Ite Lemalu Writings

NZ Dojo 2024 June Intake

By Ite Lemalu / 20/09/2024

Fale Dojo / NJPW NZ Dojo proudly welcomed the 2024 June Intake under the leadership of Toks Fale aka New...

NZ Dojo 2023 September Intake – Part Two

By Ite Lemalu / 15/12/2023

The newest additions to the Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo roll call include young lions that have travelled from Germany,...

NZ Dojo 2023 September Intake – Part One

By Ite Lemalu / 15/12/2023

The Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo 2023 September Intake commenced training on the first week of September. Led by Toks...

Oskar’s Odyssey to New Japan Pro-Wrestling

By Ite Lemalu / 22/11/2023

Oskar Leube’s odyssey to New Japan Pro-Wrestling has been three years in the making. Beginning in 2019, Leube trained for...

The Fighting Spirit of Yuto Nakashima

By Ite Lemalu / 22/11/2023

The journey of Yuto Nakashima is one that is remarkably rare. Nakashima, a former professional Mix Martial Arts fighter in...

NZ Dojo 2023 June Intake – Part Three

By Ite Lemalu / 13/09/2023

Coach, foundation graduate, and Co-Director Mark Tui trained directly under Toks Fale. As Co-Directors, Tui and Fale set the vision...

NZ Dojo 2023 June Intake – Part Two

By Ite Lemalu / 13/09/2023

Pro-Wrestling Coach Tony Kozina oversees the day-to-day development of the young lions. With 27 years of experience, Kozina helped shape...

NZ Dojo 2023 June Intake – Part One

By Ite Lemalu / 13/09/2023

NZ Dojo / Fale Dojo welcomed the second intake of 2023 which began on the first week of June. This...

Fale Dojo 2023 February Intake – Part 2

By Ite Lemalu / 18/05/2023

In keeping with the theme of determination and unity, Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo Pro-Wrestling Coach, Tony Kozina weighed in...

Fale Dojo 2023 February Intake – Part 1

By Ite Lemalu / 16/05/2023

Determined and united to the end! An apt description of the young lions of the Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo...

Fale Dojo 2019 June Intake

Posted on17/07/201913/02/2021AuthorIte Lemalu

The Fale Dojo second intake for 2019 commenced training in the first week of June. It consists of eight young lions, five of whom have travelled from Australia, Japan and Hawai’i to be trained by founder and Head Trainer Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale and his coaching staff. This intake has also welcomed back three graduates Read More …

Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown – Melbourne Recap

Posted on12/07/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

The wait was over for the Fale Dojo contingent after months of anticipation. The graduates led by Head Trainer Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale converged at the historic Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia to perform on the first night of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s ‘Southern Showdown’ event. Mark Tui, the General Manager and Coach at Fale Read More …

Wrestling is a Metaphor for Life – Bullet Club OG vs. Being the Elite

Posted on08/07/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu1 Comment

‘Wrestling is a Metaphor for Life” is a series of articles that looks at past rivalries in pro wrestling. Influenced by popular culture and the social behaviour of the times, these rivalries emphasise the stark contrast between the heroes and villains who are explained through various themes. Hulkamania vs. the Million Dollar Man dealt with Read More …

Tome and Stevie Filip – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on19/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Tome and Stevie Filip are an established addition to the Australian wrestling scene. The brother tag team from Melbourne known as the “Natural Classics” have competed throughout Australia as well as in the United States prior to enrolling in the Fale Dojo 2019 February intake. While training at the Dojo, Tome and Stevie fully engaged Read More …

Aaron Solow – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on18/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Aaron Solow is a recent graduate of the Fale Dojo three-month pro wrestling training course. During which he competed in the main event of the first two ‘Fale Dojo Exhibition’ shows. Solow, a ten-year pro from South San Francisco, California has wrestled all over the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Ireland and England, Read More …

Andrew Villalobos – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on17/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Australia’s Andrew Villalobos trained at the Fale Dojo as part of the June 2018 intake. Following the three-month pro wrestling training course, Villalobos was accepted to the New Japan Dojo in Tokyo for further training. Since the completion of the Young Lion’s programme in Tokyo, Villalobos has been wrestling in his hometown Sydney under the Read More …

Gino Gambino – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on15/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Gino Gambino is a Fale Dojo graduate, he is also the Dojo’s Australian liaison. Gambino’s role is to help set up Dojo try-outs in Australia and put forward talent to go through training via the Dojo system in Auckland, NZ. Gambino is widely known as a veteran of 14 years – a quick-witted powerhouse and Read More …

Toa Henare – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on14/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Before the Fale Dojo was established at its South Auckland location in 2016, its training programme and philosophy designed by Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale and is based on the New Japan Pro Dojo was first taught to his student Toa Henare. Henare graduated to the New Japan Dojo where he gained extensive training which eventually Read More …

Michael Richards – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on13/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Michael Richards is a product of both the Fale Dojo and New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo systems. Richards is one of four New Zealanders to train at the revered NJPW Dojo following in the paths of Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale, Toa Henare and “Switchblade’ Jay White. Since his return back to NZ in 2019, Richards Read More …

Tony Kozina – Fale Dojo at NJPW Southern Showdown

Posted on13/06/201928/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Tony Kozina is a seasoned pro of the wrestling business with more than 20 year’s experience. Having wrestled extensively throughout North America, he has captured many championships on his travels, and some of these accolades include multiple titles with the National Wrestling Alliance. Kozina is also an experienced fighter who is well versed in kickboxing Read More …