Qualifications
2nd Dan – Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu
Accreditations
NCAS Level 2 Coach – Jujitsu
Information
Sensei Christopher, 29yrs of age, (twin of Sensei Steffi Stackpoole) started his martial arts career in Judo in Innisfail where his parents, Shihan Jim and Sensei Meladee, taught at Innisfail PCYC. His first Judo competition was when he was only six years old in 1996 which fired up his competitive instincts. Sensei Chris commenced in Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu in 2001 at Zillmere PCYC dojo under the instruction of his parents. From 2002 until 2009 Sensei Chris competed in every Annual Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu competition taking out the respective Overall Divisional Champion in all of them. In 2003 and 2004, Sensei Christopher was awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Competitor of the Tournament’. In 2003 he was awarded a Young Star award sponsored by Quest Newspapers where he was a finalist. He was also awarded the PCYC Nev Pashen Award for sports and service to the PCYC.
Sensei Chris attained his Sho Dan in Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu on 22nd October 2006 when his dissertation paper was titled ‘Only the Strong Survive’. He was only 16yrs and 4 days which made him the youngest person in the Australian Jujitsu Federation ever to attain a black belt. On 9th March 2008 Sensei Chris attained Ni Dan. He is also an accredited Level 2 Jujitsu coach through the NCAS system.
In 2008 the Black Belt division was created and Chris won the division in both 2008 and 2009. Sensei Chris was selected for the Australian Team to go to the World Jujitsu Championships in 2007 in Jersey and 2010 in Las Vegas but opted not to go, due to completing Yr. 12 at school and then being part way through University.
Commencing in early 2008, Sensei Chris completed a Double Degree in Law and Business on 29th September 2014 at Queensland University of Technology. At his graduation ceremony he was awarded the Dux of the University – Law faculty. Throughout his academic life he has been awarded many Scholarships to study/work overseas: China, Thailand, Cambodia, Ghana, UK – Oxford university and Cambridge university. He was awarded the Vinerian Scholar for 2018 for achieving the highest results in Law at Oxford University. He has had many papers published in different Law journals and has authored chapters in Law text books for Oxford University. He currently is completing his Masters of Philosophy in Law at Oxford University and due to finish later in 2020. He has recently been awarded the Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarship to attend Cambridge University for three years commencing in September 2020 to complete a Doctorate of Philosophy in Law.
Sensei Chris is a good referee in Jujitsu and regularly returns, to referee at competitions, present awards, or to sit on the grading panel for Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu’s high ranking gradings. He enjoys keeping fit and regularly runs 10 – 15kms.