Shihan of Sakura Kan Ju Jitsu, presented 24th of June 2022 (delayed from 2021 due to COVID-19) at the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame awards, Riccoh Sports Centre, Lower Hutt.

Alistair “Al” Thompson in 1979 began his martial arts journey by training in Okinawa Te Karate under Sensei Mike Lee in Christchurch, but by 1980 he had found and started Fuji Ryu Goshindo Ju Jitsu training at the Furui Ryu Eda Dojo under James Salter.

The biggest influential instructor for Alistair is Kancho James Salter; the head of Sakura Kan Ju Jitsu, who was awarded our Outstanding Service Award in May 2021. Alistair has trained directly under James Salter for over 40 years.

Alistair graded to Shodan on the 4th of November 1990 at the Sockburn dojo, following 10 years of training in Ju Jitsu. This was in front of a grading panel of Sensei Stan Taylor, Sensei Salter and several other Fuji Ryu Goshindo Ju Jitsu black belts. Alistair held the position of registrar for Fuji Ryu from 1991 to 1992 and ran the Sockburn dojo. On the 8th of November 1992 Alistair Thompson attended a black belt meeting and resigned from Fuji Ryu Goshin Do Jiu Jitsu Organization, alongside his instructor James Salter, citing unhappiness with the direction the organization was taking. They founded their own organization Sakura Kan Ju Jitsu on the same day that John Boniface died on 9th November 1992 which made it a bitter-sweet occasion.

Alistair was graded to Nidan on 24th March 1995 under Sensei Salter at the Hombu Dojo in New Plymouth. This grading was designed to test and assess his character for the suitability to take over the leadership of Sakura Kan Jiu Jitsu should something happen to James. The test consisted of 400+ question theory test with a 98% pass mark, a tanren test involving sitting in seiza with raised arms for 24 hours (with 5-minute breaks each hour), and an assessment of his teaching ability. On the 11th of April 1999 Alistair graded to Sandan, 16th July 2003 to Yondan and 21st July 2008 to Godan and awarded the title of Shihan under the tutelage of James Salter. His Rokudan and Shichidan, were awarded and authenticated in 2013 and September 2020 respectively by Professor, Grand Master Steve Heremaia 10th Dan, of Black Dragon Ju Jitsu.

Alistair was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame (NZMAHOF) in November 2011 and inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (AMAHOF) and the World Karate Union Hall of Fame (WKUHOF) for instructor of the year in August 2013. This was for superior leadership, teaching performance and dedication to Ju Jitsu. He is currently the Vice President of the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame (NZMAHOF).

The influence of Alistair as a key figure in Sakura Kan Ju Jitsu’s history cannot be underestimated. He was the first-generation of Sakura Kan members to be graded to 2nd degree black belt in New Zealand and he has helped lead the Sakura Kan Ju Jitsu organisation for nearly three decades, which operates 6 clubs around New Zealand and 1 in Australia. Alistair Thompson has made a lasting impression on Ju-Jitsu in New Zealand and is considered one of the “founding-fathers” of Sakura Kan Ju Jitsu. His own career has spanned over four decades, seven martial arts clubs can trace their teaching back to the Ju-Jitsu style that James Salter and Alistair Thompson started in 1992.