The Fighting Spirit of Yuto Nakashima

The journey of Yuto Nakashima is one that is remarkably rare. Nakashima, a former professional Mix Martial Arts fighter in his native Japan, crossed over to professional wrestling with the particular goal of joining the ranks of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Nakashima took part in two try-outs to train at the New Japan Dojo in Tokyo, Read More …

Stacey McInnes – From Lioness to Officer

Stacey McInnes is a proud Fale Dojo graduate. The Kiwi-born McInnes gained her initial training in pro wrestling while living overseas before returning to NZ in 2019 to broaden her skills at the Dojo’s three-month professional wrestling training course. McInnes is also a second-generation wrestler, her grandfather Sam McInnes was a national amateur wrestling champion Read More …

Andrew Villalobos – Motivation Lights the Fire, Discipline Keeps It Alight

Of all the intakes that have come through Fale Dojo / NJPW New Zealand Dojo, the June 2018 intake holds the distinction of the entire class being selected to advance to the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Dojo in Tokyo for further training. This group consisted of four members, two of which included the more recognised Michael Read More …

Heart, Body, Technique – The Transformation of Michael Richards

Michael Richards is a senior member of the Fale Dojo / NJPW New Zealand Dojo young lions. As a graduate of the June 2018 intake, Richards earned the opportunity to gain further training at the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Dojo in Tokyo. Richards brought his skills back to Fale Dojo in 2019 to help develop the Read More …

Fale Dojo 2021 Reopening

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

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

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

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

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

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 …