Founded and led by Dr. Matt Walley, PhD in Cognitive Psychology
About Inception Academy
The Halswell dojo built by a PhD cognitive psychologist who refused to teach his own children at any other club. Eight black belt instructors with 100+ combined years on the floor, direct lineage to the founder of BJMA Zen Do Kai, and a values curriculum that maps 12 psychological attributes to belt progression. Christchurch's most deliberate mental development programme for children, dressed in a martial arts gi.
Where it began
Our Story
Why Inception Academy exists
Inception Academy of Martial Arts was founded by Dai Sempai Dr. Matt Walley, a PhD in Cognitive Psychology, father of three, and direct student of Shihan Nick Putt. Matt trained in Zen Do Kai under Shihan Nick and saw an opportunity to do something that most martial arts schools do not: apply rigorous academic understanding of child development and psychology directly to the dojo curriculum.
IAMA is part of the BJMA Zen Do Kai Freestyle system, a comprehensive martial art with roots in multiple traditions. The academy opened in 2023 and has grown quickly. The instructor team is led by Shihan Nick Putt (5th Dan, 35 years of Zen Do Kai experience, trained directly under Soke Bob Jones, and former owner of Viking Dojos, the largest martial arts club in Australasia), alongside seven additional black belt instructors with a combined 100+ years of experience.
IAMA's point of difference is not just quality instruction. It is the deliberate integration of psychological research into every class, every belt level, and every interaction between instructor and student.
How we do it
Our Approach
Three pillars that set IAMA apart
PhD-Informed Curriculum
Dr. Matt Walley's PhD in Cognitive Psychology grounds every aspect of the IAMA programme. From the structured values framework to the neurodivergent-inclusive teaching approach, the curriculum is built on evidence-based developmental psychology, not guesswork or tradition alone.
Zen Do Kai Freestyle
The BJMA Zen Do Kai system is a comprehensive freestyle martial art combining striking, grappling, and self-defence drawn from multiple traditions. Practical, well-rounded, and tested over decades by instructors with a combined 100+ years of experience.
12-Value Character Framework
IAMA maps 12 psychological attributes to belt progression, from Calmness at white belt through to Altruism at black belt. Character development is not a side effect of training at IAMA; it is the curriculum. Physical skill and personal growth advance together.
The people behind the programme
The Team
8 instructors, 100+ combined years of Zen Do Kai experience
IAMA's instructor team is led by Dr. Matt Walley and Shihan Nick Putt. Every instructor holds a black belt and brings genuine depth to their teaching. The team trains together, plans together, and holds a shared commitment to the values framework that underpins every class.
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Train Zen Do Kai in Christchurch
One trial session is not enough to commit to a programme. Your first month at IAMA is free, no obligation, no pressure. By the end of your month trial, you'll know whether this is the right fit for your child.
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