Wayne was introduced to martial arts in 1975 when he joined a Judo club held at the local PCYC in Scarborough. Wayne also competed in Surf lifesaving and represented Western Australia on five occasions. Whilst at the Scarborough Surf Club he watched a BJC grading being held. The instructors were skilled and streetwise and the following week in late 1980 he joined, he was hooked. This was Zen Do Kai.
Wayne progressed through the ranks and was a dedicated student training every day.
Training in those days involved fitness, conditioning, kata and sparring. There were no mats on the floor and no boxing gloves. It was very hard and many people started but finished soon after. The Chief instructor was Kyoshi Rod Stroud who was assisted by Shihan Noel Watson.
Wayne went to Melbourne in 1982 and achieved his Black Belt chanted by Billy Manne. Soke Bob Jones and his senior instructors made regular trips to Perth for camps and Gradings. Wayne trained under Mr Stroud and had regular lessons with Instructors Noel Watson, Peter Sadler and Darcy Boylan. Wayne competed in many tournaments and combat competitions during this time.
In 1984, Wayne travelled to Sydney as part of a security team for the Narara Music Festival. He got to work with Simple Minds, Talking Heads, The Pretenders, INXS, Midnight Oil and many others. After obtaining 3rd Degree Wayne was teaching at the main Honbu in Osborne Park regularly with Wally Terrata.
In 1987, Wayne gained 4th Degree with the weapons Bo, Kama and Katana. He was now known for his dedicated, hard, no nonsense approach to Zen Do Kai.
Wayne was encouraged by Mr Stroud to open a Dojo, he found a hall in Mirrabooka and started Spear Dojo in July 1987. Doug Spear, David Lynch, and Jeff Ellis were the top students at the time.
Wayne and the senior instructors provided security for Jimmy Barnes, INXS, Billy Joel and other popular bands at the time. They had their security covered, and Spear Dojo later became a Registered Training Organisation issuing qualifications to new Security Guards.
Over time the club relocated to St Mary’s School in Karrinyup, then on to the Scarborough Surf Club. Campbell Leach, Terry and Shaun Keating, Doug Spear, Nigel Harbach, Micheal Buzzard and Danny Green all trained there regularly, this group really galvanised the tough physical and mental attitude of Zen Do Kai.
Spear Dojo then relocated to Selby Health and Fitness in Osborne Park. Rod Bennett, Todd Vladich and Mark Irwin achieved Sensei status there. Wayne established children’s classes in Zen Do Kai and Sandy Spear (nee DiCicco) ran them.
In 1998 Spear Dojo started Women’s only kickboxing classes, the first club to do so in Western Australia and they were so popular that the halls in Karrinyup and ECU Joondalup were packed with all the ladies smashing the pads. Spear Dojo also ran classes in the Craigie Leisure Center. Cardio Kickboxing was popular as well as ZDK and Muay Thai. Some of our current Instructors; Adam Sochacki, Emily Saville, Shannon Quintal and Timothy Hamilton started there. The Sensei’s at the time were Rod Bennett, Todd Vladich, Mark Irwin and Andrew Scully, these guys looked big, fit, strong and mean, but were nice.
In 2000 Wayne sourced a unit in Wangara and made this the permanent home for Spear Dojo.
Andrew Scully, Brendan McFaull, Eoin Byrne and Mikayla Banks were the top students. Mikayla started when she was just 13 years old was one of the top women practitioners in WA.
Mike Mujakic, John Tighe, Sandy Spear and Dan Sullivan headed the Muay Thai classes. Guests over the years include SOKE Bob Jones, Richard Norton, Dave Hedgecock, Alex Kostic, Heikki Martikainen, Heinrich Hayes and other International and Local experts such as Aikido master Ross Taylor.
Glen Fry, Paul Stephen, Jeff Donatti, Scott Hardstaff, Debbie White, Craig McClure, Luke Vladich, Peter Rimmer, Scott Wood, Joslyn Udy and Grant Oshaunessy dominated gradings and tournaments and helped Spear Dojo become one of the strongest in WA in the early century.
The first child to graduate to Black Belt was Braden Short. He started when he was 4 years old. It is such a credit to Braden how he trained in the early years with older students and he is now a well respected man. Notable students who started young and continue to shine are Jackson Lovell, Thomas Chambers, Josh Oats Lunn, Maddeline Genovese, and Jake Barber who are still training and becoming awesome Martial Artists.
Instructing children to excel is a skill like no other. Eoin Byrne, Mikayla Banks, Laura Hooper, Adam Sochacki, Timothy Hamilton, Emily Saville and Shannon Quintal are probably the best teachers a child could have in Martial Arts. Spear Dojo is what it is today because of these people and their dedication to their craft. Thomas Chambers, Jackson Lovell, Ben Fabris and Tansy Perera following on with this special skill.
Muay Thai at Spear Dojo became popular due to the efforts of Sandy Spear, Mike Mujakic, Russell Wilson, Drew Scully, John Tighe, Scott Hardstaff and John Mendoza. They trained hard and you left class knowing you were alive [ just]. Bruce McFee, Darren Millar, Simon Martinelli, Mark Jones and Paul Marlow have all helped develop our fighters and trainers like Brian Rodrigues, Adam Sochacki, Barbara Callahan and Chenoa Wright.
Brian Rodrigues, Andrew Weir, Russell Wilson, and Adam Sochacki instruct our latest group of warriors.
Sandy and Wayne worked and trained every day, the club grew with satellite branches in Karrinyup, Craigie, ECU Joondalup, Craigie, Prendiville College, Lancelin and Gin Gin. Laura Hooper, Eoin Byrne, Mikayla Banks, Brendan Mc Faull and Sandy Spear taught and travelled consistently. After recovering from an accident from a wayward car whilst training for 2nd Dan BJC Muay Thai, Sandy went on to achieve 3rd degree and forged a strong training ethic that continues to motivate students.
Wayne honed his skills in The Netherlands, Thailand, United States and Serbia taking in Thai Boxing, BJJ, Systema and Kapap and included the most practical techniques in his lessons. Rather than spread skill thin Wayne decided to focus on quality instruction and settled exclusively at the Wangara Dojo.
In 2004, Wayne traveled the world extensively with Kyoshi Justin Boylan. They sought out the best Martial Artists in all styles and met and trained with Renzo and Royce Gracie, Randy Couture and many others.
Mixed Martial Arts became popular when the UFC formed. We started teaching MMA in 2005 and classes grew to 50 on the mat. AJ Barton won a BJJ tournament as a teenager and she has won numerous since. Peter Moore holds the current State MMA title at 70kg [2017]. Peter Moore, Garrett Misseldine and Keane Heard keep the standard in our classes high.
In 2008, Wayne met Alex Kostic and his methods and philosophy have influenced Wayne greatly. Training with Alex, Billy Manne and Matt Ball on an international trip was inspirational. Kevin Secours and Avi Nardia have also influenced Wayne’s teachings. All skills and Philosophies learnt fitted perfectly in Bob Jones’s Martial Arts.
In 2009 Spear Dojo won ZDK club of the year.
In 2010 Zen Do Kai’s 40th year, Wayne gained 6th Degree Black Belt.
In 2019 Wayne was awarded a Black Sash in Shaolin Kung Fu.
In 2020 Wayne achieved Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
In 2021 Wayne was a finalist in the WA Firefighter of the year awards for services to the Fire and Rescue Service for over 30 years.
In 2022 Wayne was promoted to Soke, 10th Degree Tara Miliata, and inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Wayne has represented Western Australia 5 times in Surf lifesaving and holds over 10 State Titles.
He was awarded the Overseas Humanitarian Award from the Australian Government for services in the Christchurch Earthquake in February 2011
Muay Thai and MMA Fighters have won many titles whilst training at Spear Dojo. Daniel Payne , Darryl Payne and Peter Moore have all won State Titles. Fighters include Darryl and Daniel Payne, Dan Sullivan, Ian Phillips, Dale Griffiths, Peter Rimmer, Eoin Byrne, Drew Scully, Amanda Stevenson, Caley Lewis, AJ Barton, Russell Wilson, Dan Jones and Peter Moore.
Wayne has officiated in over 250 State, Australian and International bouts as a Referee or Judge. At one State Title bout, Two lightweight fighters were going hell for leather after the bell, so Ref Wayne stepped in to break up the angry men. In his forceful actions he literally threw one fighter out of the ring. The crowd then booed Wayne as he gathered the fighters together for the next round. At least they knew who was in charge.
2022 marks the 42nd year of Soke Wayne’s involvement in Bob Jones’s Zen Do Kai. It also marks the 35th year of Spear Dojo. Wayne continues his journey still regularly teaching at Spear Dojo and training with Masters and friends; Rod Stroud, Steve Nedelkos, Justin Boylan, Dean Woodhams, Doug Spear, Goioere Dias and William Dias.
