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...

The Pupil Meets the Teacher II – Toa Henare vs Bad Luck Fale

Posted on19/09/201824/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

“I’m still breathing, and if I breathe, I fight”. This was the vow made to New Japan Pro Wrestling’s media by a battered yet determined Toa Henare, moments after his loss to Bad Luck Fale at the “DESTRUCTION in Hiroshima” event, held this past weekend at Sun Plaza Hall. This match marked the second meeting Read More …

Fale’s Pride – Young Lions join NJPW Dojo

Posted on12/09/201819/05/2021AuthorIte Lemalu1 Comment

The team at Fale Dojo have a new reason to be immensely proud of their most recent intakes: Michael Richards, Andrew Villalobos, Ben Payne, and Nathan McCarter have been accepted into the New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo where they will receive further training in the hopes of achieving their ultimate ambition of competing on Read More …

Interview with New Japan Pro Wrestling star Toa Henare

Posted on31/08/201806/11/2024AuthorIte Lemalu6 Comments

Born in Auckland, New Zealand and raised as a Cook Island Maori, Toa Henare knew early in his life that he wanted to be a professional wrestler. He embarked on a journey that led him to other combat disciplines before attending a professional wrestling seminar taught by Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale. Before Fale Dojo was Read More …

Strong Style – Changing A Fan’s Perception

Posted on30/08/201824/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

Lately, I started following New Japan Pro Wrestling, starting with the G1 Climax 28. The G1 was an awesome introduction to this hot product that has started to expand their market in the west. Admittedly, it took me some time to re-programme the way I watch wrestling. In earlier articles, I mentioned that I grew Read More …

Welcome to Fale Dojo

Posted on17/08/201824/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

I recently had my first official meeting at the Fale Dojo wrestling training school in South Auckland. I entered the Dojo as a life-long wrestling fan, having to remind myself that I was now the Dojo’s Content Writer. While meeting the rest of the Coaches, and the Head Trainer, Bad Luck Fale, I sat Read More …

The Pupil Meets the Teacher

Posted on14/08/201824/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

In front of 13,000 people at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan; Toa Henare, a graduate of Fale Dojo, meets his teacher, Bad Luck Fale in a special singles match at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax. The staff and trainers at Fale Dojo are proud of Henare; the prized lion whose hard work and dedication have enabled Read More …

Partnership with Fale Dojo

Posted on30/07/201824/04/2020AuthorIte Lemalu

I am very excited to announce ‘Ite Lemalu Writings’ partnership with ‘Fale Dojo’. I recently met with Mark Tui, the General Manager / Coach of Fale Dojo, and his wife Lina to discuss our collaborative interests. A theme that resonated with all of us was our desire to serve our communities through our respective platforms. Read More …

Ite Lemalu

Posted on18/07/201814/03/2021AuthorIte Lemalu

Thanks for joining me! I’m Ite Lemalu, I am a New Zealand born Samoan with experience in writing (Grad Dip Arts – Film, Media & Television Studies, University of Auckland) and playing and teaching music (BMus, University of Otago). I am privileged to be the Media Relations Manager for the Fale Dojo professional wrestling training Read More …