The History of World Ju Jitsu Federation – first part (1976-1986)
As the Wjjf reaches several decades already, most of us still wondering what the wjjf is and how works. The birth of the federation was almost like a childhood dream come true for Messrs. Spartaco Bertoletti, Robert Clark who had worked very hard together, travelling the meeting with many people and seeking out clubs and organizations with the same aims. Exploring new ideas and old established customs was not an easy task either, by any manner of means. The aims of the federation are to foster good relation throughout the World, to develop and control ju jitsu in order to unify standard of competency and to cooperate and support other bodies with similar aims and objectives. Like all official bodies, the federation is run under a democratic process. It is formulated by a Presidential Board which ensures the smooth running and consistent and continual development – a financial committee to look after the financial business and registry to keel tally and records of all those in membership. With over 250.000 people in membership it is certainly a mammoth task. The success of the federation has come about primarily because of the non-political stand it takes, particularly in the light of differing government policies of various countries and also through the development and nurturing of a friendship bond between the member, club or organisation and the federation. The federation now boasts that it is one of, if not the biggest world body in martial arts, with 43 member countries, including: Australia, New Zealand, America, Zambia, Nigeria, Mauritius, Kenya, Hungary, Poland, Lapland, all the Scandinavian and European countries in membership, and the federation is still growing. Recently prof. Robert Clark has had remarkable success consistent with the input of hard work in development in the Scandinavian areas such as Finland, Norway etc., in fact throughout the life of the federation, Messrs. Bertoletti and Clark have indeed done an incalculable amount of toil, which simply shows that with much understanding, great things can be achieved. On the Japanese front, Saburo Masanori Minali 17th Hontai Yoshin Ryu prior to retiring met with Mr Bertoletti (President) and Mr Clark (Director) in Japan and bestowed upon them ‘very valued advisor to the Hontai Yoshin Ryu. Soke, Tsuyoshi Munetoshi Inoue 18th Soke Hontai Yoshin Ryu – – successor to Saburo Minaki . and the world famous Reushi Hayabuchi 9th dan Dai Nippon Keitenshiya Ryu are two of the most revered men in Japan and are still considered the most personal military advisor to the Emperor. These Masters are directly connected to the World Ju Jitsu Federation and therefore confirm and guarantee the pedigree of its membership. It would therefore be correct to assume that while the federation Presidential Board carry all the responsibility for all the federation’s doings, they as a board are answerable directly to Saburo Minaki.
Developments
The federation now years on has chalked up a number of achievements witch could fill an article itself, however, the most profound things not commonly known are that ju jitsu is now a curricular activity at the University of Budapest and in Great Britain has been accepted ad eligible for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. To project into the future, the aim of the federation is to continue to develop and spread ju jitsu into underprivileged countries on a shoe string type basis whereby the rich countries of the World would subsidise the poorer. It is also foreseeable that children in the Wjjf will be sent to Japan, on a scholarship scheme to give them a first hand insight into the Japanese culture. Ultimately it the wish of the federation to have it’s instructors demonstrate and teach the oldest system of ju jitsu, Hontai Yoshin Ryu all over the World – who knows things may turn full circle and we may end up teaching the Japanese ju jitsu.