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 Boxing Team Victorious At Fight Night Event

Posted on06/04/202120/04/2021AuthorIte Lemalu

The Fale Dojo Boxing Team, under the guidance of Frank ‘the Tank’ Masoe, competed recently at the HardKnocks 13 Fight Night event promoted by HardKnocks Boxing. Auckland’s ABA stadium, the site of HardKnocks 13 was electrifying; packed with an all-inclusive, family-friendly crowd high in anticipation of the three-hour action-packed event that was about to take Read More …

“Switchblade” Jay White and Toa Henare – Verbalising NZ Strong Style

Posted on30/03/202113/06/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

On 10 March 2021, New Zealand’s rich and multi-layered cultural identity was showcased in the main event of a New Japan Pro-Wrestling show. NZ’s own international stars “Switchblade” Jay White and Toa Henare, headlined the first round of the 2021 New Japan Cup tournament that was streamed live across the world from Sandan-ike Park Gymnasium Read More …

Hikuleo – Product of the Fale Dojo and NJPW Dojo Pathway

Posted on14/03/202108/09/2022AuthorIte Lemalu1 Comment

When the Fale Dojo professional wrestling training school was created by Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale in 2016, his initial purpose was to present it to his community so that young people could pursue the same opportunities that he had. As the first non-Japanese graduate of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Dojo, Fale recognised the significant parallels Read More …

Interview with Frank Masoe – Fale Dojo Boxing Trainer

Posted on21/01/202121/01/2021AuthorIte Lemalu

Fale Dojo is pleased to welcome Frank “The Tank” Masoe – heavyweight boxer, as part of the coaching staff. Masoe will teach boxing as part of the Dojo’s General Community Classes. In addition, Masoe will add his expertise to the Dojo’s three-month professional wrestling course to help develop the striking technique of the young lions. Read More …

Fale Dojo 2021 Reopening

Posted on13/01/202129/01/2021AuthorIte Lemalu

Fale Dojo 2021 General Community Classes, Schedule and Trainers. Fale Dojo is ready to once again offer its world-class training and fitness programme to the New Zealand public through the General Community classes. As a fitness facility, the Dojo is equipped to offer a wide variety of classes aimed at building up people’s fitness, their Read More …

NZ Strong Style – An Ally, Not A Colony, Part II

Posted on04/01/202109/07/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

This article is a follow-up to a piece published in November 2018. Titled NZ Strong Style – An Ally, Not A Colony, it discussed how the New Zealand and Australian wrestling scenes would potentially flourish as allies of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as opposed to the scenario of being colonies of World Wrestling Entertainment’s NXT development Read More …

Fale Dojo interview with Gino Gambino

Posted on09/12/202030/03/2021AuthorIte Lemalu

Gino Gambino is a Fale Dojo / NJPW New Zealand 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. Names such as Andrew Villalobos from Sydney and Jake Taylor from Melbourne have Read More …

Fale Dojo interview with “Sniper of the Skies” Robbie Eagles

Posted on02/12/202030/03/2021AuthorIte Lemalu1 Comment

Dedication, Respect, Sacrifice, Integrity, Hard Work and Fighting Warrior Spirit! These attributes are what the Fale Dojo trainers look for in a person that attends and takes part in a tryout. Robbie Eagles epitomised each of these qualities when he attended his first New Japan Pro-Wrestling tryout in Melbourne, Australia, 2017. Nicknamed “Sniper of the Read More …

Going Rogue – The Transformation of Bad Luck Fale

Posted on10/11/202003/02/2022AuthorIte Lemalu

On 4 April 2010, Toks ‘Bad Luck’ Fale made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut. Previous to this, Fale underwent two years of intense and vigorous training at the world-renowned NJPW Dojo, during which time he immersed himself in the Japanese culture; becoming fluent in the language as well as the Japanese strong style of professional Read More …

Fale Dojo interview with “Switchblade” Jay White

Posted on08/11/202010/02/2022AuthorIte Lemalu3 Comments

It wasn’t too long ago when “Switchblade” Jay White was regarded as a ‘foreigner’. In one context, White is a foreigner (gaijin) to the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) landscape, and in a different context a foreigner to the western mainstream. Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, a country that was once a thriving territory of the Read More …