Ju jitsu great dies
New Zealand martial arts great Dave Millar has died, aged 65.
The Manawatu¯ man died suddenly in Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia two weeks ago.
He was involved in ju jitsu for 45 years and has been acknowledged internationally for his work in the sport.
Millar was cremated and the family are trying to bring the ashes home.
He was eighth dan grade and head of New Zealand Ju Jitsu Lifeskills club, which was now based in Bulls, and he was a co-founder of the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall Of Fame in 1997.
Millar was amember of the New Zealand team to compete at the first World Council of Ju Jitsu Organisations championship in Canada in 1984.
He was the hall of fame president and was made a member in 2000. He was also made amember of the Australasian Martial Arts Hall Of Fame and the World Karate Union.
In 1988 he was awarded a certificate of recognition from the American Ju Jitsu Association for outstanding service in furthering the art and, in 1991, was awarded a distinguished service award from the Canadian Ju Jitsu Association.
New Zealand Ju Jitsu chairman Simon Ogden said Millar was well known in the martial arts community and his untimely death shocked everyone who knew him.
‘‘This is truly a great loss, and he will be missed and dearly remembered by many.’’
Shanon Casson was trained by Millar for more than 20 years and was his highest grade black belt.
Millar was on many technical advisory boards for martial arts in New Zealand and Australia.
Casson said Millar was also involved in the Feilding RSA.
Millar lived in Australia with his wife Angie, but most of his family was in Manawatu¯. He had six children.
There is a Givealittle page for people to contribute to the cost of returning his ashes to the region. More than $9000 had been raised by yesterday.