Author: Steven Hatfield
Did you know that Koji Do Jitsu was an Americanized, modified version of Judo with a little Japanese Goju Ryu and Kyokushin Karate, sprinkled with some Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, and Goshindo Kenpo, created by Grandmaster "Papasan" Jack Stern?
Did you know that Papasan stripped down all the long term crazy techniques and shrunk the judo curriculum down to a total of 28 waza?
Did you know that Koji Do Jitsu was created for a few reasons? The first reason was that he wanted something quick and simple to learn, without having to stress over needing to compete to earn rank. His goal was to have it set to where a student could possibly earn their black belt in roughly about 2-3 years time. Before you start with your pitchforks and all, it's no different than a person taking a Krav Maga class/instructor seminar in a few days and becoming a licensed instructor, and making trips back and forth to make adjustments and so forth later on. The purpose was short, direct and effective self defense, with the principles of the traditional arts. If you had the pleasure of knowing Papasan, you knew he was a very mouthy old man, but he would never steer you wrong on purpose, ever! And I am speaking from experience.
Did you know that Papasan stripped down all the long term crazy techniques and shrunk the judo curriculum down to a total of 28 waza?
Did you know that Koji Do Jitsu was created for a few reasons? The first reason was that he wanted something quick and simple to learn, without having to stress over needing to compete to earn rank. His goal was to have it set to where a student could possibly earn their black belt in roughly about 2-3 years time. Before you start with your pitchforks and all, it's no different than a person taking a Krav Maga class/instructor seminar in a few days and becoming a licensed instructor, and making trips back and forth to make adjustments and so forth later on. The purpose was short, direct and effective self defense, with the principles of the traditional arts. If you had the pleasure of knowing Papasan, you knew he was a very mouthy old man, but he would never steer you wrong on purpose, ever! And I am speaking from experience.
Now, I know most people know that Papasan was arrested in 1995 for stolen valor. He owned up to it! He did his time and he paid his fines. He even made it on CNN, but before you start running around and trying find all the dirt under the sun, just know this...
Papasan was a good man! He treated me like family, he was always there when I needed him, day or night. He never once didn't own up to his wrongdoing, and to be honest, what does it matter? Please tell me that if you are reading this and talking crap in your head, I take it that you are more holy than Christ himself! Is that right? I'll wait. We all have done things in our youth, in our most recent past, and maybe even five minutes ago that we are probably not proud of. What matters is if you can be adult enough to admit it and make better choices. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Papasan, and be one of his Yudo students. I am blessed to have met some great people due to Papasan as well, like his Koji Do Jitsu Inheritor Shihan Dell Sharpe and his family. I am proud to carry on his Yudo and Judo teaching, along with my own way of doing things. But every step of the way he is there with me, and I would say Shihan Sharpe probably feels the same.
Never hold a person's past against them when they have made every effort to change and be fully apologetic...
To read more about Grandmaster Papasan Jack Stern, please click here and here.
Papasan was a good man! He treated me like family, he was always there when I needed him, day or night. He never once didn't own up to his wrongdoing, and to be honest, what does it matter? Please tell me that if you are reading this and talking crap in your head, I take it that you are more holy than Christ himself! Is that right? I'll wait. We all have done things in our youth, in our most recent past, and maybe even five minutes ago that we are probably not proud of. What matters is if you can be adult enough to admit it and make better choices. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Papasan, and be one of his Yudo students. I am blessed to have met some great people due to Papasan as well, like his Koji Do Jitsu Inheritor Shihan Dell Sharpe and his family. I am proud to carry on his Yudo and Judo teaching, along with my own way of doing things. But every step of the way he is there with me, and I would say Shihan Sharpe probably feels the same.
Never hold a person's past against them when they have made every effort to change and be fully apologetic...
To read more about Grandmaster Papasan Jack Stern, please click here and here.
 Papasan next to his teacher, Mifune Kyuzo at the Kodokan in Japan |  Mas Oyama and Jack Stern |
