Peter Clarke

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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.