Ju Jitsu in Australia

[Scaramouch]

Any Ju Jitsu practioners from Australia one out there?

I trained at Jan de Jong's school in Perth (Hay St) in 1989-90. I was already a shodan in Shotokan Karate by this time so was just looking for a place to train. I was VERY impressed by the Ju Jitsu training which I ended up taking up. Instruction was excellent as well. I believe it took around 10 years to get to shodan in their style of Jitsu so the black belts were technically superb, as was Sensei de Jong, even though he was in his 70's at that time.

Anyone else who has trained at Jan de Jong's? What did you think? I believe Sensei de Jong died, I think, earlier this year(?), anyone know whether there has been any fallout at his school between his family and instructors? I hope not.

[Jim]

I have no idea about the fallout. Sorry to hear earlier that Jan had died, he was a good bloke on so many levels although I never had the chance to train with him.

I'll try and find out some more when I can.

[DeeTee]

Hi,
A friend and I bought Shihan De Jong to the UK to do a weekend seminar back in 94. We wrote to every ju jitsu organisation here inviting them and not one attended, Some even saying that they couldn't possibly be seen attending a seminar by someone representing this or that organisation. In the end there was about 6 of us. It was the most expensive private lesson I've ever had - though some JKD guys have come close!! De Jong ever the gentleman, felt sorry for us and waived his seminar fees and just asked us to pay his travelling expenses and those of his assisstants. They really don't know what an opportunity they missed. My friend emmigrated to Oz back in 89 and started training at De Jongs shortly after. It was he that put us on to him. I know this is a phrase that has often been used in the past, but this guy really had forgotten more than most people know and whats more had used it for real during world war 2 whilst fighting in the french and Dutch underground resistance.
Unfortunately I got a text from my friend in the middle of May saying that he had passed away. As is often the case I think the fallout in the organisation has already begun.

[Jim]

Yeah, I had heard that he died before. I think it was in a Blitz mag that one of my students loaned me. A bit sad about the fallout in the organisation. It's all too common, unfortunately.

[Scaramouch]

Thanks for the repsonse.

I am surprised by the response in the UK. Jan was apparently good friends with Wally Jay and Small Circle Ju Jitsu. His son Leon Jay has taken over Small Circle and so presumably knew Shihan de Jong?

At the Perth dojo us minions were rarely treated to instruction from Jan who spent most of his time with his senior students. But it never bothered me because his instructors were so good. I trained mostly under Robert Hymus.

Yes, I heard the stories about Jan applying his MA "for real" in the Dutch Resistence. He was also instructor to the Australian SAS for quite a few years.

[Archibald]

Hi Everyone.

I'm actually a current student of the school, although it has now moved from Hay Street to St Georges Terrace, for those of you who know their way around Perth, and as far as i can tell...there has been no fallout within the organisation since Shihan's unfortunate passing. His daughter, Maggie De Jong, still teaches there (She is my instructor), as well as the senior instructor, Paul Connolly, who is a red white belt. Everything seems to be going fine, though i have only been there for about two months, so there might be things i dont yet know about.
Just felt like sharing my thoughts. Ciao for now

[Jim]

Welcome aboard, Archie. Good to have more Aussies on MAP. Glad also to hear there's been no 'politics' after Jan's passing.

[Alias]

Originally posted by Scaramouch
Any Ju Jitsu practioners from Australia one out there?


I train in Bushi-Kempo Jiu-Jitsu.

I am also about to start training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

[Archibald]

Aha, thanks Jim, it's nice to be here.

Yes, it is nice to know there have been no 'Politics'. It is a very fine school. Very friendly and easygoing but also serious when it needs to be serious.
Aha, i dont actually know how long it takes to get a black belt with the school though....hope it isnt 10 years...hehe.

Ciao for now

[Jim]

Still around, Archie?

[Archibald]

aha, yea, I'm still around...I just haven't made too many posts on this forum...just a few in the 'others' section.
where exactly is Healesville jim? I have a feleing its in the eastern states, which i havent been to in...too long, hehe. What styles do you do aswell?
It's always nice to know stuf about my fellow aussies, hehe.
Oh yes, Merry Christmas and happy new year in case i dont post before

Ciao for now.

P.S Happy new year and holidays for those who dont celebrate christmas.

[Jim]

Healesville? Start at Melbourne, Victoria, head East along the Eastern Freeway, change to the Maroondah Highway when you run out of Freeway and you'll be there in about 35-40 minutes. ;)

I do a compilation MA called Kakuto Goshin Jutsu (see www.agjs.com ) and I believe one of our instructors, Gerald, met Jan when visiting his daughter in WA a few years back.

Good luck with the holidays and look forward to some more posts from you in the New Year.

[Archibald]

Aha, Sounds good, though the closest thing i have to do in melbourne is a brother who lives there, and evne that is still one freeway and 45 minutes away, hehe.
Your art sounds interesting...what kyu are you? asuming your system uses 'Kyu'...whihc sounding japanese, it should, aha.
And im glad your instuctor met Shihan...we have some sort of connection, aha.

Good luck with your holidays aswell...as soon as i really get into martial arts, you'll see alot more posts....

Ciao for now

[Jim]

Our lineage is a little odd (to say the least) we use a system of Kawaishi Judo to define throws, etc. but that's about it. We use Japanese Judogi for training and keep some termanology but mostly I suspect we have a lot more in common with Jeet Kwon Do :o

[Scaramouch]

Archibald, still around?

Just out of interest who is instructing at JDJ these days? I think Maggie must have been a bit young to train/instruct when I was at Hay Street back in 89-90. Her older brother was certainly around but seemed to only train with Shihan and the other seniors.

[Archibald]

Argh...i forgot about this thread...lol.....
First of Jim, your style sounds odd, to say the least, but at the same time quite cool and interesting, hehehe.

And Scaramouch, I have in fact only been going once a week (though that's going to change soon), so the only instructors i know of are Paul Connolly, a red white belt who trained at the school since he was 12, another black belt who i've never trained with, so i don't know, and of course Maggie, who still looks fairly young, so perhaps she was too young to instruct in 89, hehe.

Having said that, there are other instrucotrs that i havne't met yet...i think there is anohter Aikido instructor, aswell as another red white belt, though he instructs at another branch, i think. Hopefully when i get into a better routine i'll meet some more of these great instructors. Hope all that helped.

On a side note, if students attains 'sensei' status at, i think it was 4th dan (?), what happens when a child begins his training at a very young age, and reaches 4th dan by the time he is say, 15. Is he still elligible to teach? Just a bit of a noob thought, hehe.

Ciao for now

P.S I wasn't even aware Maggie had an older brother, aha

[Jim]

Usually 'Sensei' is a Sho Dan rank. We have Sho Dan (1st Black) as being the instructor level rank where you're entitled to teach and open your own class. I've heard of other styles who have 2nd and 4th Dan to be their instructor level, though.

[Archibald]

Aah...I see now, aha. Thanks much

Ciao for now

[Dropbear]

Thread Ressurection :)

Just joined up to the forums! G'day to all jujitsudokas.

I practice in a dojo affiliated with Jan de Jong, in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. Enjoying it heaps.

[Archibald]

Gday dropbear...welcome aboard...

The Auzzies are tkaing over MAP.....WOOHAAA!!!!!

Anyway, glad you're enjoying jujitsu! What belt are you at, out of curiosity?

[Dropbear]

Gday dropbear...welcome aboard...

The Auzzies are tkaing over MAP.....WOOHAAA!!!!!

Anyway, glad you're enjoying jujitsu! What belt are you at, out of curiosity?

Hi Archibald.. Yes we aussies are everywhere.. (even our near neighbours, the kiwi's who scooped the pools at the Academy Awards yesterday).

I'm still progressing towards my green&white belt. Only been training for 5 weeks and can't believe how detailed the syllabus is for jujitsu. I have some exposure to Judo and Aikido in the past and their belt progression is much easier than JJ. At these low belts we are allowed to do partial gradings on sections of the syllabus (ie evasion, blocking, escape, join/wrist locks, ukemi etc). I'm about half way through at the moment.

[Archibald]

Hehe, yes we are...and yes, even the kiwi's that owned everyone else at the Oscars....bit bummed that the last samurai didn't win anything, but ah well.

And you're rihgt...the Jujitsu syllabus is very complicated....i'm only going for my brown white on the 20th, and i'm already dreading it. Definetly will be dreading the grading for yellow belt, which is all reflex...and good luck for your grading too!

Anyway, keep at it. Ciao

[Kris H]

Hi,

I'm in Australia, Sydney though. I have been along to a Ju Jitsu class (Sakura Ryu Ju-Jitsu if that means anything to any of you) and had a great time, i'm going take up either Ju Jitsu or BJJ on a regular basis, looks likely to be the Ju Jitsu since it is more convenient.

Sorry to here about your instructors death. i never knew him, though i think i remember his name from somewhere, i'm not sure where though, may have been in Blitz. Anyway, hope you can all keep it together at the school, no point letting his effort go to waste.

I wasn't aware that he had instructed the ADF though. Would any of you know anything about a book called 'Be Mean But Be First' as it is claimed that the author (John Ellery) taught unarmed comabt with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment.

http://www.sportzblitz.net/onlinestore/product.php?id=16

Cheers

[Jim]

Heya Kris,

I have John Ellery's book (personally signed) and, yes, he did teach CQB and unarmed combat with the SASR.

[Kris H]

Oh well, might have to get it. It was no big thing its just that people claiming to have been in the SAS or SEALS or as rampant as 20 yr old 10th dan blackbelts who have mastered 6 styles :D

Cheers

[Scaramouch]

Used to be a bearded instructor at Jan de Jong's old Hay Street dojo called Hans de Jong. At the time I assumed it was his son, but may be a different relative? Any one know if he still teaches? I guess with younger sister Maggie taking over the school he has moved on?

Sent off for a copy of Jan's "book" (its quite short - p.60). Was a wee bit dissappointed as it lacks pictures of actual techniques - some good stories from Jan's past though.

[Jim]

De Jong is a very common surname in both Swizerland and the Netherlands. I have no idea who he is. Do a websearch?

[Archibald]

Why my friends...there's no need to do a web search...Archiblad goes to Jan De Jong's school!

Hehe, sorry about that...anyway...I'm not entirely sure whether Hans still teachers there, but he is Shihan's son.

And that book is quite an intersting read, despite the fact there are no technique pictures...still, I only bought it for a copy of the grading syllabus, but unfortunately from yellow belt onward is in japanese...heh...I've now learnt more of the japanese language than i ever did in high school....

Anyway, i hoped that helped....ciao for now

[Boxy]

Hans is Shihans son - he has a dojo associated with JdJ and teaches in Hamersley (suburb north of Perth) - sometimes at the main Perth Dojo as well......

bye 4 now

Boxy