BOB JONES MARTIAL ARTS

LESSONS FROM THE MASTER

LESSONS FROM THE MASTER

Cobden Times

Nearly 60 martial arts enthusiasts from across the region converged on Cobden over the weekend for a workshop with world-renowned expert Richard Norton. About 58 people attended the event, coming from Cobden, Colao, Ararat, Ballarat, Warrnambool , Torquay and Melbourne.

Held at Cobden Technical School on Sunday, the seminar attracted varying ages and abilities for a three-hour session from one of the discipline's most celebrated masters . Norton said it was pleasing to see people from so many different clubs , or dojos, attend the event. "It's great to see so many different dojos represented here;' he said. "It's good to get in one room and see what we can learn together:'

While Norton said he was not out to change anyone's style, he hoped to add to their knowledge. "Hopefully I'm just adding to what you already do' he said.

Cobden Zen Do Kai inst ructor Tania Rowan said the community was thrilled Norton agreed to a workshop in the town.

"We were just at a seminar he was hosting in Melbourne and asked whether he would like to come to Cobden and he said yes;' she said. "It's pretty unbelievable:' With experience in martial arts that goes back almost 50 years, Norton first gained notice in the 1970s when he worked alongside Bob Jones to develop the Zen Do Kai system of karate.

During this time, Norton became a bodyguard to the rich and famous, working for celebrities like David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Stevie Nicks. His training partners have included Chuck Norris, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Bill Wallace, Fumio Demura, Tadashi Yamash ita and Pete 'Sugar Foot' Cunningham.

Norton then leaped on to the silver screen and now boasts more th an 60 movie credits. His latest movie, Under A Red Moon, was recently shot in Melbourne and is due for a limited release this month. Norton is now also in demand in Australia and internationally as a martial arts seminar presenter.