Sensei Cameron

Life

I was born Altona base hospital Melbourne, Victoria.

As a child I lived in Ascot Vale, then Murtoa, Horsham, and Ballarat in rural Victoria.  As a result of my parents splitting, after living in Ballarat with my father for 3 years, I moved to Adelaide with my mother from 1981 to 1986.

After year 12 in 1896, I was offered positions at university to study Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy.  I chose to join the Royal Australian Air Force as an Avionics Technical Apprentice, and so began my service for my country in 1987.

In 1987 at age 18 whilst at Wagga Wagga, I lost my mother to unknown causes in her sleep at age 46.  Whilst I may have been predisposed for it, I think this heavily influences my philosophical, fatalistic, and I like to think charitable traits.

Work

I spent seven and half years in the RAAF before leaving in 1994 and ultimately joining QANTAS for a period of 18 years in the avionics trades, working in workshops and finally Flight Simulators before leaving in 2014.

Since them I have worked in the Occupational Health and Safety field after completing a Post Graduate Diploma at Ballarat Uni (now Federation Uni).

Exercise and Health

I have consistently trained physically hard through various disciplines, becoming a jack of all trades but probably a master of none.  Since about 9 I was an active runner and ran in many fun runs.  In the RAAF I swam in AUSSI Masters Swimming comps.  During my 30’s and early 40’s I cycled a lot and in the past 6 or so years have enjoyed CrossFit.  Whilst I have maintained a high level of underlying fitness, still being able to out perform or out last some much younger than I, my greatest challenge is weight.  Whilst I have lost weight at times, this is the one thing I have struggled to maintain and find the discipline for.

Martial Arts

Background

My martial arts studies have covered a period of approximately 35 years, initially sporadic until discovering Goju Kensha in 1995.

At the age of 15 I trained Zen Do Kai with my brother-in-law until joining the RAAF at age 17.  When after training at RAAF Wagga Wagga, I was posted to RAAF Edinburgh in Adelaide where I tried my hand at Jiu Jitsu, but not for long.

In 1995, I joined QANTAS and sat next to a gentleman by the name of Joe Bonnici in the Avionics Workshop.  Joe was had just graded to Shodan and invited me to come to training one night.  Since then I have never stopped or looked back.  Thank you Joe.

In the mid 00’s I was lucky enough for Shihan Gary Jackson to introduce me to Sifu Deming Liu, a wonderful technician and martial artist like Shihan Gary.  I studied Tai Chi (24 Form, 32 Sword, and commenced 42 Form), Xing Yi to an elementary level (including basics, 5 element drills, partner forms and 12 animals), and some Qi Gong exercises.

I have never looked back since commencing Goju-Kensha studies in 1995.

Key events and learnings

In a tournament in about 1998 at Greenvale, I won performing Kata Seiyunchin,  and has remained one of my favourites.  I really enjoy training Kata Unsu, Sochin, and 42 Form (Tai Chi).   I also enjoy developing partner work, trying to find the bunkai that are best for me and ‘making them my own’.  This approach is an influence of Master Ohtsuka Tadahiko and of Shihan Gary Jackson.   I remember an instruction, “if you can have a few favourite (simple) techniques to start with, if they are effective, then you can open the menu and do what you like after that”

One aspect of my training I feel proud of is my training ethic, as with all my other physical endeavours.  I have always practiced and studied at home.  So whenever I am not training at a dojo, I am training at home.  I also like structure, and so a focus on maintaining what skills and abilities I have, and improving on them where I can, particularly as I get older.

Training ethic

My private training focuses on performing kata and when I feel or know something isn’t right, I look to the basics and the related waza, sabaki, or basic drill including of late, the 9 power generators.   I spend about 60% of my time training skills and kata I am developing or have recently developed, and then the remaining 40% on revising the ‘previous’.

Challenges

My greatest challenges are being too self critical, and sparring.  Whilst I believe one must realise the faults in themselves before they realise the faults in others, I can beat myself up about my weaknesses too much, and have learnt not to over time.   Also with sparring, I have learned to realise no to use it as test or an assessment of ones abilities, but as a method of training and development; I don’t think there is any real test of one’s abilities unless you are confronted by a real life self defence situation.  Gradings test ability, but I think more so they test knowledge (if one can distinguish the two for the sake of the argument).

Influences

I would like to close off with influences so we can see where it all has come from.

Whilst it is understandable the teachings of Master Ohtsuka Tadahiko passed down by Shihan Gary are some of my greatest influences, it may be unique to say that the death of my Mother, having a mentally handicapped brother, witnessing young lives lost to cancer when working for Camp Quality in the early ‘90s, and my Father’s philosophical and fatalistic perspective on life inherited by me, are reflected in my approach to life and martial arts study alike.  And in return, as per Ying and Yang, martial arts has reinforced many philosophies of mine.  Primarily I do believe discipline and humility is the true path to self improvement.  I regularly remind myself of a quote, “If you are good at something, you don’t have to tell anyone”