The de Jong tradition

FOUR GENERATIONS UNBROKEN.

Jan de Jong. Hans de Jong. Daniel Newcombe. Andre Diaz. 

What you learn at Self Defence Central Dojo came down a direct line — instructor to student, four generations deep — from the man who brought this art to Perth in the 1950s. 

Jan de Jong established his jujutsu school here in the 1950s. Hans de Jong — his son, 8th Dan — trained under his father and carries the tradition forward. Daniel Newcombe trained under Hans as his senior student, was awarded the title of Shihan, and established the Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu International (THRI) programme to extend the tradition beyond Western Australia. Andre Diaz trained under Hans in the same line. His 3rd Dan was awarded by Daniel Newcombe within the THRI programme. 

Two relationships. One lineage. 

Hans and Daniel Newcombe still teach — and still come to this dojo. 

What's taught

What's taught at SDCD is Goshin Jujutsu — modern self-defence-oriented Japanese jujutsu — in the form refined by Jan de Jong over more than half a century of teaching in Perth. 

Joint locks. Throws. Strikes. Ground work. Weapons awareness. 

 Not sport. Not fitness. No tournaments, no sparring rounds. Training is partner-based and cooperative — students work together to develop genuine capability.

The timetable

— Monday 6pm 

— Tuesday 6pm 

— Wednesday 6pm 

— Saturday 9am 

Plus Wednesday 5pm (women-only, for adult women and female teens). 

Most students start with one class per week. Classes are small — usually eight to twelve students. Andre teaches the regular adult classes himself.

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Who this is and isn't for

Adult jujutsu at Self Defence Central Dojo attracts a specific disposition. Not a specific age, fitness level, or background.

 

It's for you if: 

— You want a martial art you can develop seriously over years, not a fitness programme with martial arts branding 

— You want to understand why techniques work, not just memorise sequences 

— You've trained in BJJ, judo, aikido, or karate and want genuine depth underneath it 

— You've never trained and want to start somewhere real 

— You completed Empower-Her and want to continue in the main programme 

It's not for you if you want: 

— Competition or sparring as the main event 

— Fast grading and frequent visible progress markers 

— High-intensity cardio training 

— A short-term commitment 

— A martial art that promises transformation or character development as outcomes you can sign up for 

Jujutsu at this dojo is a long art. The people who get the most from it weren't in a hurry.

What you're probably asking yourself

— Is this the real thing or watered-down traditional? 

— Will I keep up physically? 

— What's the class culture 

— is there ego in the room? 

— I've trained before and had a bad experience. Is this different? 

— What does this actually cost? 

Those are the right questions. Most have clear answers. Some are better in a conversation than on a page.

Worth a quick DM?

Got one of those questions yourself?  The easiest way is Messenger — it opens with a message ready to send.

What the first session is like

The first thing most adults notice is that nothing is performed. 

No warm-up designed to look impressive. No demonstration of techniques you won't touch for months. No culture of seniors showing beginners how far they have to go. 

Andre will pair you with a senior student who follows a defined foundational sequence — the same baseline every new student covers. Most of the session is spent on one or two movements, repeated until your body starts to form an opinion about them. 

No sparring. No fitness test. No performance. 

Adults who've trained before usually notice within the first session that something is different — the principles underneath the techniques are explicit. You're not left to figure out why something works. 

Adults who've never trained before usually find it less intimidating than they expected. 

This continues for four to six sessions. After that you drill with different partners across the regular class rhythm.

How you start

Two ways in — both honest about what they are. 

Walk-in trial — available any time. Message us, come to a class, get paired with a senior student who'll take you through the foundational sequence at your pace. No booking, no commitment. 

First Principles — a structured 4-week course for complete beginners. One class a week, Monday evenings. Gi included, worn from session one. Twelve students maximum. André teaches all four sessions himself. Runs periodically alongside the regular timetable.

Worth a conversation?

No booking form. No calendar widget. No free trial to claim. 

If what you've read sounds like something you've been looking for, the most useful next step is a short conversation. Ask about pricing, schedule, what your first session looks like, or anything else you need to decide. Expect Andre to reply directly. 

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