Primativ ?

In 2004 I had an experience that changed my life that when walking in Johannesburg I was confronted by five men one of whom held a gun to me. After 27 years of training this was my moment of truth and although it wasn't pretty and happened as if it was a car crash, I managed to fight my way out without personal injury and that 10 seconds was to change the shape of my life and has led me to create the Primativ fighting systems - Sensei Joe Walker

What's in a name ? Primativ is not a word in the dictionary and is a play on Prima or first and Primitive.

and Primitive there were lots of meanings but I thought that below illustrated the primitive I am referring to.

c.1400, "of a thing from which something is derived, not secondary" (a sense now associated with primary), from O.Fr. primitif (fem. primitive), from L. primitivus "first or earliest of its kind," from primitus "at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). Meaning "of or belonging to the first age" is from c.1526. In Christian sense of "adhering to the qualities of the early Church" it is recorded from 1685. Of untrained artists from 1942.

The composite Primativ represents our relentless primal instinct and drive for survival coupled with the learning from our elders and those that have passed before us all encompassed in the phrase HONOUR OUR ANCESTORS.

The Shinzen or centre and 'temple' part of the dojo represents the sprit and philosophy associated with the dojo. As there is no master of Primativ there is no bowing to any individual and instead homage is paid to the Shinzen which really represents all those that have gone before us.

The Japanese writing in the centre (kanji) was given to me by Danny Watson in about 1984 when I was about to fight in a tournament. He said at the time it meant 'Honour your parents love your enemies'. I have had it translated a couple of times since and I am going with 'Honour our Ancestors' as the ethos for the school. I have taken to the ritual of periodically lighting candles under Robert, Shihan Oliver & Steven Cope. The barely visible logo (see below) under the kanji was first graffiti'd on our Redfern dojo wall about 15 years ago. I used to think it was the work of an aboriginal artist from Everleigh st until a friend told me it was a graffiti tag meaning 'partners in crime' . The rock which came from Kirribilli 18 years ago I have covered in wax and the combination of red and white cascading down the front symbolize the blood, sweat and tears that has gone into the dojo by all those who have gone before and the sacrifices that have to be made to live a worthy life.

This logo represents the primal warrior with his stick and our tribal instincts where we band together as partner's in crime for our joint survival and that of our humanity.

Meet fearless 'Freddie the Ferret' who the time of this photo being taken is about 10 weeks old and growing by the day. He is a real character and very playful but has a wicked bite if he doesn't want to be picked up or you are standing between him and his food. Freddie lives in the dojo and has no trouble sleeping through the loudest class. More on Freddie soon.