Inducted into the A.M.A.H.O.F.(Inc) for 2005
Instructor of the Year – Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu

Inducted into the W.K.U.H.O.F. for 2005
Instructor of the Year – Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu

Jim began his martial arts training in 1960 when he was 12 years of age. He became a member of the Sandgate RSL Youth Club in north Brisbane, training in Judo classes on a Wednesday evening. His initial instructor was Jim Davis, who was a student of Desmond de Vene, of the Sandgate Judo Club.

Jim practised at the Sandgate RSL Club and successfully competed in many Judo competitions as a junior and young man. In 1965, Mr Davis left the club, and Jim was appointed as the Head Coach – at 18 years of age and the holder of a brown belt 1st Kyu.

In December 1966 Jim was promoted to black belt by the Queensland United Black Belt Association. By this time, he had built up the club to the extent that over 300 members were training three times a week. In the 1970s the Sandgate RSL Youth Club Judo members were a force to be reckoned with. Their success in the (then) QAJU State Titles in 1968 was the start of their regime – with 9 firsts, 7 seconds and 9 thirds out of 11 divisions. The club then continued with similar success over the next decade.

Jim was promoted to black belt 2nd Dan in Japan in 1968, and to 3rd Dan in 1971, after which he retired from active competition due to the dislocation of his shoulder. He was later promoted to 4″‘ Dan by the Judo Federation of Australia in 1982.

In the late 1960s, Jim began studying Jujitsu under the guidance of Ray Stevens – a former member of the Australian occupational forces who were based in Iwakuni, Japan. Jim travelled to Japan in 1968, where he spent six months training with Minehiko Nakano – a recognised master within Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu. Jim was promoted to black belt 1st Dan in 1968.

Upon returning to Australia, Jim joined the (then) Commonwealth Police Force and instructed at Lithgow Police Boys Club and North Sydney PBC. He returned to Queensland in 1971 and was almost immediately appointed as the senior martial arts instructor at the newly established Queensland Police Academy. Jim convinced the Queensland Police senior management that there was a need for a structured system in arrest procedures and restraint holds, and subsequently taught over 1,000 police in one week at the Enoggera Army Barracks in preparation for street demonstrations during the 1971 tour of Queensland by the South African Springboks Rugby Union Tour.

This training continued in the ensuing years when Vietnam Moratorium marches were prevalent. The Queensland Police formed the Public Order Squad to address crowd disturbances, and Jim was appointed as one of the instructors in crowd control and operational tactics. Many of the techniques and procedures introduced by him are still taught to QPS operational staff today.

In 1974, Jim returned to Japan, where he was promoted to 2nd Dan in Jujitsu. He remained as head martial arts instructor at the Queensland Police Academy until 1977, when he was appointed as a detective and transferred to the CIB. In this capacity, he continued to teach Judo and Jujitsu in various clubs in Brisbane and Rockhampton.

In 1981 he qualified as a police prosecutor and was appointed as head prosecutor for western Queensland, based at Mount Isa where he and his wife, Meladee stayed until 1987. During this time, they both taught at the Mount Isa Judo Academy and the Mount Isa Judo Club – instructing over 200 members a week, many of whom trained three times a week. In 1986, he received an Australia Day Award for sporting commitment and contribution to the community of Mount Isa.

The following years saw Jim travel around the State to Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Gold Coast and back to Brisbane. In each city Jim continued to teach martial arts, and has instructed literally thousands of students along the way. During those years he maintained close contact with his mentor, Kyoshi Joe Elkenhans (now 7th Dan) and was promoted to 3rd, 4th and 5th Dan in Jujitsu.

In 2000 Jim returned to Brisbane where he decided to remain, in order to facilitate a sound academic study environment for his teenage twins, Steffi-Louise and Christopher. As a result of this decision, he sponsored Jujitsu classes at Zillmere PCYC, Sandgate PCYC, Pine Rivers PCYC and Arana Hills PCYC. He was the founding Chairman of the Zillmere PCYC in 2001 and received a life membership from the Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association in 2004 for his dedication to promoting martial arts in Queensland PCYC’s since 1971.

Jim’s martial arts group – the Kyushin Ryu School of jujitsu – now has well over 200 members training every week and has conducted highly successful skills competitions for the last three years. The school has been a member of the Australian Jujitsu Federation Inc since 2001, and last year Jim was appointed as a member of the Executive Council. Jim was promoted to 6th Dan in 2002 – with this rank since being confirmed by the AJF.

Jim is the proud recipient of life membership awards from several schools: Sandgate RSL Youth Club in 1968; Sandgate Judo Club in 1969; Mount Isa Judo Club in 1987; and QPCYWA in 2004. He was the recipient of a Commonwealth Community Award in 2004 for his promotion of martial arts in the federal electorate of Lilley. Over the years, he has gained NCAS coaching qualifications in Judo, Touch Football, Life-Saving and Jujitsu.

Jim has unselfishly passed on his knowledge to young and old members over the last 40 years, while never receiving any payment for his efforts. He exudes a love for martial arts, and this is reflected in his 14 year old son, Christopher who has been awarded the prestigious trophy as Most Outstanding Competitor in the Kyushin Ryu Jujitsu Skills Competition – for the last two years in succession.
Jim is currently a Superintendent of Police at Police Headquarters in Brisbane. In his spare time, he still instructs at several police youth clubs and oversees the training curriculum and all grading examinations. He has been an ardent practitioner of martial arts for over 40 years, and is an admirable choice for Induction into AMAHOF and WKUHOF.