The Way of Kaizen

The Way of Kaizen is the title of my article published in this month's Blitz magazine. It is what I consider to be Shihan Jan de Jong OAM 9th Dan's legacy. Would love to hear some feedback on the article.

The Legacy of Jan de Jong

I have been informed by the editor of the national martial arts magazine, Blitz, that my article on the legacy of Shihan Jan de Jong OAM 9th Dan will be published. Can you conceive what I consider De Jong's legacy to be? It won't be what you imagine but it will be far more influential than simple martial arts. It may even challenge 'professional's' understanding of a philosophy that they hold dear to themselves.

Adrian Dobson Photo

Paul Amyes, a former senior student of the former Jan de Jong Self Defence School, very generously granted me permission of sharing the photograph below of the late Adrian Dobson.

Blitz Article on the Legacy of Jan de Jong

I have been informed by the editor of Blitz that my article on the legacy of Shihan Jan de Jong OAM 9th Dan will be published in the March (2016) edition of Blitz. The legacy is something you might not necessarily attribute to De Jong at first glance. It only comes through a deep understanding of his work and the man himself. Either buy the magazine in your local newsagent or purchase it on-line with Blitz.

Further WWII Images of De Jong's Legacy

The following were received from a member of Shihan Jan de Jong OAM 9th Dan's first family which adds to the documentation associated with his legacy.

This is the ex libris that De Jong had designed by Wim Zwiers, a renown artist in Holland, which came to be the logo for his school.

The above includes an address - Leede 60 Rotterdam Zuid - which was his first wife's parents address.

The second photo is of a membership card to his school in Holland during and just post WWII.

Gelieve deze kaart elke eerste les van de maand mede te brengen - Please bring this card with you every first lesson of the month.

De ontwikkeling van het Jiu Jitsu heeft twintig eeuwen geduurd. Laten we niet denken, dat we deze kunst in twintid dagen te leren is. - The development of the Jiu Jutsu has taken 20 centuries. Let us not think that we can learn this art in twenty days.

The latter statement is gold.

PS: Part of this blog is to act as a lightening rod for others who were involved with De Jong to contribute to the body of knowledge and images that is being developed. These images forwarded to me by members of his family and the memorabilia forwarded to me by a member of his school from the 1950s has supported that intention. Thank you.

Vale 44 Waroonga Rd Nedlands

44 Waroonga Road Nedlands was Jan de Jong's home for so many years. Out the back was a building that was his personal dojo. Many have many fond memories of 44 Waroonga Road Nedlands. The property went up for auction 12 December 2015 putting an end to an era.

996 Hay Street Perth was the school's dojo, however, that ended just before De Jong's death. It seemed fitting that with his passing so the school had to relocate as it was no longer his school.

I remember my first attendance at 44 Waroonga Road Nedlands. It was for my black and white theory grading. I arrived at the front gate, a forbidding structure, and when I turned the handle on the gate it came away in my hand. A nervous five minutes resulted in me finally re-attaching the handle to the gate and entering the premises.

I was met by Jan de Jong and Margaret in their living area. An area that looked out onto the garden through a two storey glass front. I was then ushered into the 'inner sanctum' - De Jong's study. Being a studious chap, I was immediately over awed by the floor to ceiling library on three walls of De Jong's study.

I 'breezed' the examination and when I went to shake De Jong's offered hand I accidentally caused a clock to fall to the floor, upon which it immediately disintegrated. I was horrified and attempted to reestablish its integrity, to no avail, and to De Jong's merriment.

In the living room I attempted to sit down upon a stool to receive the accolades that would surly be coming my way only for the stool then to disintegrate into a structural mess. By this time I offered my apologies and suggested that it was time I left before the entire building fell apart around us because of my presence.

Then of course there was the shodan sword grading with Sensei Daryl Cooke in the back yard. I'm quite sure that the sword masters of Japan never had to contend with a fly up their nose while practicing their art. Nor the fact that when engaging in a raised sword stance their sword piercing a lemon hanging in a lemon tree. Of course being thrown into a conflux of pot plants and attempting to maintain dignity as one arises with dirt and plants falling of one would not be the norm for the samurai.

There are many, many, many stories associated with 44 Waroonga Rd Nedlands. Why don't you share them as we say farewell to the last vestige of Shihan Jan de Jong.

PS: Added photo above. De Jong's home dojo and him congratulating the late Sensei Greg Palmer on a completed grading.

Vale Adrian Dobson Take Two

My previous post re Adrian's passing was written in haste. I have since received messages of condolence which reminded me how well regarded he was, so I thought I'd rewrite this tribute to Adrian.

Adrian Dobson passed 1.20 am 28 December 2015.

Adrian loved Jan de Jong and the Jan de Jong Self Defence School. One of the reasons I write this blog is to recognise and acknowledge those who pass who loved Jan de Jong and the school and who provided great service to both. The present school does not unfortunately.

Adrian commenced training in the mid 80s and continued until his passing. He was graded 1st kyu in jujutsu and green belt in aikido by Sensei John Langley. Adrian's highest grade may have been in jujutsu but his love was aikido. I suspect that was because of the esoteric nature of aiki.

Adrian was not a natural martial artist nor very graceful, however, Yoshiaki Unno would have regarded him highly because Adrian trained hard, often, and consistently.

Adrian assisted me in the teenager's class on Saturday mornings and took that responsibility seriously. His gentle and patient manner and his love of the art contribute to his being a well respected instructor.

Adrian was a loyal and generous person. He was the first to put his hand up to pay for Jan de Jong's memorial when he passed. Always there at any function. Never a bad word to say about anyone.

Adrian had his own dojo at his place of business. I trained with him/taught him at the dojo and would often come across him watching video of his early morning training sessions with Jan de Jong and his long-time training partner, Keith 'Keef' Hickey. He treasured those moments. He had hours upon hours of those videos.

Around his dojo were various treasured memorabilia of his martial arts journey. A photo of him, Keef, and Jan de Jong took pride of place. A print of a painting of Jan de Jong that I gave him was also present on the walls. I recently saw a photo of him performing kenjutsu on the internet but unfortunately cannot find it again. I did, however, send the link to Adrian. He also had a floor board he retrieved when 996 Hay Street, the home of the Jan de Jong Self Defence School, closed.

Adrian also accompanied Jan de Jong on a number of his European teaching trips. On one of those trips, the two gents above, the one on the left being Adrian, decided to give each other a #1 clipper cut because they were ... bored. He took a shine to the use of the tonfa after receiving instruction from an Italian instructor in Germany we stayed with. The photo to the right is of Adrian being thrown by Maggie de Jong with Jan de Jong watching on while demonstrating in Sweden.

Adrian had many other interests outside of the martial arts. He competed in the Avon Decent some 20 odd times. Loved his paddling and rock climbing. He took me rock climbing once, not to a facility mind but straight to a rock face in a quarry. I forgot I have an issue with heights which I remembered half way up the rock face.

Loved his music playing the piano, then the flute and finally the saxaphone. He played an instrument each night. Read voraciously but mostly biographies. Also read, and unfortunately performed, poetry. His favourite being The Man from Snowy River.

Loved art and theatre. Sadly, he and Keef attended a sing-along theatre that put on The Sound of Music.

Vale Adrian.