselton Koryukan.

It is also our 32nd Anniversary on that day!

My students know the requirements for attencdance.

Non BMA members, please email us at
[email protected]

26/03/2026

I had a good chat with my adults and teens last night and because of the grading a really good point was brought up, so here is my honest answer.

🥋 Progress Over Entertainment 🥋

In martial arts, and in life, more is not always better.

There’s a saying:
Beware the student that practices 1 technique, 10'000 times, not the student who practices 10'000 techniques.

It can sometimes look repetitive from the outside.
The same drills. The same movements. The same fundamentals revisited again and again. But there is a reason for this.

Under pressure, people don’t rise to the level of what they’ve seen, they fall back to the level of what they have truly practiced.
In high-stress situations, up to 90% of learned knowledge disappears, and instinct takes over. What remains is habit, muscle memory, and the techniques ingrained through consistent training.

My role as an instructor is not to constantly entertain with endless new techniques. My responsibility is far more important, to coach effective, age-appropriate self-defence, while developing confidence, resilience, posture, discipline, and decision-making skills that benefit both children and adults well beyond the dojo.

Real progress is built through repetition, patience, and understanding, not novelty.

Karate is not about collecting techniques.
It’s about building capable, confident people.

Thank you to our families for trusting the process and supporting your children’s long-term growth both on and off the mats.

Arigato
Craig Shihan

PS — What happens behind the scenes at BMA:

🥋 Our instructors train diligently not only in their own development, but also in learning how to coach effectively, a significant commitment of time and effort.
🥋 We intentionally run the same class structure throughout the week to cement repetition and build strong training habits.
🥋 After classes, instructors debrief on what adjustments are needed and refine how we coach for the next rotation.
🥋 We discuss every student individually, progress, challenges, and how best to support improvement.
🥋 The next rotation may contain the same content, but the focus changes. Targeting, kime, body mechanics, core development, footwork, knee positioning, and other key fundamentals.
🥋 Gradings provide our biggest feedback. The areas needing the most improvement become the focus for the following training cycle.
🥋 This creates constant, structured improvement each week. Sometimes the changes are subtle to observers, but the training is highly intentional, guided by a vision measured not in months, but in years of development.