‘Toughlove’ trainer set standard for hundreds of students
KARATE instructor Chris McGregor was a mentor and friend to hundreds of karate students throughout Queenstown and Central Otago.
Mr McGregor (51) was taking some of those students on an international training camp in Kobe, Japan, when he died on July 4 after a heart attack.
Passionate about his family, the lifelong Queenstown man discovered his other passion, karate, about 20 years ago, after his son Rhys started taking lessons.
After training with a Shukokai instructor, he started dojos in Cromwell, then Wanaka, and helped fellow instructor Pat Quaid in the Queenstown dojo.
A fourth Dan, Mr McGregor took pupils to training camps and competitions in Australia, Japan, India and around New Zealand.
Mr Quaid said Mr McGregor expected his students to step up to the mark, and ‘‘if you stepped up to the mark, you got every bit of attention’’.
‘‘As a result, his students got some really good results.’’
Queenstown club president Russell Mawhinney said Mr McGregor had such an influence on ‘‘probably hundreds’’ of children, Mr Mawhinney’s son included.
‘‘Chris was the sort of tough lovetype trainer. He instilled the disciplines, and cared for all these kids so much.
‘‘He was a largerthanlife character, and you couldn’t help but like him.’’
Melbournebased Paul Mitchell, Shukokai’s world chief instructor, said Mr McGregor was instrumental in helping establish his style of karate in New Zealand.
‘‘He was one of the most loyal, hardworking people that I’ve ever met.’’
Mr Mitchell said he was a ‘sensei’ in the true sense — in the example he set — and had only recently joined the coaching panel for New Zealand’s allstyles karate team.
Born in Lumsden on September 18, 1966, Mr McGregor moved to Queenstown with his parents Shirley and Ray, at the age of 1.
He was educated at Queenstown Primary School and John McGlashan College, Dunedin, and competed at swimming, hockey and rugby.
He married Debbie in Arrowtown on January 26, 1991, and they had two children, Danielle and Rhys.
His two main employers were first his uncle, contractor Darrell McGregor, then Sir John Davies’ Northern Southland Transport/Trojan Holdings.
Latterly he was Queenstown operations manager for refuse company AllWaste.
Sir John said Mr McGregor was a ‘‘very, very good manager’’ who cared about his staff.
Mrs McGregor said family meant everything to her husband. He gave a lot and ‘‘enjoyed’’ people, she said.
‘‘He was a nofrills, genuine, honest, hardworking guy.
‘‘He was affectionate and caring and wasn’t afraid to show it.’’
Chris McGregor is survived by his parents Shirley and Ray, sister Lara, wife Debbie, children Danielle and Rhys and grandchildren Kace and Lachie. — Philip Chandler