History of
Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu
in Australia
Colonel
James Laughlin, Peter Morton (who was a Judo/Jujitsu expert at the time) and
Bruce Jacobs established the Australian branch of Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu in
Canberra in January 1961.
Colonel Laughlin was introduced to Soke Shuho Sugita during his
tour of duty in Yokosuka, Japan, in the late 1950's whilst in Command of the
Australian Army "Taipan Force" Contingent in Japan. Soke invited
the Colonel to be his pupil and commenced training the Colonel every day after
work for the remainder of his tour of duty.
On returning to Australia the Colonel was invited to start
teaching his Self-Defence techniques at the Canberra Police Boys Club after he
had given a display for the public. Together with Peter Morton and Bruce
Jacobs the small group gradually developed the Australian Branch.
Peter Morton began studying Kodokan Judo in 1946, before being
instructed in Australian Jujitsu from 1952. In 1980 Peter was graded to
Rokkyudan (6th Dan) at the Jishukan Honbu (headquarters) in Japan by Soke Shuho
Sugita. Peter was inducted into The
Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame/World Karate Union Hall of Fame in
1997.
Colonel James Laughlin (Seiko Korman - Nanadan) was born on 21st
April, 1920, and died on Sunday 19th September, 1993, after battling cancer.
Today, Jishukan has opened clubs in Western Australia, New South
Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland.
This
page was last updated on
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
