Foundation:
The New Zealand Jiu Jitsu School of Self Defence was founded in 1995 by Doug Bailey (Hastings) and Michael Hickson (Palmerston North). It was joined by Kerry Young (Hamilton) in 1997 and, that same year, Stenfinn Olivecrona (Palmerston North) amalgamated his Olivecrona Ju-Jutsu club with the NZJJS.
At its height, NZJJS had clubs in the Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wanganui and Manawatu regions. With job transfers and retirements, NZJJS now has clubs in Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. It is an incorporated society, registered in 1997.
NZ Ju-Jitsu Federation involvement:
NZJJS clubs were early participants on the Sport Ju-Jitsu NZ tournament circuit, with members competing with distinction from 1999. In total, 11 NZJJS members have represented New Zealand at World Games level.
In 2003, NZJJS instructors were amongst the founding members of the NZ Ju-Jitsu Federation. Doug Bailey was Federation chairman from 2003-2008 and again from 2012, and Mark Neal, Margaret Carswell, Rowena Harper, Johannes Zender and Anthony Bennet have all served on the committee. All NZJJS instructors hold Federation instructor qualifications and all black belts are registered in the Public Register of Ju-Jitsu Instructors and Black Belts.
The New Zealand Jiu Jitsu School of Self Defence was founded in 1995 by Doug Bailey (Hastings) and Michael Hickson (Palmerston North). It was joined by Kerry Young (Hamilton) in 1997 and, that same year, Stenfinn Olivecrona (Palmerston North) amalgamated his Olivecrona Ju-Jutsu club with the NZJJS.
At its height, NZJJS had clubs in the Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wanganui and Manawatu regions. With job transfers and retirements, NZJJS now has clubs in Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. It is an incorporated society, registered in 1997.
NZ Ju-Jitsu Federation involvement:
NZJJS clubs were early participants on the Sport Ju-Jitsu NZ tournament circuit, with members competing with distinction from 1999. In total, 11 NZJJS members have represented New Zealand at World Games level.
In 2003, NZJJS instructors were amongst the founding members of the NZ Ju-Jitsu Federation. Doug Bailey was Federation chairman from 2003-2008 and again from 2012, and Mark Neal, Margaret Carswell, Rowena Harper, Johannes Zender and Anthony Bennet have all served on the committee. All NZJJS instructors hold Federation instructor qualifications and all black belts are registered in the Public Register of Ju-Jitsu Instructors and Black Belts.
Mikinosuke Kawaishi
Kawaishi Jiu Jitsu:
NZJJS is very proud of its lineage. Its instructors descend from Hans van Ess, who brought Kawaishi jiu jitsu to New Zealand from Holland in 1961. Hans trained predominantly under Jaap Nauwelaerts de Agé, who studied under Jean de Herdt, one of Mikinosuke Kawaishi’s original French students, as well as the Budokwai’s Gunji Koizumi and Kawaishi himself. Hans also trained under Gé Koning and the judo great, Anton Geesink.
Kawaishi Nihon Goshin Jutsu is the form of jiu jitsu taught in Europe by Mikinosuke Kawaishi from 1928 until his death in 1969. Kawaishi attended Waseda University in Japan where he trained in judo and kendo. One influential instructor was Kurihara Tamio (posthumous 10th Dan), a student of Isogai Hajime (10th Dan), who trained under the founder of Kodokan judo, Jigoro Kano. Kawaishi was graded by the Kodokan to 4th Dan judo in 1924, shortly before he left Japan. He also trained in jiu jitsu under Yoshida Kotaro, a master of the Daito Ryu and Yanagi Ryu styles. Kawaishi jiu jitsu therefore places much influence on throwing and groundfighting techniques. It is less circular than Daito Ryu aikijujutsu but has many joint locking techniques in common.
A pictorial chart of the NZJJS lineage can be seen here.
NZJJS is very proud of its lineage. Its instructors descend from Hans van Ess, who brought Kawaishi jiu jitsu to New Zealand from Holland in 1961. Hans trained predominantly under Jaap Nauwelaerts de Agé, who studied under Jean de Herdt, one of Mikinosuke Kawaishi’s original French students, as well as the Budokwai’s Gunji Koizumi and Kawaishi himself. Hans also trained under Gé Koning and the judo great, Anton Geesink.
Kawaishi Nihon Goshin Jutsu is the form of jiu jitsu taught in Europe by Mikinosuke Kawaishi from 1928 until his death in 1969. Kawaishi attended Waseda University in Japan where he trained in judo and kendo. One influential instructor was Kurihara Tamio (posthumous 10th Dan), a student of Isogai Hajime (10th Dan), who trained under the founder of Kodokan judo, Jigoro Kano. Kawaishi was graded by the Kodokan to 4th Dan judo in 1924, shortly before he left Japan. He also trained in jiu jitsu under Yoshida Kotaro, a master of the Daito Ryu and Yanagi Ryu styles. Kawaishi jiu jitsu therefore places much influence on throwing and groundfighting techniques. It is less circular than Daito Ryu aikijujutsu but has many joint locking techniques in common.
A pictorial chart of the NZJJS lineage can be seen here.
Olivecrona Jiu Jitsu:
In 1998, NZJJS adopted the Olivecrona Method of Kawaishi jiu jitsu. Stenfinn Olivecrona was a student of the Kawaishi system who had adapted his jiu jitsu to his work in the security industry. Whilst the foundation techniques of the Olivecrona Jiu Jitsu are Kawaishi they are taught in a completely different manner. Techniques are classed roughly into out-fighting, in-fighting and groundfighting, with an emphasis on close-contact clinch fighting. Delivery is principles-based, which allows the student to learn to fight in a fluent and individualised manner. A large portion of classes is dedicated to free-practice to allow students to hone their fighting skills. There is no syllabi of kata techniques characteristic of traditional Kawaishi schools.
Juniors:
Children are taught judo until they move into the senior class. The emphasis is on learning good breakfalling, throwing and groundfighting techniques, often using fun judo games. Strikes, jointlocks and strangulations are not taught. Techniques are grouped together in the traditional kata-based model and kids are rewarded as each group is mastered.
Some NZJJS clubs have intermediate classes where a mix of kids’ judo and basic jiu jitsu is taught. This allows juniors to develop their jiu jitsu in an environment free from adult pupils and build their self-confidence. A goal is to enable them to eventually transition into the senior classes at close to purple belt level.
In 1998, NZJJS adopted the Olivecrona Method of Kawaishi jiu jitsu. Stenfinn Olivecrona was a student of the Kawaishi system who had adapted his jiu jitsu to his work in the security industry. Whilst the foundation techniques of the Olivecrona Jiu Jitsu are Kawaishi they are taught in a completely different manner. Techniques are classed roughly into out-fighting, in-fighting and groundfighting, with an emphasis on close-contact clinch fighting. Delivery is principles-based, which allows the student to learn to fight in a fluent and individualised manner. A large portion of classes is dedicated to free-practice to allow students to hone their fighting skills. There is no syllabi of kata techniques characteristic of traditional Kawaishi schools.
Juniors:
Children are taught judo until they move into the senior class. The emphasis is on learning good breakfalling, throwing and groundfighting techniques, often using fun judo games. Strikes, jointlocks and strangulations are not taught. Techniques are grouped together in the traditional kata-based model and kids are rewarded as each group is mastered.
Some NZJJS clubs have intermediate classes where a mix of kids’ judo and basic jiu jitsu is taught. This allows juniors to develop their jiu jitsu in an environment free from adult pupils and build their self-confidence. A goal is to enable them to eventually transition into the senior classes at close to purple belt level.
