Text Box: My (kyokushin) story I was born in Poland in 1956. I took an interest in martial arts when karate was considered mysterious and not of this world. There were no clubs of any style in the town were I lived. I travelled to the city of Radom where I trained in Kyokushin Dojo run by Ryszard Szczepanski. In the seventies Kyokushin Karate rapidly spread across European countries. At the time in Poland there were only a handful of black belt instructors. I took upon myself to open a club in my home town. When the doors opened for the first time there were more than 70 students wanting to participate. Eventually the numbers grew even further, to which point the classes had to be split into two parallel classes. I continued a hard training regime, 3 nights a week in my club and 2 nights a week with my black belt instructor. In 1976 I attained 8th kyu. Three years later I was a very proud owner of 3rd kyu certificate. Kumite, Szydlowiec Dojo 1978 During my training in Poland, I attended international camps conducted by the leading karateka at the time, such as Loek Hollander, then President of Kyokushin Karate in Europe. I took part in training camps in Krakow, and Szczecin. I’ve also organized our very own camp on the shores of Baltic Sea. 30 years old Video clip from our first camp My fighters took part in competitions on local and national level. My dojo 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. Another video clip made with 8mm wind up movie camera, our demonstration on the grounds of Szydlowiec historic temple 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. Up 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. To be continued.

Sensei Roman history

Sensei Roman-Szydlowiec Dojo Poland 1978

Sensei Roman at his MacGregor Dojo,

Brisbane Australia with sensei Gary O’Neil

after very interesting training session  (1996)

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

MacGregor Dojo early days

Some MacGregor Dojo members and sensei Roman after the class.

Senpai Paul, sensei Dominic, sensei Gary and sensei Roman

 MacGregor Dojo

Sensei Roman-training camp Poland-Szczecin 1980

Shihan Eddie Emin dojo, Melbourne Australia May 1991. Picture taken after dan/kyu grading.

Bottom right Roman Kucfir first kyu next tu his son Martin (green belt)