About KIK Family Martial Arts
The people, history and values behind KIK in Rutherford.
More than martial arts
KIK Family Martial Arts has been part of the Maitland community for decades. What began as a small part-time martial arts club has grown into a permanent home in Rutherford for children, teenagers, adults and families.
Through all those years, the purpose has remained simple: helping people develop confidence, discipline, fitness and character through martial arts.
KIK's long-standing mission says it best: CONTINUALLY IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
What KIK values
Confidence
Helping students believe in themselves, face challenges and develop confidence they can carry into everyday life.
Respect
Teaching respect for yourself and others, together with the discipline and self-control that martial arts develops.
Character
Building strong character through perseverance, responsibility and personal achievement - both inside and outside the dojo.
Kyoshi Peter Kirkwood
Peter Kirkwood began his martial arts journey in 1985, training in Zen-Do-Kai at Banks Street in East Maitland. What began as his own martial arts training soon developed into a commitment to teaching and helping others through martial arts.
By the late 1980s, Peter was operating a part-time martial arts club in the Maitland area, initially at Bolwarra and later at Largs. In 1992 he achieved his 3rd Degree Black Belt in Zen-Do-Kai.
Peter was involved in the development of Kaizen Ryu in 1993 and took control as Chief Instructor in 1994. In 1995 he left full-time employment to dedicate himself to teaching martial arts full time.
The school continued to develop over the following decades, eventually becoming Kirkwood's Institute of Karate - K.I.K. The club trained for many years at Maitland PCYC and later at Marcellin Park in Lorn before establishing its permanent home in Rutherford.
In 2016 Peter purchased the Rutherford premises, giving KIK a permanent dojo and a home from which the school could continue serving local children, teenagers, adults and families.
Peter's own martial arts journey has continued alongside his teaching. In 2013 he travelled to Japan for his 6th Degree Black Belt grading before his peers and Grand Master Yoshitugu Suzuki. He has also competed internationally, including achieving fifth place at the World Titles in Florida in 2017.
Beyond training and competition, Peter and KIK have maintained a strong connection with the local community, including providing free women's self-defence training and anti-bullying programs for children.
After decades of teaching, the purpose behind KIK remains captured in the school's long-standing mission: CONTINUALLY IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.