Vik Pawaar was one of the first to train at Fale Dojo when its Auckland premises opened 2016. As a graduate of the inaugural three-month professional wrestling course, Pawaar learned the Japanese strong style directly from Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale. This discipline complemented Pawaar’s background in powerlifting and MMA, as well as his most recent achievement as a nationally recognised Personal Trainer. Pawaar has brought all of these accolades to his role as the Dojo’s Kushti HIIT Trainer.
“I have been in the fitness industry for a while now,” said Pawaar, who moved from India to New Zealand in 2011.
“When I was growing up in India, I used to be really skinny and people used to make fun of me, so I decided to do fitness,” he explained. “I started exercising when I was in college, and when I moved to NZ, I got into doing Muay Thai and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.”
“Since then I never looked back. I have been pushing to become the best version of myself. I always have a passion for exercise and get a good physique.”
Pawaar is the innovator of Kushti HIIT: a blend of disciplines that he has fused into an exciting workout.
“Kushti is the Indian word for ‘wrestling’ and HIIT is otherwise known as High-Intensity Interval Training,” Pawaar described. “HIIT is a form of training for people that want to lose weight and get into shape but without doing steady pace cardio.”
“I’ve taken the best influences from my training in Indian wrestling, and Japanese wrestling and combined it with HIIT,” Pawaar added. “The way it works is that you engage in Kushti HIIT workout for a certain amount of time before taking a break, and you repeat these intervals for the rest of the session.”
“The objective of Kushti HIIT is that it will help you lose more fat in less time. Your body goes into a catabolic state and starts to lose more stored fat.”
Pawaar’s Kushti HIIT classes have received positive responses from students, but the greatest endorsement has come from Toks Fale who has utilised the classes taught by his new trainers to work out. Fale took to his social media to praise his trainers for playing a significant role in his transformation:
“[I] Weighed in today after our 6-week challenge,” said Fale. “Down 17kgs (37.4lbs). With the right meal plan and the training program from the Fale Dojo trainers I’m back feeling healthy again.”
Vik Pawaar has been one of the cornerstones of the Fale Dojo community since its inception. Throughout the growth of the Dojo, Pawaar also learned vital skills to add to his own repertoire. His journey has brought him full circle in becoming a member of the coaching staff; allowing him to give back to the Dojo’s diverse community. The additions of Pawaar the Kushti HIIT Trainer, Tangi Ropati (Head Trainer) and Aniva Laulu (Box Fit Trainer) give students the opportunity to experience Auckland’s multiculturalism with each coach bringing the richness of their backgrounds and culture. This ensures that the students are getting the best of everything.
“It was a great opportunity for me to be the first student at Fale Dojo because I was getting trained by Fale-San himself,” Pawaar shared. ”I learned discipline, positive energy and my wrestling skills from Fale. We started in a small place and now we are getting bigger and bigger, and I am very honoured to be a trainer at the very place that gave me my start.”
“Fale Dojo / NJPW New Zealand Dojo is the only legitimate pathway to becoming a professional wrestler in NZ and one of the very few in the world,” he recommended. “The training changes the student’s lifestyle; physically and mentally, and lessons in life skills like respect for yourself and others are taught from day one.”
“What’s just as important is that Fale Dojo is now a combat sport Dojo to our local community,” Pawaar said in closing. “We offer classes in Body Shock fitness, Kickboxing, Box Fit, Kushti HITT and of course Professional Wrestling [taught by Tony Kozina]. We welcome all people.”
ABOUT FALE DOJO / NJPW NEW ZEALAND DOJO:
Founded in 2016 by Head Trainer Toks Fale, Fale Dojo is a professional wrestling training school, wrestling promotion and fitness facility based in South Auckland, New Zealand. Toks Fale first came into the wrestling scene as the first non-Japanese student to successfully train as a young lion (rookie) at the New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo in Tokyo from 2008 to 2009, before his 2010 debut in NJPW. Known professionally as the “Rogue General” Bad Luck Fale, his wrestling status was elevated in 2013 when he became one of the founding members of Bullet Club. Regarded as the hottest faction in pro wrestling, Bullet Club has maintained its dominance in the wrestling world for over half a decade, due partly to Fale’s reputation as the Club’s revered enforcer.
Toks Fale envisioned the Dojo as a way of sharing his experience and knowledge with his community with the goal of presenting professional wrestling as a viable career opportunity. Fale’s reputation helped ensure an affiliation between the Dojo and New Japan Pro Wrestling which has allowed graduates from the Dojo’s three-month professional wrestling course to pursue further training at the New Japan Dojo and from there the possibility of gaining a spot on the NJPW main roster.
Notable graduates to emerge from Fale Dojo include “Switchblade” Jay White, Toa Henare, Robbie Eagles, Gino Gambino, and Aaron Solow. The incentive and the opportunity to gain Fale’s insight has drawn in many locals, as well as attracting students from all over the world.
Fale’s passion is to give back to his community, to share his experience and knowledge of the wrestling profession and to instil the teachings required to become a successful professional wrestler.
Fale Dojo is proud to have partnerships with Coca-Cola, and Xplosive Supplements, Papatoetoe, South Auckland. Fale Dojo also is the first Pacific Island owned and operated professional wrestling training school and wrestling promotion in New Zealand.
Fale Dojo is an official part of the New Japan Pro Wrestling training system, known internationally as NJPW New Zealand Dojo.