Peter Clarke
Peter D Clarke
Peter started his training with Jan de Jong OAM
9th dan in 1973 and trained with him continuously until
his death in 2003. He did the various parts of his
gradings for shodan in 1981-2. It was later in 1982 that
he accompanied Jan on his first trip to Europe with a group of
instructors, including Debbie.
Whilst Jan had migrated to Australia and commenced
teaching in 1952, it took until 1982 for him to have reached the
stage of having a handful of first dan black belts, just before
travelling to Europe in August 1982. Peter completed all
technical grades in Jan de Jong Jujutsu by completing sandan in
February 1999. By this time, Jan was using "Jan de Jong
Jujutsu" rather than the Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu that had previously
been the case. The change reflected Jan's view of the changes
that had taken place in the evolution of the form of jujutsu that
he was doing. Sandan was the highest technical grade and
thereafter all grades were honorary in that there was no exams,
tests or other requirements that had to be performed.
Contributions to the art within the school, nationally and
internationally were considered in conferring higher dan
grades.
Peter started teaching as an instructor for Jan de Jong in
1975 and taught at his school continuously from that time. As
well as teaching at his school in Perth Western Australia, he
travelled and taught with Jan on trips in Australia, New Zealand,
Indonesia and Europe during the 1980s and 1990s. Peter
accompanied Jan de Jong on his first (1982) and last (1999) group
trips to Europe as well as quite a few in between.
In 1979 Peter commenced learning Pencak Silat from Jan and
it was subsequently awarded a black belt. He was the only
person to have received a black belt in both jujutsu and pencak
silat. Whilst Peter is often asked to contrast the two arts
or select the preference of one over the other, he refrains from
doing so. They are both important; they are different and
need to be appreciated for what they are. It serves as a
reminder that there is always scope for a different approach and
perspective on the same subject matter and there is never just one
way of doing things.
Peter's other life can be found here.