Hanshi Ian Pollet

Hanshi Ian Pollet is a Martial Artist and ISKA Grand World Champion in Kata and Self DeFence. He is an 8th Degree Black Belt in Karate-Jitsu and a 5th Degree Black Belt in Ryūkyū Kobujutsu (Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Hozen Budo Kyokai - Okinawan Weapons).

Hanshi Ian Pollet is the owner and Master Instructor of Pollet’s Martial Arts Centre (PMAC), currently the World Championship School after winning the ISKA World Cup in 2008. In 2010 Hanshi Ian Pollet and PMAC will travel to Europe to defend their titles.

On 17 July 2009, Hanshi Ian Pollet won the Central West Sportsperson of the year award; the first martial artist in history to do so.

Early life

Pollet was born in Cape Town, South Africa.

When Pollet was eight years old he commenced his martial arts training, he began with practising free-style wrestling, boxing, judo, Shortly after he found karate - the style in which he has predominantly focused. This was to be the start of his martial arts career, which has spanned forty six years.

At fourteen, Pollet immigrated to New South Wales, Australia. Pollet looked for academies to further his martial arts training. He would travel to any karate schools reputed to be good, travelling around Bonnyrigg, Bankstown, Liverpool, Campbelltown and surrounding areas. He did this six nights per week, often coming home late in an extremely rough area.

At the time, the area he lived in was mostly farmland, Pollet would spend Saturday and Sunday training in nearby paddocks. These are what he describes as his “humble beginnings”. He would begin his weekend training at 9am, finishing at 5pm with a short break every two hours. From the very beginning Hanshi Pollet has displayed immense discipline. His repertoire included karate techniques, working out on the makiwara (one he made from a duffle bag) and the boxing and wrestling methods that he had been shown over the years.

Even at such a young age Hanshi Pollet was open to the benefits of a variety of arts. He was able to dissect a style and pick the best from it whether it was Judo, Boxing,Karate or Wrestling. Some of Hanshi Pollet’s instructors were flexible with his swapping and changing, whilst others frowned upon the practice. However, Hanshi Pollet has always believed in the adage that “if you enter another man’s house you should accept his rules and see where they take you”.

Martial Arts Training and Development

Hanshi Ian Pollet began his Karate training in Australia with Koh Beng Soo and Ching Peng Wah. For many years he travelled to Sydney every weekend to train with his instructors. Some years after moving to Central Western NSW Hanshi Pollet began his training in Karate Jitsu under Professor Barry Bradshaw. He also trains in Kobujitsu under Grandmaster Kiichi Nakamoto.

The style Hanshi Pollet has developed (and now teaches in his full time studios) is based upon the water principle – the idea that ‘’“water can fit itself into any glass, just as a martial artist must fit their art and self into any life situation.”’’

He has trained from 6.30 - 8am every morning for the last thirty seven years and still enjoys every workout. He supplements his martial arts training with lifting weights and believes in regularly practising kata. "I do kata five to six days per week. Performing kata enables you to separate information and to listen to the rhythm of your body and your breathing. It shows you how to cool down and heat up your body. You learn how to use your energy flow and you feel great from it. Kata is the dictionary of martial arts."

Martial Arts has truly been a life time pursuit for Hanshi Pollet.

8th Degree Black Belt - Karate Jitsu

After several years of preparation, Hanshi Pollet was examined for his 8th Dan by 10th Dan Professor Barry Bradshaw, 10th Dan Grand Master Peter Morton, 10th Dan Master Tony Jackson, 10th Dan Dr. Robert Braff and 9th Dan Hanshi Pat McKean. He achieved this goal - becoming one of the youngest true master level black belts. His dedication not only to himself and his students, but to his art is something that can only be truly understood by those who set on the path to follow his example.

Hanshi Ian Pollet achieved the rank of Hanchidan (Eight Degree Black Belt) in July 2007.

5th Degree Black Belt - Ryūkyū Kobujutsu

In July 2008, after a previous visit with Grandmaster Kiichi Nakamoto, Hanshi Ian Pollet returned to Okinawa for his 5th Dan in Ryūkyū Kobujutsu.

After an intense examination on the use of many Okinawan weapons, including yet not restricted to the Sai, Bo staff, Nunchaku and Tonfa - Hanshi Pollet was awarded his 5th Degree Black Belt in Ryūkyū Kobujutsu. Impressed as he was with Hanshi Pollet’s weaponry skill, Kiichi Nakamoto invited him back again in 18 months time to test for his 6th Degree Black Belt.

Kyusho Jitsu

Hanshi Ian Pollet is a Kyusho Jitsu expert.

In addition to his traditional training, he facilitated in the study and research of the art at the Dillman Rick Clark Institute.

Awards and honours

Affiliations

Hanshi Ian Pollet is affiliated with the following institutions:

Titles

Hanshi Ian Pollet first competed when he was sixteen years old, after lying about his age. At the time, competitors needed to be 18 years old in order to compete.

Since then he has competed in numerous tournaments, procuring many titles.

World

National

State

Regional

Pollet’s Martial Arts Centre

When Hanshi Pollet was 18 years old, he moved to Central Western NSW. It was there - in Orange - that he opened his first Dojo.

Pollet’s Martial Arts Centre now consists of three full time dojos located in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo, in addition to part time facilities in Geurie, Molong, Cudal, Spring Hill, Blayney, Grenfell, Forbes, Eugowra, Mullion Creek & Cowra - Pollet's Martial Arts Centre is the biggest martial arts organisation in the Central West.

Hanshi Pollet teaches traditional Okinawan Karate, Kobujutsu, Ju-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Boxing, Muscle Strengthening, Health & Fitness and Meditation.

See also

• Karate
• Ryūkyū Kobujutsu
• Japanese Kata

References

• Ian Pollet: Karate Down to a Tee - Knuckle Pit http://www.knucklepit.com/mixed-martial-arts-ian_pollet.htm
• Pollet’s Martial Arts Centre Official Webpage http://www.polletsmartialartscentre.com.au
• http://www.nakamoto-usa.com/
• Professor Barry Bradshaw Official Website http://www.jiujitsu.org.au
• Advanced Pressure Point Fighting Of Ryukyu Kempo by George Dillman