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Professor
Jacob's love affair with the Martial Arts began
when he was only nine years old, growing up
on the rough streets of a Port of Spain ghetto
on the small island of Trinidad in the West
Indies.
A fighter by nature, the young Don Jacob badly
needed a positive outlet for his energetic and
aggressive personality, and he found it - in
the form of judo lessons from Sensei Clyde Thomas.
He quickly became one of his teacher's best
students, and after earning his black belt,
he got the opportunity to travel to New York
where he met and trained with Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, the Late Grandmaster Moses Powell.
 Professor
Jacob spent several years teaching, traveling,
and studying various styles of martial arts,
including traditional styles like karate, which
he learned from his second teacher.
A young Don Jacob stands with
one of his teachers MASTER
Tusui Yoshitaka in photo to the
left.
In 1969, at the tender age of sixteen Professor
Jacob set about realizing his dream of turning
his special talent into a rewarding career.
In the humble neighborhood of Westbury Lane
in Belmont, Trinidad, he founded his first Martial
Arts school, under the unofficial name, "HELL
YARD". This nickname was given due to the
rigorous training which took place there. It was
not until 1970, that the school got its official
name, PURPLE DRAGON, which was to become
synonymous with a school of champions unparalleled in
Caribbean history.
In the years
following the opening of his first school, Professor
Jacob traveled extensively all over the world,
performing and teaching.
What is most noteworthy about Purple Dragon's
early beginning is that it was accomplished
at a time when non-Orientals were virtually
forbidden to open any new systems of martial
arts - even more so in the Third World. Despite
the initial opposition and disapproval of his
innovative system, Professor Jacob
forged ahead, making a name for Trinidad &
Tobago, Purple Dragon and for himself.
His persistence and determination
have not failed him. Purple Dragon now operates
a growing number of schools in Trinidad and
Tobago. The organization is thriving and growing in other
Caribbean islands such as the Cayman Islands,
Tortola, Antigua, Grenada and Dominica as well as
internationally in
the U.S.A, Canada, Europe and Australia.
The DVD entitled "Unstoppable Force" is one of
the best sellers bearing the success story of
the life and times of this awesome warrior. This
DVD is a must-see for all students.
A small part
of Professor Don Jacob life journey in building
the Purple Dragon and the Don Jitsu Ryu!
Professor Anthony Don Jacob was born in San
Fernando Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago on 16th
October 1954 of humble parentage.
He has studied Martial Arts
for over four decades. He holds a 9th
Degree Black Belt and the title (Hanshi)
Grandmaster or Professor.
He has competed in many
parts of the world and is a recognized
international champion in various Divisions -
e.g. Fighting, Forms, emphatic weaponry, Self
Defense and multiple demonstrations.
He has appeared both on
National and International television on several
of the world's most influential Channels,
including ABC's Wide World of Sports (US) and
Trans World Sports (UK).
He has enjoyed being
featured in many sports Martial Arts and
Cultural magazines, such as NBL Sport Karate
International and Black Diaspora magazine (US).
His presence on the cover of the British
magazine 'Oriental Arts - Karate' of August 1980
was an achievement that will long be remembered.
He has done videos and starred in
the leading roles. Some of these are: 'Enter the
Purple Dragon,' Battle of the Pro Am Champions,'
Australian Tour 1, 2 &3 and 'Don Jacob's
Fighting Techniques' among many others.
He has authored several
books - the most outstanding 'High Impact
Jiu-Jitsu,' 'Purple Dragon Don Jitsu Ryu System
Manuals 1&2,' 'Fighting Man's Bible,' 'Purple
Dragon Franchise Marketing Warfare', 'Rape
Prevention For Women” and “The Purple Dragon
Rules of Martial Arts Competition Handbook”.
He has had the benefit of
being featured in 'The Official History of
Karate in America' (The Golden Age 1968-1986)
and Black Heroes of the Martial Arts; as well as
in thousands of newspaper articles, talk shows
and live appearances across the globe.
The late Grand Master
Clyde Thomas encouraged him to
travel and his travels around the
world have brought him into contact with some of
the leading and legendary personalities of his
time; the late Dr. Moses Powell,
Professor Wally Jay Master the late Tusui Yoshitaka
and Billy Blanks
of the United States too name a few.
Pride filled him when he
was one of the first three Caribbean men to be
made an Honorary Citizen of Alameda, California,
USA in 1984, the others being his students
Anthony Thompson and Herbert Norville.
He was given the keys to
the city of Honolulu, Hawaii and to Melbourne,
Australia. He was honored as 'The Unsung Hero'
by the U.N.C. Government who came into power in
1995.
Over two hundred standing
ovations for his work have not spoilt him. He
has not been overshadowed by all his acclaim
even though he truly relished the ones at
Madison Square Gardens, the Canadian National
Exhibition, and London England and in the Middle
East.
The testimonials he has
received and the commendations that have come
are witness to the fact that he is indisputably
the Caribbean's most decorated athlete, and is
ranked among the top performers and lecturers in
the world.
Professor Don Jacob was
inducted into the World Martial Arts “Hall of
Fame” in Akron, Ohio USA in 1991. He was
inducted into the World Head of Family Sokiship
Council "Hall of Fame" May
23rd-24th, 2008 in San Antonio Texas.
Professor Don Jacob in the
same year was inducted in the Kuroshi-do
"Hall of Fame" in Atlanta Georgia.
Professor Jacob the Founder (Soki) and CEO of
the world famous Don Jitsu Ryu System, manages,
operates and teaches one of the finest, largest
and most disciplined Martial Arts institutions
in the world.
He has twenty-five (25) Purple Dragon
(Dojos) schools in Trinidad & Tobago, seven (7)
of these are actually at Academic Institutions
(schools) where the children are given the Don
Jitsu Ryu discipline on afternoons after school.
He also has twenty-one (21) more Dojos at
international locations world wide.
Professor Don Jacob is Trinidad and Tobago's
finest Martial Arts practitioner and therapist.
He is an Author, Instructor, Teacher, Lecturer,
Motivator, Counselor and Father. He has taught
over 30 thousand students in the Martial Arts.
He belongs to the rich institution of Mother
Purple Dragon, the Secret Order of the Oriental
and African Arts and Science. He is a Martial
Arts Scientist and an inspiration to us all.
Here
are a few of his outstanding achievements-:
1970
Purple Dragon was given it's official
name. The original Location was at #14A Westbury
Lane in Belmont Trinidad. Prior to this it was
called the 'Hell Yard' because of the rigorous
training. At the time there were only two other
karate schools on the Island, run by the Parris
Brothers and the Chin-Leung Brothers. There were
also two Judo schools run by Sensei Clyde
Thomas and Charlie Woo Ling. Boxing and
Wrestling were being practiced long before
Karate, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Trinidad and
Tobago.
1971
Professor Attempted to fight a lion
at the Emperor Valley Zoo.
1972
Professor Jacob hosted his 1st open
international Karate championship at Queens
Hall, Port Of Spain Trinidad W.I.
1973
Purple Dragon hosted the first Evening of
Oriental Arts. This Martial Arts demonstration
was held at Queen's Hall, Port Of Spain Trinidad W.I.
1974
Purple Dragon started its first ever
international branch in Grenada, headed by
Sensei Johnny Madrid (now Shihan).
1974
Purple Dragon hosted the first ever Mix Martial
Arts Championships " Ketsu-Go" anything
goes no rules at the City Hall Fredric St. Port
Of Spain.
1975
Don Jitsu Ryu was officially
launched.
1976
Professor Jacob competed at the Nick
Adler International Championship in New York
City.
1977
Professor Jacob won the Joyce Santa
Maria Empire State Self Defense Grand
Championships in New York.
1977
Professor
Don Jacob was the first Trinidadian
to perform at Madison Square Garden, at the
Oriental World of Self-Defense. He was assisted
by Shihan Anthony Thompson and Kendall Marshall.
1978
Professor Jacob won the Canadian
National Exhibition world Jiu-Jitsu Self Defense
Championships held by the Canadian Jiu Jitsu
Association and hosted by Master Ron
Forrester. At the same tournament he also
coached the Trinidad and Tobago Purple Dragon
Sparring Team to 2nd place victory.
The team members were: Anthony Thompson,
Johnny Madrid, Anthony Dillon, Carlyle Thorne
and David Raphael.
1979
Professor Jacob wrote and self
published the
"Official Manual for Rape Prevention."
Now
available at US $29.99
1980 Professor
Jacob performed for the second time at the
Madison Square Gardens Oriental World of
Self-Defense in front of 28,000 cheering
spectators. His performance was later featured
on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
1980
Professor Jacob performed in London, England
at
Jim Wilson's Independent Shotokan Karate
Championship. He became the first Black martial
artist to be featured on the cover of the
English magazine: "Karate and Oriental Arts"
1981 Professor
Jacob was honored by the Canadian Martial Arts
Magazine’s Hall of Fame as the “Best
Demonstrator in the World”.
1982 Professor
Don Jacob
taught the Don Jitsu-Ryu to the Royal Guards
of the O.R.D. (Oman Research Department) in the
Middle East.
1983 Professor
Jacob hosted the Master Key Seminar for
progressive and positive thinking at the Hilton
Hotel in Trinidad.
1984 Professor
Jacob received his Martial Arts Business
Management certification from Hamilton, Ontario
Canada.
1984
Professor Jacob
takes a Purple Dragon team to the
2nd World
Jiu-Jitsu Championships, hosted by the Canadian
Jiu-Jitsu Association in St. Catherine's, Canada.
The team placed 2nd in overall
competition.
1985 Professor
Jacob became the first known Black Martial
Artist to publish a book on the art of
jiu-jitsu, which has already sold over 100,000
copies -
"High Impact
Jiu-jitsu." Now available at
US $29.99
1986 Professor
Jacob became the first and only Trinidadian to
be mentioned in Al Weiss' Book, "The Official
History of Karate in America - The Golden
Ages 1968 -1986."
1987
Purple Dragon started the tradition
of the three-day black belt examination
in
Trinidad and Tobago.
1987 Professor
Jacob brought together 35 different Martial Arts
Schools in January to form the National
Pro-Amateur Karate League of Trinidad and
Tobago.
1988 Professor
Jacob, Shihan Anthony Thompson and Herbert
Norville were made Honorary Citizens of Alameda
California when they were touring and performing
in that area.
1989 Professor
Jacob demonstrated with Professor Wally Jay
for the US Army at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
1989 Professor
Jacob held a “Medical Fight” fundraising benefit
to raise money to buy a Laryngoscope for the
Pediatric Ward of the Port-of-Spain General
hospital. The life saving instrument was
presented to Dr. David Brath, who received it on
behalf of the Ministry of Health.
1990
One of Purple Dragon's largest
international tournaments was cancelled because
the Trinidadian government was overthrown by a
coup.
1990 Purple
Dragon
Lunge the NBL National Black Belt
League
and SKI Sports Karate International into
Trinidad and Tobago. it was
the first ever points rating system
ever in the country and results were published
in the US Magazine, " Smash
International".
1991 Professor
Jacob and Shihan Anthony Thompson were the
first
Trinidadians to be inducted into the World
Martial Arts Hall Of Fame in Akron Ohio on March
2nd.
1992
Professor Jacob was a featured
Convention Instructor at Jujitsu America’s
14th
Annual Hawaiian Convention, July 20-23, 1992 in
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Professor Jacob was honored by Jujitsu America
by inducting him into their “Black Belt Hall of
Fame.”
1993 Professor
Jacob toured Australia teaching and
demonstrating to packed audiences in Melbourne,
Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide.
1994
Professor Jacob was featured on the cover of the
U.S. SMASH Sport Karate Magazine as
"World Champion Coach."
1995 Professor
Jacob was featured in his first Docu/film"
The Unstoppable Force" which was compiled
and released by Bob Mueller of Canada.
US$39.00 retail now
available
to order email:
donjitsuryu@gmail.com
1996
Professor Jacob was featured in the history book
entitled "Black Heroes of the Martial Arts" - by
Ron Van Clef.
1997
May-June - Professor Jacob was featured with
Professor Wally Jay in the U.S. "World of
Martial Arts" magazine.
1997
Professor Jacob was filmed by Trans World
Sports of the U.K. and featured on Pan
American Airlines on their in-flight
entertainment which was shown on route to over
90 destinations.
1998 Purple
Dragon took a team to the NBL National
Black Belt
League
and SKI Sports Karate International World
Karate Championships in the US.
1999
Professor Jacob brings out Dragon Land,
an interactive Magazine to target the young
minds, filled with Martial arts history,
puzzles, stories, coloring pictures etc.
2000 Purple
Dragon brought together warriors from six
countries (Canada, U.S.A, Cayman Island,
Tortola, Antigua and Trinidad & Tobago) to form
their World Karate team which excelled at the
"Martial Arts World Games" in Melbourne,
Australia.
2002
Professor Jacob holds Purple Dragon
Black Belt Grading overseas for the 1st
time in Florida, U.S.A.
This was the first time students did not
have to travel to Trinidad for their Black Belt
Examination.
2002
Professor Jacob held a massive demonstration to
create an awareness of the new Ashtanga Yoga and
Aikido programmes recently introduced at Purple
Dragon Dojos around the country. Sport Minister
Roger Boynes made a surprise appearance at the
event.
2003 Purple
Dragon Sensei Albert Andrews was featured on
ESPN SPORTS at the U.S Open World Karate
Championship.
2004 Purple
Dragon Sensei Arnold King was featured on
"ESPN SPORTS" at the U.S Open
World Karate
Championship.
2005 Purple
Dragon Sensei Arnold King and Sensei Nicole
Thomas were featured on "ESPN SPORTS" at the U.S
Open World Championship, held July 2-3.
2005 Purple
Dragon Re-launched the Don Jitsu-Ryu System at
the Rosen Center Hotel in Orlando Florida.
2005
Professor Jacob visited India to
experience a 2,500 year-old martial arts system-
Kalarippayattu and Ashtanga Yoga. On that same
journey he visited Nepal and Africa
with his
team; Anthony Thompson, Rosemarie Thomas and one
of his daughters, Kassandra.
2006
Professor Jacob was featured in an
"Inside Kung-Fu Magazine" article by Daniel I.
Rauch on page 70, celebrating Professor Wally
Jay's 90th birthday in California. Present was
one of Professor Jacob's sons Sensei Daniel
Jacob of Canada as well as Sensei Albert Andrews and Inst.
Candia Fischer of the US.
2007 Purple
Dragon had another great success in July at the
Canadian Grand Slam Karate Championships hosted
by Purple Dragon Sensei Daniel Jacob of Canada.
DVD now available at
US $39.99
2008 Professor
Jacob hosted the first ever certification
of CPR and First Aid for Black Belt Instructors
and parents at the Purple Dragon Martial Arts
school.
2008
Purple Dragon had further success in
July at the Cayman Grand Slam Karate
Championship hosted by Purple Dragon Senseis
Floyd Baptiste and Geddes Hislop of Cayman
Islands. DVD now
available at US $39.99
2008
Professor Don Jacob was inducted into
the 16th Annual World Head of Family Sokiship
Council "Hall of Fame" May
23rd-24th, in San Antonio Texas, along with
other Purple Dragon members. Sensei Amber Murphy
Canada, Sensei Daniel Jacob Canada, Shihan Neal
Hewitt Trinidad and Tobago, Shihan Anthony
Thompson Trinidad and Tobago, Shihan Johnny
Madrid New York USA, Sensei Floyd Baptiste
Cayman Islands, Sensei Abeana Baptiste Tortola
BVI, Instructor Verne Turnbull Tortola BVI,
Sensei Albert Andrews Miami USA, Sensei Arnold
King Trinidad and Tobago.
2008
Professor Don Jacob and other Purple
Dragon members in the same year were inducted in
the "Korushi-Do Hall of Fame" in Atlanta
Georgia. Other inducted members included Shihan
Johnny Madrid, Sensei Kamau Drayton, Sensei
Albert Andrews, Sempai Chris Coxall, Inst.
Kerwin Valentine, Sensei Liselle Griffith,
Sensei Clara Montoute, Inst. Chrissy Harrington,
Inst. Candia Fischer and San Sharon Coxall
2008 History
was made while on grading tour to Inst. Chrissy
Harrington's dojo in Mississippi as Professor
Don Jacob's name was printed on the same page,
alongside President elect Barack Obama and his
rival John Mc Cain.
2008 Purple
Dragon conducted international black belt
grading numbers 119 and 120 in the month of
December. This was the first time that two black
belt gradings were held within the same month.
2009 Purple
Dragon Sensei Arnold King was again featured on
"ESPN SPORTS" at the US Open World Karate
Championship, after coached by Don Jacob.
2009 Purple
Dragon Sensei Kamau Drayton Accompanied
Professor Don Jacob to the Dai Nippon
Butoku Kai in Kyoto Japan. in the same
year two more books was published. "
2009 Grading tour" and the
"Referees Handbook" by Professor
Don Jacob and Shihan Anthony Thompson.
2010 Purple
Dragon was the first ever martial arts school
in the country to be the producer of a masquerade
band entitle "kicking up a storm" over
500
membership registrations.
2010 Purple Dragon celebrates is 40th anniversary - as
the most consistent and longest running martial
arts school in the Caribbean.
2010 Purple Dragon Hosts the largest
ever International Martial Arts Tournament in
the Caribbean at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, July
16th - 18th to celebrate 40 years in the martial
arts.
2010
Purple Dragon is the first private
organization to ever sell out the Hyatt Regency
Hotel Trinidad, over the three days of the
tournament and Hall of Fame.
2010
Purple Dragon puts on the largest
open-air martial arts demonstration ever seen in
the Caribbean -
1,000 + students demonstrating 'block
routine one of the Don Jitsu Ryu system' on the
waterfront of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the
first morning of the World tournament. The
demonstration was filmed as part of the
soon-to-be-released "Born2Win©"
Purple Dragon film.
2010
Purple Dragon is the first and only
martial arts school in Trinidad and Tobago to
have police and defense force outriders assigned
by the Ministry of National Security to escort
arriving international Karate teams to and from
the tournament at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
2010
Purple Dragon hosts the 2nd Caribbean
Martial Arts Hall of Fame on the night of July
18th and awards inductees in over 24 categories
and opened the event with cultural performances.
www.caribbeanmartialarts.com
2010
The Purple Dragon Trinidad and Tobago
Demonstration team wins the night of
championships on July 17th. Their demonstration
routine was so outstanding that Master Billy
Blanks extends a personal invitation to
Professor Jacob and the team to visit Japan in
2011.
2010
Professor Don Jacob launches his
commemorative book "40 Years of Purple
Dragon - from Trinidad and Tobago to the World"
- the only book in the Caribbean to
chronicle the history of a martial arts school
that was born in the Caribbean and became the
indigenous martial arts of the Caribbean.
2010 Purple
Dragon launches a CD of three recorded official
Purple Dragon songs - "Purple Warrior,"
"Born2Win," and "The Ways of Purple
Dragon." cellular ringtones of the songs
available free of charge.
August
2010 The
Docu/Film, “Born to be a Purple Dragon Black
Belt©” became a
contender for the 2010 Caribbean Film Festival
competition at three Movie Town Cinemas in
Trinidad and Tobago.
2010
Professor Don Jacob becomes the
first and only martial artist in Trinidad and
Tobago to receive one of the nation's highest
citizens awards - the Humming Bird Gold medal
- presented to him by the President of
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the country's
Independence Day celebrations on August 31st at
the Queen's Hall Auditorium.
2010
Later that same
night, Professor Don Jacob is also presented
with the prestigious 'Pierrot Award' by the
Gayelle Television Station, honoring his 40
years of work in the community by the
grass-roots people of Trinidad and Tobago.
2011 July,
Professor Don Jacob lead a 27 member team
from five countries to China : Canada,
USA, St. Lucia, Dominica and Trinidad and
Tobago. The Purple Dragon visited several
parts in China including the Shaolin Temple, the
Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors Tenement
Square to name a few. The opportunity to train
and leave the Purple Dragon footprint in China.
Since the 70's to present Professor Jacob has
consistently coached and produced world
champions and top instructors who have won
coveted "National Black Belt League N.B.L.
and other World Championship Titles":
Shihan Anthony Thompson, Ludwin Jacob, Ayana
Cooper, Arnold King, Nathalie Sankar, Nicole
Thomas, Albert Andrews Daniel Jacob, Kamau
Drayton just to
name a few.
Updated
By Shihan Anthony Thompson 2009
With
such an impressive personal record:
With such an impressive personal record of
professional accomplishments, it is no wonder
that Professor Jacob's present travel itinerary
calls for overseas trips virtually every month
of the year. In addition to being the founder
of over 45 schools world wide,
Professor Jacob is also the producer of
several instructional videotapes, author of
numerous books and supplies martial arts
equipment to many of the top Martial
Arts schools in the Caribbean. He is also the
organizer and host of the Caribbean Grand Slam
- a very popular International
Competition once held annually in Trinidad and
now in other countries that
attracts more world class competitors than
main events in some first world countries.
What's on the agenda for PURPLE DRAGON
in the near future? As Professor Jacob would
say, "The Best Is Yet To Come." PURPLE DRAGON is preparing
for many events in the
name of his late son, Sensei Antonio
Jacob, WHICH INCLUDE
The world All Style
sport Karate Championship and Docu-film in
Trinidad and Tobago
July 16th-18th
this
2010 at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel Trinidad and the Jean Pierre Sports complex. He is also looking forward to further strengthening all
of the Purple Dragon branches and its
affiliates around the world.
The Purple Dragon Instructors are invited to
go on a world tour with professor Don Jacob
that includes China, Japan, Thailand, India
and Africa among others in 2011.
A glimpse into the past!
The
2005 US Open World Championship
By
Mike Sawyer and Mike McCoy:
The 2005 US Open was, well, unprecedented. A
larger than expected turnout, an incredibly
international panel of competition and, of
course, the Night of Champions show -
broadcast on ESPN2 - combined to make this
year's event, held July 2-3, 2005 in
Orlando, Florida, one of the best years ever
for promoters Mike Sawyer and Mike McCoy.
This year, the event was held in the new
convention center at the Coronado Springs
resort in Disneyworld and the larger area
allowed for all of the 35+ rings in one room
so the true size of the event could be
easily gauged. The result was competitors
and spectators as far as the eye could see
as thousands thronged into the convention
center for the competition. Teams from as
far as Turkey showed up along with teams and
competitors from Lichtenstein, Germany,
Guatemala, Mexico, Scotland, Ireland, Great
Britain, the Bahamas, France, Purple Dragon
Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Canada,
the Cayman Islands, Antigua, the Dominican
Republic, Venezuela, and St. Lucia as well
as other countries. By far the largest
supporters were the competitors from the
Purple Dragon schools, outfitted in yellow
and purple uniforms, who showed up with over
200 competitors. Needless to say, Purple
Dragon won the most supportive school award
for the tournament.
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