Sensei Des began his martial arts training in 1964 at the age of 10, by joining a Judo club in Durban, South Africa. In 1970, he joined the International Karate-do Goju Kai under Leo Lipinski Shihan. Between 1973 and 1976, he also trained under Stuart Booth, Shihan, head of Goju Ryu Kenwa Kai, South Africa. He was awarded his IKGA Shodan in 1974 and received his Nidan in 1976 directly from Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan.

Sensei Des emigrated to the USA in 1978 and attended night law school in San Francisco, graduating in 1983. He was admitted to the California Bar and practices law in San Mateo, handling general civil litigation matters, as well as adoptions and guardianships. He is "AV rated" by Martindale Hubbell, and in 2005, he was named a "Northern California Superlawyer" by San Francisco Magazine."

When Lipinski Shihan left the IKGA, Sensei Des followed his instructor to Goju Ryu Karate-do Seiwa Kai, and together with Vassie Naidoo Shihan, formed the US branch of that organization in 1992. Sensei Des has been the President of Goju Ryu Seiwa Kai USA since then.