My fighters took part in competitions  local and national level.             

Mydojo organized numerous presentations, every occasion was god to show of kyokushin karate. We did it in school halls, city square in our local temple or right on the streets of our town. 

In 1981 I sadly said goodbye to my Szydlowiec Dojo, however, I had keen students who had risen through the ranks and continued my legacy of Kyokushin Karate.

Unfortunately due to political situation in Poland, in 1982 I migrated with my family to Australia.

My road to Australia was not as straight forward as one may think.

In 1981 in Poland Solidarity movement grew in strength, people on the streets more often then ever before openly demanded improvement in day to day life. Everyone new that something was going to happen soon. At that time I was 25 years old, and as may other young man and women in Poland I wanted to feel free to travel where ever and when ever I wanted. I could not wait to see the World and taste what it has to offer. I did not want to be constrain by system that did not give you room to grow.

I vividly remember my first encounter with the west, it was right after we’ve crossed the border between Slovak republic. In Austria we where greeted by huge Coca-Cola poster displayed on the barn of a first Austrian village we wonder to. It was clear to us than that we were on the western part of what we call a Civilized World.

Crossing the border was only first relatively easy step in my road to freedom and new life.

 

About six weeks later my wife and two sons joined me in Austria, at that time the only road to the west lead through refugee camp in Vienna. In this camp you could find displaced people from all eastern European nations, most of them just like my family came from Poland,. Some people seemed to be lost, confused and overwhelmed by their predicament. Some of them cried before they crossed the gate of the refugee camp, some stood there for hours holding passports in their hands not knowing what to do.

I’ve made up my mind long before I arrive in Vienna, so I did not have any trouble handing out passports of all my family members and officially begin emigrating process.

 

During 7 long months in Austria I practiced my basic techniques and kata whenever I could; I’ve also trained there for some time with Shotokan practitioners, every opportunity was good to stay fit and keep training.  

Finally after numerous interviews my family was accepted by the Australian Embassy, on 28 day of January 1982 we landed at the Melbourne airport.

We settled in Melbourne. With practically no English language skills, I ventured out and found the Kyokushin Karate Sunshine Dojo. I felt completely at home with the people at the dojo, since all Kyokushin classes are held in Japanese, there were no difficulties in participating in classes.

I had two sons at that time, Martin born in 1975 and Paul, Born in 1980, naturally I introduced them to Kyokushin Karate. Martin began training at age 10 and Paul at age 5 in Geelong at Corio Dojo run by sensei Luke Grugrevic.

Paul 5 years old

In his first do-gi

Paul 7 years old going for blue belt

Martin about 11 years old,,

demo. with Corio Dojo

Until 1991 I trained in various clubs in Melbourne and Geelong where I attained 1st kyu.

In 1992 I moved with my family to Brisbane Queensland. Soon, my sons and I began training at the Cameron Quinn Brisbane Dojo. At the time of our joining the club, Gary O'Neill and Walter Schnaubelt, among others were Ushi Dachi (live in students).

In 1993 I’ve past my shodan, 1st Dan black belt exam. I received my coveted belt in the spring of 1994. I received my official belt and certificate almost simultaneously with the sad news about death of Kyokushin Karate founder Sosai Masutatsu Oyama.

By this stage my sons Martin and Paul have achieved 1st kyu.

After training with Shihan Cameron Quinn for further 12 months, in 1995 I opened the Kyokushin Karate MacGregor Dojo.