Rob's Biography
Rob began his Martial Arts career with John Malawauw 6th Dan KBN, in Shotokan Karate in 1970. In 1972 he travelled to South Africa, joined Budokan and lived and worked in Pietermaritzbug for 6 years. Rob received his 1st Dan in 1978 from Ray Ryan the Budokan Head of Style and Co-Founder. After returning to the Netherlands in 1978 Rob went back to his Shotokan roots and trained with Rade Donevic 6th Dan, achieving 3rd Dan and with the likes of Taiji Kase, Miura, Dirk Heene, Shirai and Kanazawa, with whom he shared a table at one of the great man's seminars at which Rob asked him to draw Budokan in kanji. Rob still has the original to show for it. Rob opened the first Budokan Dojo the Netherlands in 1989.