He was born to Slovenian father and Croatian mother and was educated in Zagreb, Vienna and Stockholm where he studied Swedish gymnastics. In 1894, he returned to Croatia from Sweden. Upon his return he founded the first Skating Association consisting of a skating section. Between 1894 and 1896 when he was a physical trainer he introduced his students to hockey on ice (bandy hockey). He imported the equipment needed to play the game (hockey sticks, balls, etc.) from Prague after a visit there.