Jitsu NZ
Senior Instructors
SIMON OGDEN - JU JITSU MASTERTON
Simon started Shorinji Kan Ju Jitsu in 1994 at UCL Jitsu Club, London in the UK. As a Shodan and Senior Primary instructor he moved to New Zealand in 2002 and opened a Jitsu club at the Wellington Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy.
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Simon has been teaching Shorinji Kan Ju Jitsu since November 1998. He was graded to Nidan in 2004 and awarded Secondary Tutor status in 2008 by the TJF UK. Simon is currently the Chief Instructor of Jitsu New Zealand and has been graded to Rokudan in Shorinji Kan Ju Jitsu, Godan in Olivecrona Jujitsu, Nidan in Judo and Shodan in Aikido. Simon holds an NZJJF C4 Expert Instructor Qualification, a Judo NZ Club Coaching qualification and NZQA Level 3 Sports Coaching Diploma from Skills Aktive.
In addition to his yudansha grades Simon has studied and dabbled in many other martial arts some of which are boxing, muay thai, karate, aiunkai, systema, kali, sambo and other styles of Ju Jitsu. He is also the current Chairman of the NZJJF and was awarded the NZJJF Outstanding Service Award in 2018.
SIMON BARNETT - JU JITSU NAPIER
Simon started Jitsu in 1992 in Birmingham (UK) before spending 5 years in New Zealand training in Seido Karate. Returning to England he continued with his Ju Jitsu career and also attended the Judo Centre of Excellence in Wolverhampton.
By the 2003 he was living in South London and teaching Ju Jitsu at Westminster University and training in Daigaku Karate Kai (Okinawan Goju Ryu) under Shihan Gavin Mulholland. Simon holds the ranks of Sandan (3rd Degree black belt) in Shorinji Kan Ju Jitsu, Nidan in Olivecrona Ju Jitsu, Shodan in Shinden Ryu Iaido and Okinowan Goju Ryu Karate, 1st kyu in Seido Karate and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is also mandated by Shihan Gavin, to take students through the same Daigaku Karate Kai training experiences taught to him placing heavy emphasis on close-quarter effectiveness.
Simon has also trained in a number of other disciplines including many renowned close quarter combat organizations. Simon is currently studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
PAUL HUSTON - JU JITSU AUCKLAND
Paul started Jitsu in 2003 at the Wellington Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy under the instruction of Simon Ogden. In 2010 he was graded to Shodan and became the first Kiwi home-grown Shorinji Kan Ju Jitsu black belt.
Paul is currently the Director of Jitsu New Zealand and he has previously sat on the committee of the NZJJF. In 2012 Paul was awarded Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in the Olivecrona Jujitsu system and in December 2016 Sandan in the Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu which is the style practiced by Jitsu NZ.
In addition to his Ju Jitsu grades Paul has, in September 2014 succesfully achieved Level 1 coach with Assertive Action Krav Maga New Zealand. Paul has studied kempo karate, boxing, muay thai and has coached Kyokushinkai Karate exponents in bunkai for their black belt examinations. Paul is now based in Auckland currently studying japanese koryu ju jutsu.
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ADAM RINGS - JU JITSU WELLINGTON
Adam started Jitsu in 2005 at the Wellington Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy under the instruction of Simon Ogden and Paul Huston.
Adam is currently the Chief Instructor of Jitsu New Zealand and he currently sits on the national committee of the NZJJF. Adam was awarded his Shodan (1st degree black belt) in January 2017, he currently holds the grade of Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu and Sandan in Olivecrona Ju Jitsu.
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Adam represented New Zealand at the 2017 WCJJO World Ju Jitsu Championships in Australia competing in the heavyweight free-fighting division with the most successful Black Tops Ju Jitsu team in competitive history. In addition to his Ju Jitsu grades Adam holds a 1st Kyu in Judo, and has studied boxing, CQB and aikido.