HISTORY

Professor Don Anthony Jacob was born in Trinidad in October 1954 and began his Martial Arts career at the age of nine when he started learning Judo from his first Instructor, Sensei Clyde Thomas. From that day forward, the then, shy little boy from a broken home and poverty-stricken family began to change. The discipline and intensity of his training helped focus him towards success and international recognition in life. Today he is one of the most well known and gifted Martial Artists in the world.

As a young man, after years of rigorous training in the material arts and fitness industry Don Anthony Jacob could imagine no greater pursuit than to give back to others what he had learnt and benefitted from in this great discipline of material arts and physical fitness. He dedicated his life to developing one of the most all-inclusive fighting systems in the world.  The "Don Jitsu Ryu" is drawn from his exceptional reputation and high standards as a world renowned teacher of world class champions, lecturer, demonstrator and author.

In a teaching career that spans almost four decades, Professor Jacob has taught over 35,000 students and visited more than 50 countries, dazzling audiences with his dynamic and deadly self-defense performances. As one of the world's highest-ranking black belts, he is also one of the most sought-after and respected martial artists in modern times. He has taught and trained law enforcement agents, military personnel, police officers, FBI agents and personal body guards.

Year after year people come from all over the world to train with Professor Jacob at his Purple Dragon schools. They graduate as Black Belts, and return to their respective countries as certified and qualified Instructors, opening and operating Purple Dragon branches in their areas and transforming youths and adults into strong and positive individuals. Purple Dragon turns people into champions and leaders, giving them a drive for accomplishment and success.

As the head of a large international network of students Professor Don Jacob has always recognized the importance of discipline and insisted upon certain codes of conduct and protocol within the Purple Dragon Family. He does not only preserve uniformity among the various dojo’s but also insists upon the high standard of discipline for which Purple Dragon is admired worldwide.

Professor Don Jacob was the first Trinidadian to perform at Madison Square Gardens at one of the most prestigious martial arts shows in the world, “The Oriental World of Self Defense” in 1977. He was also the first colored martial artist in the world to write books on the art of Jiu-Jitsu. Among his published works are “High Impact Jiu-Jitsu” and “The Official Manual For Rape Prevention”.

In 1981 he won the Canadian Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame award for the Best Demonstration in the world. He won the Canadian Championship at the C.N.E. in 1978. He was made Honorary Citizen of Alameda, California in 1981. He also coached the Trinidad Jiu-Jitsu Team which won second place in the 1st World Jiu-Jitsu Champions in 1984, which was held in Canada. In March 1991 he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, USA.

Don Jacob started his own fighting art, Don Jitsu Ryu, in Trinidad after having acquired the Master’s knowledge, and tested thousands of techniques in some of the deadliest fighting arts with and without weapons. Those who have seen him in action consider him to be one of the best demonstrators and teachers of all time. He is loved by many and envied and disliked by some. In spite of the critics, he continues to move forward helping his students, friends and organizations that need his services.

Professor Jacob feels he owes all of his success to his teachers who gave him a lot of encouragement: Sensei Clyde Thomas, Dr. Moses Powell, Master Tusui Yoshitaka and Professor Wally Jay as well as all of his students and fans that remained at his side and supported him.

One of the branches Professor Jacob opened was in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.
 
The Cayman Islands branch of Don Jitsu Ryu was established in 1989, by Sensei Geddes and Professor Jacob.  After obtaining his degree from Trinidad, Sensei Geddes saw the potential for a professional martial arts school in this small but tranquil Caribbean island.  From his passion, determination and perseverance, the Purple Dragon Cayman Islands branch was born.  In 1996 he was joined by Sensei Floyd, then a 2nd degree black belt from Trinidad.  Since this partnership the school has grown from a modest number of 16 students to 200 and growing. 
 
The Purple Dragon branch of the Cayman Islands is very unique; because of the transient culture of the Island there are a large percentage of international students in attendance.  This diversity ironically creates a strong bond of acceptance and respect amongst the students, because of the new identity created and the sense of togetherness as students of Don Jitsu Ryu.