Krug enters Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame

Jeff Krug has been inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (AMAHOF) as one of 11 inductees in the 2026 intake – and the only one representing traditional karate.

The founder and chief instructor of Jeffsan Karate Centre in Bondi was honoured at a gala dinner attended by more than 250 at the Melbourne Arts Centre on August 16.

The AMAHOF, established in 1996, honours martial artists who have made an outstanding contribution to the world of martial arts, with nominees judged against stringent criteria.

For Krug, being singled out from among practitioners of kung fu, weapons arts, jujitsu and judo to name just a few, carried special weight.

“I don’t know how many karate people were already inducted before me, but I’m the only one this time, and because of that, I felt deeply honoured and humbled to accept,” he told The AJN.

“To be recognised as part of that martial art fraternity, among so many outstanding people, is really special.”

The honour caps 48 continuous years – and counting – for Krug in Japan Karate Association (JKA) traditional karate, during which he earned a 7th dan black belt, awarded to him in Tokyo in 2016.

“Getting a 7th dan awarded was a very high honour for me, but getting this induction into the AMAHOF now, means so much,” he said, adding he had been “taken aback” by the amount of likes and positive messages he’d received via social media since the induction night.

Krug was nominated in January by a respected martial arts instructor, and following analysis of his career achievements and contributions, he earned selection in April, but had to keep it to himself until the awards night, as all new inductees did.

Since founding Jeffsan Karate Centre in 2004, Krug has built a thriving dojo in the heart of Bondi, which has produced many national squad athletes – including four in the last few years – and he has graded over 100 to black belt.

Also in 2004, he co-founded, with Keith Geyer Shihan, the Shotokan Karate Coalition in Australia, which is now close to 1000 members strong.

His résumé stretches well beyond Sydney: team manager for South Africa at the 1994 JKA World Championships in Philadelphia, representative honours for South Africa at the 1993 and 1997 Maccabiah Games in Israel, and later, for Australia, at the 2001 and 2005 Games – initially as an athlete, and then as head coach.

He remains a JKA judge and referee at international level, and sits on the JKA black belt grading panel.

Krug also treasures his work teaching karate to children with special needs, and believes traditional karate’s lessons reach well beyond the dojo.

“My whole karate career has actually helped me, and so many others, in life generally,” he said.

“I’ve been the chief financial officer of a few very big companies and, absolutely, karate has really helped me to succeed with that too.

“It can help anybody in life.”