The Terry P Hill Martial Arts Association was formed in 1981 by Terry Hill at the Hamilton Teachers College Gymnasium on the University of Waikato Campus. Starting out as a Karate Dojo teaching the Okinawa Goju Ryu form of Karate, it expanded in 1982 to include Muay Thai / Kickboxing classes. In 1991 the Association moved to the University of Waikato's Sport and Recreation centre and included Self Defence classes in its curriculum. This formed a three-tiered training program. It then expanded yet again to include Wu Shu (Chinese Martial Arts) - San Shou (Free Fight) training for the members in1998.

In 1993 the Martial Arts Association introduced a new Aerobic Fight training program called Boxersize, which began to be run in conjunction with Kickboxing at the Body FX Gym in Hamilton. In 2001 the Martial Arts Association moved to the Waikato Polytech Centre. The Martial Arts Association has since relocated to the  Hamilton Chinese Community Centre, 47 Lewis Street, Glenview, Hamilton.

The director of the Martial Arts Association, Terry Hill has over 27 years of experience in the Martial Arts and has trained and competed successfully in many different Martial Arts and Fighting Sports.

His training commenced in the Kyokushinkai style of Karate back in the early seventies and moved into Goju Ryu Karate in 1977. In 1978 Terry took up Boxing, then in 1979 he started to train in Muay Thai / Kickboxing, moving into Olympic style wrestling in 1988, all the while training in the Traditional Karate-Do. During his many years of training Terry has competed successfully in various Fighting Sports. In 1989 Terry placed 2nd in the National Amateur Wrestling Championships (under 90 kg division) and he also held the New Zealand Provincial (Taranaki) Light Middle Weight Amateur Boxing title (which he won in 1979)- Terry has held a variety of Amateur and Professional national Kickboxing titles, and won International Muay Thai honours against the Thais (in 1989-1990). At this same time Terry won Three consecutive National Goju Ryu Karate Kumite titles and the First National Goju Ryu Full Contact title in 1991. Terry also won the first N.K.F. (National Karate Federation) Championships in both Kata and Kumite in 1988.

One of the highlights of Terry's Combative career was winning the last NZ Open Full Contact Martial Arts Championship Tournament ( the forerunner to M.M.A/N.H.B. Competition) in 1985 and then going on to capture the 1st World Full Contact Goju Ryu Karate title (Heavyweight division) in Okinawa, Japan in 1991.

Along with Terry's tournament success he has established himself as a leading coach and trainer in Karate, Kickboxing and San Shou. Terry has produced numerous Champion fighters in all these disciplines over the years. Most notably in Karate, Terry has produced International Iri Kumi (Full contact) Champion Luke Hill. There have been numerous other champion competitors in Iri Kumi, Shiai Shobu and Kata.

The emphasis on a strong traditional Okinawan Karate base has been the main stay of the Martial Arts Association. With no less than 50 students obtaining the rank of Black Belt over the past 20+ years, the association has also had a number of students promoted to the rank of Ni Dan (2nd degree black belt) and San Dan (3rd degree blackbelt) level. Within the Traditional Karate structure sport Karate has developed in parallel. Over 50 former and current National Champions have been produced in Kata (Forms), Shiai Shobu (Point Fighting) and Iri Kumi (Full Contact Fighting). The Hamilton Dojo known as San Bu Kai, is regarded as one of the foremost Karate schools in the country. The continued growth and knowledge of the Hamilton Dojo is assured with various members continually travelling to Okinawa in Japan, along with other countries around the world, to expand on their Martial Arts knowledge

Muay Thai/KickBoxing has played a large part in the development of the Martial Arts Association over the years. Fighters from the gym have won numerous bouts in practically every weight division over the 19+ years. There have been a number of outstanding Fighters (including the founder) who have made an impact on the National and International 'Fight Scene'. Between them they acquired numerous Regional, National & International titles, and have currently one World I.S.K.A. KickBoxing title (Ethan Shepp, 1999). The San Bu Kai gym is now the biggest and most successful Muay Thai/KickBoxing Gym in the Waikato and is regarded as one of the strongest fight centres in the country.

The Wu Shu / San Shou (Free Fight) classes were introduced in 1998 and are now run as part of the KickBoxing (Full Contact Fighting) curriculum.

In 1998 Terry Hill's fighters competed in the inaugural Wu Shu National San Shou Championships, winning ALL divisions, with ALL the fighters going on to repeat their performances in 1999 and ALL again went on to represent New Zealand at the 5th World Wu Shu Championship tournament, held in Hong Kong - China that same year.

Terry Hill is also one of the certified International San Shou Judges in Australasia. This honour was bestowed on him by the International Wu Shu Federation (I.W.U.F.) based in Beijing China in 1999.

The Chinese Martial Arts have become a major factor in the growth and development of the Terry P. Hill Martial Arts Association, with many students becoming members of the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts organisation, Chin Wu.

Chin Wu (made famous by Bruce Lee in his 2nd film, 'Fist of Fury') is an international organisation, which originated from a Shanghai based school that encouraged ALL different Martial Arts styles to work together and train, study and research under the one umbrella. Chin Wu embodies the true 'spirit' of the Martial Arts and most of the fighters at the Terry P. Hill Martial Arts Association are now members of this fast growing movement of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts.

The Self Defence classes were established in 1991, and with the social climate the way it is today Self Defence is becoming an increasing necessity. The Martial Arts Association has established itself as a leading authority in the development of Personal Defence tactics and for over ten years has been offering courses for children, adults (male and female), and senior citizens.

Based on the Los Angeles Police Department's Non Lethal Force Training Requirement Program, the courses run over five weeks incorporating all the various ranges of combat. A hands on practical involvement is a must in this course, with all participants training and developing reflex responses to verbal, physical and psychological adversities. Trainees are encouraged to question the training format and bring feedback to each class. The class is run in a practical and confidence building manner with a large degree of psychological conditioning implemented into the programme. Although the situation is nothing to adversely cheer about, a number of Self Defence instructors and students have first hand experience in successfully repelling attacks made against their person. The nature of training is geared towards the age groups in attendance, and there is no rigidly adhered to system that you must learn, memorise or regurgitate. It is a free flowing self-development type of training/learning structure, geared towards the individual's own personal requirements.

The Terry P Hill Martial Arts Association is one of the most diverse Martial Arts groups in the country, covering both Traditional Martial Arts and Modern Fighting Sports. It is also heavily into the study and research of the history and traditions of Ancient Martial Ways, along with the scientific development of modern Fighting Sports. For the serious student of Martial Arts and those who wish to compete in the various Fighting Sports, this organization may well hold the key to unlimited success in your journey into the Martial Ways.

The struggle for knowledge has a pleasure in it, like that of wrestling with a fine woman.

C. S. Halifax