Michael Gent BJJ NZ Machado Brown Belt, Passed away suddenly in March 2006 while training, Mike had been involved in Martial Arts for over 25 years. Having won a National title in sparring in the late 70’s, and being named most improved Martial Artist, Michael set off to learn about the Chinese Arts.
9 years later Michael moved to Australia to learn Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu. Having found this Art to be more than what he expected, Michael returned to New Zealand and opened the first Ninjutsu School.
He then travelled to Japan to learn under Masaaki Hatsumi. He has spent the last 13 years training in Ninjutsu meeting many fine Martial Artists on the way. During one visit to Japan, Michael met Anthony Netzler (9th Dan) who had been living and training with Hatsumi Sensei.
Anthony talked about an Art called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
From this meeting Michael met and invited many well known Ninjutsu and BJJ Instructors from around the world to visit and teach in his Dojo.
This has included Egan Inoue, founder of Grappling Unlimited, Taguchi Sensei (10th Dan from Osaka), Brin Morgan, Hatsumi Sensei plus many more.
In 1998, he presented the first Vale Tudo or No Holds Barred fighting to NZ with two of his Students winning NZ titles. In 1999, Michael invited John Will, a Machado BJJ Black Belt, to run a series of workshops in NZ on grappling which proved so successful that Michael combined the two Arts and gained his first rank under Machado BJJ banner.
Michael Gent will be sadly missed by all his students and friends. He is survived by his family Mel, Warwick and Cherise. RIP
http://www.ninjutsu.co.nz/
My friend Mike …
I am deeply saddened today by the loss of a friend – Mike Gent of Auckland in New Zealand.
This week, while he was on the mat, doing what he most loved to do, he collapsed – cause of death as yet unknown.
Mike was an extremely interesting man. A warrior through and through. He was a hard man – Old School – is how the kids of today would describe him. He trained in Japan with Hatsumi Sensei, before the gi’s turned black; and when a bokken strike to the head, meant exactly that. He was never a man to pull punches and never one to sit on the sidelines. Whether running his security company, doing his bodyguard work or on the mat each evening, he was in all things, a Man of Action.
I first had contact with Mike back in the early 80’s when I was running Blitz magazine. He seemed interesting then and I ran an article on him. It was years later though, that I finally met the man, when I came to New Zealand to teach some BJJ seminars. Mike picked me up from the airport and took me to his dojo. “Where are the mats?’ I asked – ‘Mat’s? We don’t need mats’ he replied. I liked him immediately! And so we went at it! Wooden floor, grappling, sweat, bumps, bruises and some small quantities of blood. It was well over a year before I could talk Mike into getting mats for his students sakes. That was a big compromise for Mike.
Mike was a very proficient and hard martial artist, with loads of street experience under his belt. He was a passionate teacher and a loving family man. What I have to say about Mike, cannot be expressed in a few paragraphs here – but one thing that stood out about him the most, was his unceasing desire to be a student of the martial arts. He loved his BJJ training – it opened up a whole new world for him – another complex challenge; one he undertook with great passion. Although he held the rank of purple belt – he was to receive his brown belt on my next visit. We will honour him with that rank as of now.
I am sad – as must be all of his students; but the truly deep sadness lays with his family – Mel, Warwick and Cherise. I know that all who knew him will be there for them – and will do whatever we can to assist in this time of great grief.
You were a great man Mike – and you took on life head on. You really lived my friend – and will be sadly missed.
JBW March 2006.
In memory of Michael Gent
It is with both great sadness and appreciation that I together with, I am sure, the Will-Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu family in New Zealand thank you, Michael, for giving so much of yourself in the development of Will-Machado Jiu Jitsu here in New Zealand from the beginning.
For those that did not know it was Michael who introduced us to John Will which subsequently led to the development of Will-Machado Jiu Jitsu here in New Zealand.
In addition I wish to thank Michael, and have him remembered for being one of the pioneers of Vale Tudo here in New Zealand and for the commitment he had to so many other aspects of martial arts here in New Zealand.
He lived and passed on doing what he loved, as a true warrior spirit.
Thank you Michael you will be greatly missed and reverently remembered It has been a pleasure knowing you as a friend.
Your friend
Geoff Aitken
Will-Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,
New Zealand
