Debra Clarke

Debbie Clarke began training jujutsu in 1965 at the Swanbourne Police and Citizens Youth Club with an instructor who had been taught by Jan de Jong. In 1972 she transferred to the Jan de Jong Self Defence School in Perth and continued training with Jan de Jong until his death in 2003. Debbie became engrossed in training under the gentle guidance of the great but humble master Jan de Jong and his wife Margaret. 

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Debbie commenced teaching jujutsu around 1975, running branches of the Jan de Jong self defence school and teaching in high schools. She was the chief female instructor at the school until 2002 and developed a comprehensive self defence course for women. From 1987 until 1998 she was the National Women's Coach for the Australian Jujitsu Association. 

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Debbie graded shodan in Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu Jujutsu in 1982, the first woman to attain that grade. In the same year, Debbie had the honour of accompanying Jan de Jong to Europe, along with seven other instructors.  Jan de Jong was highly respected throughout Europe, not just for his skills, but for his humble demeanor and friendliness. Debbie enjoyed several other teaching trips with Jan to both Europe and Indonesia until the birth of her first son in 1984 which put an end to much of her travelling. 

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Over the years Debbie has conducted courses and workshops for hundreds of groups and institutions, including security personnel, hospitals, prisons, seniors groups, women's groups, people with disabilities, WACOSS, universities and schools. 

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In 1990 Debbie attended her first WinMAA (Network for Women in Martial Arts Australia)  in Adelaide. She was one of a small group of women who started the WA branch of WinMAA. Over the years that she attended these conferences throughout Australia, the jujutsu seminars she presented were extremely well received. WinMAA WA hosted 3 national conferences over the next 12 years. 

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In 2001 Debbie realised a long term dream and started her own martial arts school, Southern Cross Bujutsu. This has enabled her to put into practice the many ideas she had been developing with regard to the teaching of jujutsu particularly to women, children, and people with special needs. 

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After Jan de Jong passed away in 2003 Peter joined