Master John Duggan 5^th Dan

Residence:

Tipperary Town, Republic of Ireland

Email Address: tippjiujitsu@hotmail.com

29 Years in the Martial Arts

I began Training in Martial Arts at the age of thirteen, when joining a local Judo club. I trained in that club for four years.

After leaving school and experimenting with various styles, I moved to England and was introduced for the first time to Jiu-Jitsu. This was probably due to previous Judo training I had. I was immediately hooked and progressed through the various kyu grades before returning to Ireland in 1990.

I found out about a Jiu-Jitsu club close to where I live and resumed training under Sensei Laurence Goucher, under whom I received my 1^st Dan black belt. Under the advice and supervision of Sensei Goucher, I opened a club in Tipperary Town in March of 1991. Initially the number of people training was small, but it grew over the years. I then opened several Dojos in nearby villages and in Limerick City.

I continued to train under Sensei Goucher until he decided to call it a day on August of 1993.

I then met and trained with Shihan Dave Vincent. This was to be my most influential period of my Martial Arts training. I was taken back by Shihan Vincent’s hand speed, knowledge of atemi, and ability to make a baton look like a part of his body.

I Completed a National Coaching course at Warwick University in June of 1995.

I trained harder then I had ever trained before, and quickly developed my style of Kempo Jiu-Jitsu. All in the mold of what Shihan Vincent had taught me so well.

I was graded to 3^rd Dan in November of 1996.  

I was appointed as National Director for the Bushi-Karate-Jitsu Association in May of 2000.

I was graded as 4^th Dan Kempo Jiu-Jitsu under Sensei Kevin O’Connor and Sensei Fred Coclough (B.K.J.A.) in 2000. I was graded 5^th Dan by the same organization in 2002.

Meanwhile, one of my students, Jason Kenny, who holds black belts in Jiu-Jitsu and Aikido, and I founded the Kokusai Bujitsu Kyoukai. This is a multi-style association incorporating Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Karate-Jitsu, Jiu-Do and Kobudo. The aim of our association is to make training in Martial Arts, affordable and enjoyable for all the members. We encourage students to cross train, and to take an active part in the day-to-day running of the association. We currently have 200 members in Ireland, and forty members in Spain. Our memberships are increasing all the time. We also formed a demonstration team last year, and we regularly run fund raising for various charities.