History of Jan de Jong "Since my first introduction to the art of Ju Jutsu, close to 70 years ago, it has always fascinated me. Although it is a fighting art, the greater the knowledge one gains, the more relevance one can see it has to another art - the art of living."

Jan de Jong OAM

Letter from the desk of Jan de Jong Shihan, 1997:

In Ju Jutsu one learns the science of unbalancing, leverage, utilisation of ki(or mental control of physical force), the art of rolling and break falling without damage to one's body, the controlling and subduing of an attacker and other logical, well thought out methods of using one's body to avoid attack or harm. In other words, turning an unfavourable situation in which we find ourselves into a position of advantage. Is it not so in daily life? Instead of the mental stress of worrying about the misfortune of a potentially damaging or negative situation, to be able to focus one's mental and physical powers on ways to change the position to one of advantage. So I have found that Ju Jutsu is in essence an application of the precept 'accept and survive'.

Looking back at my own early years in Australia (1952-1963), self defence was often considered a rather peculiar and odd thing to do. The term "judo" was known by some, but most people had not even heard of "karate" or "kung fu", let alone "Ju Jutsu." My expressed intention to make the teaching of this art into my living was almost always met with doubt, if not ridicule. The idea that anyone could teach an oriental self defence professionally was not considered possible. However, I had the confidence that I could and would do this. When I did make it my full-time occupation in 1963, to the best of my knowledge I was the only full-time martial arts instructor in Australia. Nowadays of course, martial arts is a normal activity and many of us can make it into our living, but I still recall the early years and would encourage
younger people to: "believe in yourself, work hard, focus on your goal and don't give up".

Signed

Jan de Jong’s History

1928
Commenced training Tsutsumi Hozan ryu Ju Jutsu under S. Saito (8th Dan)
in Semarang on the island of Java, Indonesia. Jan de Jong and his father, also a black belt in the system, were two of the very few non-Japanese to be taught by Saito.

1939
Graded 3rd Dan, the highest technical grading in Tsutsumi Hozan ryu Ju Jutsu.

1940
Travelled to the Netherlands to further his education. The outbreak of World War II interrupted these plans and cut off financial support from his family. In order to support himself he commenced teaching Ju Jutsu in Rotterdam. For the duration of the war he was a member of the Dutch resistance.

1946
Returned to Indonesia and commenced working for the Royal Netherlands Indies Army and then the Indonesian army as a physiotherapist. Accepted into the aliran (Indonesian for system or style) to learn pencak silat from Soehadi

1951
Graded 6th Degree Black Belt in pencak silat.

1952
Emigrated to Perth, Western Australia.

1969
Travelled to Japan and trained in many martial arts schools, including that of Minoru Mochizuki in Shizuoka near Mt Fuji, where he graded 1st Dan in Yoseikan aikido and Shotokan karate.

1978
Accepted the position of Australasian representative for the World Ju Jutsu Federation.

1979
Accepted the position of Chief Instructor and Adviser to the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SAS).

1980
Promoted to 4th Dan in Ju Jutsu.

1982
Promoted to 6th Dan in Ju Jutsu. Conducted first teaching tour of Europe which subsequently evolved into an annual occurrence.

1985
Accepted the position of Australian representative for the International Pencak Silat Federation.

1987
Accepted the position of President and National Coach for the Australian
Ju Jutsu Association.

1989
Promoted to 8th Dan in Ju Jutsu.

1990
Awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia for services to the martial arts.

1991
Accepted the position of Vice President of the World Ju Jutsu Federation. Celebrated his fiftieth year anniversary of teaching Ju Jutsu professionally.

1996
Promoted to 9th Dan in Ju Jutsu.

Jan de Jong Shihan continued to teach and also to refine and improve technical and teaching aspects of his martial arts up to the last three weeks of his life, which ended at the age of 82 in April 2003.

Jan de Jong’s Self Defence School

Often the ties formed with Jan de Jong and his School are very strong and longlasting. Many people who have experienced Jan de Jong’s martial arts encourage their children and grandchildren to do likewise. Some current students in Perth represent the third generation of families involved with the School. Whilst giving a seminar in Holland in 1994, Jan de Jong was approached by two gentlemen. He immediately recognised them as former students from his Rotterdam School. They confirmed this by proudly presenting their original membership cards which they had kept for over 50 years. Two years later he was again approached by two former members, one of whom was Piet Hesselink. They had lost contact when Jan de Jong emigrated to Indonesia in 1946. Piet Hesselink is still teaching Ju Jutsu in Holland.

History of Jan de Jong’s Self Defence School

1941
Jan de Jong opened his first School in Rotterdam, Holland.

1944
The Rotterdam School closed due to the demands of World War II.

1945
The Rotterdam School re-opened and was subsequently passed on to Piet Hesselink when Jan de Jong returned to Indonesia.

1946
Jan de Jong taught in Jakarta and Semarang, Indonesia.

1952
First School opened in Perth, Western Australia, located in Charles Street, North Perth. Later the same year the School relocated to Mint Street, Victoria Park.

1954
School relocated to Jan de Jong’s residence in Edgehill Street, Scarborough.

1955
School relocated to the Swan River Rowing Club, Riverside Drive, Perth. Attending the first class were ten students interested in learning Ju Jutsu.
Jan de Jong demonstrated a bridgefall and put both his feet through the floorboards into the river. The next lesson he had three students. One of these students suggested that using mats may encourage more people to take up Ju Jutsu, so they made some mats by hand as they couldn’t be purchased at that time. The School was named “Ju Jutsu Kan Perth.”

1960
School relocated to 870 Hay Street, Perth – the first known full-time martial arts School in Australia.

1963
School relocated to 996 Hay Street, Perth.

1965
First branch opened in Kelmscott. Since then the School has operated many branches throughout the Perth metropolitan area and at times in some country locations.

1968
Classes in Aikido and Pencak Silat were offered to the public for the first time. Phillipe Boiron, trained by Minoru Mochizuki, taught aikido. Jan de Jong had been teaching Pencak Silat to higher graded Ju Jutsu students since 1955.

1975
The name of the School changed to “Jan de Jong’s Self Defence School.”

2002
The School celebrated its 50th anniversary since opening in Perth in 1952. At the celebrations, Jan de Jong Shihan was pleased to present to the instructors and students the new name of the School, “Jan de Jong Martial Arts Fitness” and the new logo, which he felt represented the direction of the School.

2003
In March Jan de Jong Shihan asked his daughter Maggie de Jong to take over the role of principal of the School.

In September the School relocated to more central and modern premises at ‘the Atrium’ 168 St George’s Tce, in Perth.

Maggie de Jong Sensei and Paul Connolly Sensei, together with Margaret de Jong, continued the running of the School at the city location and at the Melville Branch, with Daryl Cook Sensei taking charge of Melville classes. The School’s branches in the northern suburbs were handed over to Hans de Jong Sensei.

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