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Melbourne jujitsu instructor Renshi Kevin Walsh is spearheading plans for a two-day martial arts seminar of unprecedented size to raise money for cancer research.

Renshi Walsh’s idea was sparked by the sad news that his student and friend, Sensei Wendy Carroll, is again battling the disease after going into remission following a long bout fi ghting it last year. Carroll, who was interviewed in Blitz last year about the martial arts’ role in her fi ght against the disease, is now undergoing intense radiation therapy for life-threatening bone cancer.

“When a good friend is affl icted with such a terrible disease, you are left with a sense of helplessness. Almost everyone on the planet has had someone they know or love affected by this terrible disease,” Walsh told Blitz, “so I have decided to make a stand and help fi ght in this little-understood war, where over seven million people die every year and millions more live with the constant threat of death.”

Walsh’s bold plan is to “create a seminar of the size never seen in Australia” and so far he has had an overwhelming response from many people and organisations. Instructors have agreed to come from NSW, QLD, Canberra, SA and WA, and even Germany and England, to participate. The event will be held over the weekend of 6–7 November at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC). The seminar, titled ‘Fight for Life’, has the full backing of the Cancer Council and all proceeds will be donated to their cause.

Walsh is now looking for 30 instructors of both traditional and modern martial arts and selfdefence systems to donate their time and teach multiple sessions over the weekend. The plan is to have 10 sessions running simultaneously over the two days, giving participants the opportunity to try training in a variety of different combat arts with no obligation.

“It will be a shot in the arm for the martial art industry and raise awareness and money for cancer research,” said Walsh. “As martial artists we cannot fight this invisible foe but we can give the scientists and medicos the necessary tools to fi ght. Singularly we can achieve very little, but united we can make a difference.”

Walsh, 6th Dan, is the chief instructor of Idokan Australia and is the Victorian state representative for the Australian Jujitsu Federation. He is also the Australian co-ordinator for the international division of Japan’s Dai Nippon Butoku Kai martial arts preservation organisation.

Anyone wishing to run a workshop at the event or wanting to help in some other capacity can phone Kevin Walsh on (03) 9305 5809, 0403 800 089 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For further details, visit the website www.fightforlife.org.au