The Eumundi Green editorial, Introducing Sensei Peter Zarb

Most kids I grew up with put on footy boots- I took my shoes off. They’d kick soccer balls while I kicked pads. Week in and out those kids would train on fields and courts and ovals while you’d find me in dojo practicing kata (forms).

My father was Sensei, a senior student and good friend of renowned international karate master, Kyoshi James Sumarac (7th Dan).

Master James Sumarac is synonymous with authentic karate in Australia. He trained in Japan under karate legends as a young man, and has produced many talented karate enthusiasts over his 45 years of teaching around the globe. James is a person I greatly admired as a child- a true master of the arts- and today is my greatest mentor and friend. My father (5th Dan), my uncle (4th Dan) and all their senior students encouraged me as a boy, inspired me as a teen, and guided me as a man. What captured me about them all was how highly trained, unassuming, accommodating and friendly they all were. My ambition was to be every bit the thinking gentleman warrior they all were.

Karate training early taught me respect, discipline, perseverance and eventually peace. It also gave me a great appreciation of all combat arts. I participated in and won many tournaments on a national level, though in my teens was drawn toward the budo, the way of the warrior, rather than sport competition.

Nearly 30 years on and I still train under Kyoshi James. Like my father then, i now am a senior member of this international organisation, a 5th degree black belt Shihan, and travel nationally and internationally to teach and learn.

After a decade and a half of teaching many successful dojos in Victoria, my young family and I moved to this beautiful town of Eumundi. Our community karate club teaches Goju Kensha Karate Do, the school of the hard and soft fist, which was established in Australia over 45 years ago. Goju kensha has roots in China, its trunk in Okinawa and its branches shoot out from japan. This is the first time it has been shared in the state of Queensland. It’s a system that takes a holistic approach in its instruction, offering a healthy blend of fitness, fun and empowerment for the whole family. Karate classes are taught in a disciplined and supervised environment. Like my Sensei, I teach with an emphasis on self-development and self-defence rather than competition. Classes include: meditative breathing exercises which are designed to calm the mind, increase respiratory function and awareness, and cultivate positive energy; also combat art orientated aerobic drills which are designed to increase flexibility, condition muscular strength and endurance, correct postural deficiencies and improve our cardiovascular system; and paired/group activities that promote trust, respect and positive social behaviour. After a while these training techniques become a part of life, and you learn to use them throughout your day. A famous Samurai once said that "The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things".

Teaching has always given me great pleasure. I remember running around the dojo as a kid and having a blast. I remember training as a teenager and being given good advice and an outlet to channel my feelings. Training as a man has shaped me into the good community member and father I am today. Our dojo is open to all people of all ages.