Breaking News – 26th March 2023

26^th March 2023

Dear Shihan, Kyoshi, Renshi and Students of the World Ju-Jitsu Federation

It is with great delight that both me, and the Board of Directors, confirm that John Greenhalgh Hanshi has returned to the World Ju-Jitsu Federation. We are also delighted to announce his appointment within our organisation as Technical Director.

Greenhalgh Hanshi has a wealth of experience which he has gained throughout his longevity and career in Martial Arts. Some of his achievements are listed below, along with a short biography.

10^th Dan Ju-Jitsu

6^th Dan Kobudo

1^st Dan Atemi-Jutsu

1^st Dan Karate.

John Greenhalgh was born in 1942 in Manchester, England.

He began his martial arts training around 1967 with a local Instructor who taught Shotokan Karate and graded to 1^st KYU.  He soon realised this discipline was not for him so changed to Atemi-Jujitsu where he attained his Shodan.

John was initially introduced to Professor Clark at a Ju-Jitsu Seminar where, after the training session expressed his interest in this martial art. He considered this was more in keeping with the technique and approach he desired. After a lengthy conversation, Mr Clark told John he wanted to see him at Lowlands the following Sunday to commence his training.

John joined the BJJA under Mr Clark and attained his Shodan grade in front of Soke James Blundell and Professor Clark via the BJJA. After a period of time, Mr Clark informed John about the move to a new dojo in Fazakerley and, as John was his student, he would be joining him training there.  He would also become a member of the World Ju-Jitsu Federation.

He continued with the WJJF for the next 20 years, supporting Soke Clark on seminars and gradings throughout the UK and internationally.

On a seminar in London Soke Clark announced that he would be stepping down as National Coach and Alan Campbell would be taking over that position. Soke Clark informed John he was promoting him to Assistant National Coach.

John has been recognised by the Japanese Dai Nippon Kai who have the Patronage of the Japanese Royal family. He was the first Ju-jitsu 6^th Dan to receive this honour in England.

John continues to train and enjoy teaching and passing his knowledge and skills on to others.  He is regularly invited to teach throughout the UK alongside many countries, such as Portugal, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and Ireland, to name but a few.

His martial arts knowledge, loyalty, honour, integrity and caring demeanour will be an asset to the ongoing development of the original World Ju-Jitsu Federation and for many more reasons, too numerous to mention, is why we are delighted to announce that he will now be overseeing our technical development in the position of “TECHNICAL DIRECTOR”.

John and Soke Clark had a very good working and social relationship and both the Directors, and I are looking forward to working alongside him for a long time to come.