I was born in Bonn, West Germany, and emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa in 1965. Went to school at the German School, Cape Town and then studied for six years at the University of Cape Town (Psychology and languages, B.A. Hons and H.D.E./P.G.Sec.). Was married in 1986 and divorced in 2002.

Starting in my childhood, my life has been defined by my interest in the Eastern martial and healing arts. At age ten I began studying Judo. Switched to Karate at fourteen. At fifteen or sixteen years of age I began giving shoulder massages to my mother’s circle of friends, on the basis of apparently having “good hands”.

I represented UCT in Karate ( silver medal at the 1981 National Universities championships) and also started studying Tai Chi with an English woman named Rose around 1980. My Tai Chi studies really took off in 1982 when I began studying the art with Mr. Fok, Si Yue, in exchange for working on weekends in his restaurant, the “Dragon Inn”. I studied as a private student with Mr. Fok for just under ten years and was encouraged by him to begin teaching in 1986.

In 1983 I also started studying Jiu Jitsu with Harry Snowise, who is my mentor to this day. I began studying Swedish massage at that time.

In 1993 I further expanded my internal arts repertoire by becoming a student of Dr. Lin, Feng Chao for three and a half years ( Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I Chuan and Ba Gua Zhang).

In 1995 I quit my job and spent half a year in Thailand, studying Nuad Phan Bo Rarn (traditional Thai massage), mostly in Chiang Mai with Chongkol Settakorn but also with other teachers, both in northern Thailand and in Bangkok. I was certified not only as a massage therapist but also as a teacher of Thai massage and have certification to the extent that students who have done levels 1 and 2 with me can start off at level three in Thailand.

Arriving back in Cape Town I earned my living as a massage therapist for a couple of years. Between 1997 and 2002, I taught many seminars internationally (Europe and Israel). In 2003 my first book (on the art of Jiu Jitsu) was published by New Holland Publishers of London and in 2006 my second book, on Thai Massage, was brought out by the same publishers.

Ranking / Achievements etc.

Holds a Sandan in Ashihara Karate and is licenced as a full instructor in the following martial arts:
Harry Snowise Jiu Jitsu / World War 2 Combatives
Tai Chi Chuan
Piper Knife Combat
Hsing-I Chuan
(Also was awarded his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Roger Gracie in 2005)

Articles have appeared in magazines in various countries (Black Belt magazine, USA, Tai Chi magazine ,Australia etc). I have taught seminars in Israel, Germany and Thailand. I have written two books, one on Jiu Jitsu and one on the art of traditional Thai massage.