Draeger was expert in Judo, Karate and Jōdō and was the first non-Japanese to be ranked Menkyo-Kaiden (teaching certificate) in the classical system of Shintō Musō-ryū Jodo.

While living in Japan he received instruction from teachers including Gozo Shioda, Kyoichi Inoue, Takafumi Takeno, Tsutomu Chida, Hitoshi Nakano, and then assistants Jacques Payet and Tsuneo Ando.

On 8 July 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Asia Pacific Open University for his lifelong commitment and contribution to the martial arts.

Thambu continues to teach from his school in Melbourne, Australia, frequently hosting students from overseas, of whom, many are aspiring teachers staying for extended periods, coming from countries such as the United Kingdom, Poland, Malaysia and Indonesia.

[citation needed] Thamby Rajah (Thambu's uncle and original teacher) has always taught a natural derivative of the techniques he learned at Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo.

Rajah's technique is also influenced by extensive experience in Judo at the Kodokan, and his earlier Jujitsu training under Walter De Silva in Malaysia during the post war years.