Ite Lemalu Writings -

Oskar’s Odyssey to New Japan Pro-Wrestling

By Ite Lemalu / 08/03/2023

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

NZ Dojo 2022 September Intake – Part 2

By Ite Lemalu / 11/12/2022

As the Pro-Wrestling Coach at Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo, Tony Kozina oversees the day-to-day training of the young lions...

NZ Dojo 2022 September Intake – Part 1

By Ite Lemalu / 08/12/2022

Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo welcomed its final intake of 2022. Commencing on the first week of September, this class...

NZ Strong Style – An Ally, Not A Colony: The Birth of New Japan Tamashii

By Ite Lemalu / 17/11/2022

This past weekend was a historic time in New Zealand sports and its Pacific neighbours. New Japan Tamashii debuted in...

Fale Dojo Exhibition XI Recap

By Ite Lemalu / 05/11/2022

Tony Kozina, Pro-Wrestling Head Coach invited the young lions to the ringside area to kick off Exhibition XI, held at...

King Haku – Celebrating 30 Years

By Ite Lemalu / 08/09/2022

This article looks back over 30 years to the coronation of King Haku. I can imagine that some people may...

NZ Dojo 2022 June Intake

By Ite Lemalu / 16/08/2022

Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo welcomed the second student intake of 2022 with training commencing in the second week of...

Fale Dojo Exhibition X Recap

By Ite Lemalu / 23/06/2022

Fale Dojo celebrated its tenth Exhibition student showcase. The Exhibition series has been a staple in the development of the...

Fale Dojo Exhibition IX Recap

By Ite Lemalu / 08/06/2022

Fale Dojo presented a night of NZ strong style professional wrestling with the ninth edition of the Exhibition showcase series....

Fale Dojo Exhibition Round Robin Recap

By Ite Lemalu / 28/05/2022

Fale Dojo held the Exhibition Round Robin event on May 14, at the Dojo facility in Otahuhu, Auckland. Prior to...

Fale Dojo Presents Exhibition Round Robin, May 14 2022

Posted on10/05/202211/05/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

Fale Dojo will be holding the Exhibition Round Robin wrestling event on May 14, 2022, at the Fale Dojo facility in Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. Round Robin will be the eighth in the Exhibition series to feature the current class of young lions, as they battle for pre-eminence over the pride. The lions will also Read More …

Oskar – The Odyssey Continues

Posted on06/04/202206/04/2022AuthorIte Lemalu1 Comment

Since arriving on the wrestling scene in November 2021, Fale Dojo / NZ Dojo graduate, Oskar Münchow has been working his way up the ranks of Germany’s Westside Xtreme Wrestling. Münchow joined wXw as an unknown newcomer, starting in the organisation’s developmental system, known as the Academy. It was at this place where Münchow honed Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Discipline, Heart, and Destination

Posted on25/03/202201/04/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

Lion’s Roar, the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 12 part docuseries, shared an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at NJPW’s NZ Dojo. Led by Head Coach, Toks Fale, and his team of Tony Kozina, Mark Tui, and Tangi Ropati; Lion’s Roar followed the pride of 14 trainees as they were guided through a world-renowned three-month professional wrestling training course. Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 10 recap

Posted on25/03/202225/03/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

The day at the NZ Dojo house began with Dan Puru enjoying a morning boogie while his new roommate Mitch Schoemaker clapped along. However, the household was not aware of the bad luck that was headed their way. Wake-Up CallCoaches Toks Fale and Tony Kozina arrived at the Dojo house bringing with them an empty Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 9 recap

Posted on23/03/202225/03/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

Week 9 – The Lock DownA mandatory isolation bubble for everyone in New Zealand was put in place. Members of the NZ Dojo young lions programme could choose to live in only one bubble. Richard Mulu revealed that half of the trainees were living at the NZ Dojo house in Mangere East, while the other Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 8 recap

Posted on22/03/202225/03/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

Footage from last week’s Exhibition event showed family and friends of Daniel Puru at ringside, watching him compete. Puru shared that his friends were oblivious of his ability to grapple, He jokingly responded that it was because they had never seen him in a fight before. The Soul TakerTangi Ropati, the Strength & Conditioning Coach Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 7 recap

Posted on21/03/202225/03/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

The Exhibition – The Night BeforeThe trainees were at the NZ Dojo setting up the facility in preparation for the Exhibition show. Andrew Villalobos, the Senior Lion explained there were some major improvements amongst the trainees over the last couple of days after they overcame some setbacks. One of which was the letting go of Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 6 recap

Posted on21/02/202225/03/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

The ChefWhile training at the NZ Dojo, Warren Walters discovered the similarities between the Dojo’s training system and his background as a chef of 17 years. The hierarchy and the bonds that are formed are essential to the system in both disciplines. Many years ago, Walters injured his shoulder in a car accident. Unfortunately for Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 5 recap

Posted on19/02/202206/04/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

Cigar and Whiskey After a month of intense training, Toks Fale is having a wind down at his waterfront apartment in Auckland city. Week 5 At the NZ Dojo facility, the trainees are in the middle of a very rigorous workout. Some members of the class appear hurt; however, the pain has not stopped them Read More …

Lion’s Roar – Episode 4 recap

Posted on18/02/202206/04/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

The South From Dunedin in NZ’s South Island comes AJ Visagie. The culture and landscape between South Auckland and Dunedin are vastly different due to Dunedin’s cold climate and landscape. The culture also has a strong Britishness about the city. Visagie a native of Dunedin, came to the NZ Dojo, to gain some life experience Read More …