Bodyguard for Olivia during Xanadu's Australian promotion
Meet Lilydale’s 82yo karate sensei who once guarded Olivia Newton-John
An Australian Martial Arts Hall of Fame who has spent more than five decades teaching karate once guarded Olivia Newton-John and Boomtown Rats star Sir Bob Geldof. Read his remarkable story.
By Erin Constable
Most nights, you will find octogenarian sensei Grant Bannister — an Australian Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee and former celebrity bodyguard for the likes of Olivia Newton-John and the Boomtown Rats — at his Lilydale dojo. Mr Bannister, 82, began his martial arts career in 1959 under Judo instructor Wally Strauss.
The beloved sensei’s illustrious career has included high-profile celebrity security details, celebrating national championships for his students, and supervising the hundreds of martial artists still flocking to his Lilydale karate school.
In September 1980, Mr Bannister put his skills to the test as part of the security detail for Olivia Newton-John when she received the keys to the city of Melbourne during the promotional tour for her movie, Xanadu.
“Even getting her to the car was almost impossible, it was so packed,” Mr Bannister said. “I had to lean against the car and push the door open so she could get in.”
“The next thing, I had this guy sitting on my head trying to get her autograph.”
For three years, he protected Melbourne’s most famous visitors, including Sir Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats, while simultaneously teaching karate, raising his children, and working as a full-time TV technician.
He opened his school Bukido Karate alongside founding instructors sensei Des White and sensei Rod Peterson in a Croydon garage in July 1986.
Mr Bannister said it started off with only a few members and had just grown “bigger and bigger”.
The school quickly outgrew the garage, expanding into local halls and schools as word of mouth spread and student numbers began to swell, before finally establishing its permanent home in Lilydale in 2008.
Over his four-decade coaching career, he has instructed thousands of Victorians, including three generations of local families.
“I can’t see myself not coming down here,” Mr Bannister said. “The main reason I am still here is just seeing the improvement in the students, in their respect, their confidence, and their discipline.”
“Karate teaches so many things, such as patience, concentration, and memory.”
But for Mr Bannister, his school is also about building a community.
“I have just seen bullying get worse among kids, and we want kids to be able to come here, build their confidence, and make friends,” he said. “It’s more than just a training space, it is a community.”
“We host social nights and movie nights and run other events.”
Next month, Mr Bannister and Bukido Karate’s close to 300 students are celebrating their 40-year anniversary, and Mr Bannister is currently working on a book detailing the club’s rich history.
Photo: Mr Bannister and Olivia Newton-John in 1980.
Original article