Important People
  Home Page | About Page | What's New Page | Seminars Page | Contact Page | Favorite Links | Instructors Page | Photo Page | Kakutogi | Training | Location Page | Important People  

There have been many important people in the development of Contact Kinetics. This page is a short "Thank you!" in recognition of their time and effort.

Friends, come and visit us next time you're in Singapore, or just passing by the Gym!
Lali Jochmann

Coach Lali was one of the founding Instructors of CK, and he has now moved to Beijing to follow his other career of teaching children. He helped shape both the training methodology and the training ethic of CK, and is much missed by all.
Yurii Siegel

Coach Yurii has now moved to the USA, and is involved in some very specific work, where his training is an incalcuable asset. We look forward to his next visit home.
John Whalen-Bridge

John was a founding member of CK, and a muchvalued part of the team. He has now chosen to focus more on his academic work.

In his own words:

John Whalen-Bridge was born sometime in the Kennedy administration and began studying Taekwondo in the United States in 1983. He has a Shodan (1st degree black belt) and no memory of forms whatsoever. He lived in Okinawa from 1993-1998 and studied Shohei-Ryu (a variant of Uechi-Ryu) under Shigeru TAKAMIYAGI

http://www.okikukai.jp/English/admin.htm 

where he attained a Sandan (3rd Degree black belt). John considers Shohei-ryu to be his "foundation style": he believes that martial artists should cross-train as much as possible but should not lose their foundation.  Living in Singapore since 1998, John has earned a Shodan in Hapkido, and he has been training in MMA and karate with Chris de Wet since 2004. He has fought in and helped organize tournements in the USA and Okinawa. Married with two children, John is Associate Professor of English at the National University of Singapore.

John won the title of Champion of the Master's division for the Singapore Submission Grappling Tournament in 2005.
Chris de Wet

Coach Chris was an important part of CK, fulfilling his duties from mid-2004 through mid-2007 (Although the gym closed in 2006, a few dedicated individuals continued to train with him as friends. He is most grateful for their dedication, support and cameraderie). He has since passed the baton to Coach Aaron who is ably qualified to lead CK to an even better future.

With his move out of Singapore, he hopes that past and present members will visit him, should they ever be in the neighborhood.