The international Ju Jitsu Association known as Yoshimi Ju Jitsu International first began when two friends, one from Belgium and one from England contacted each other by Email during mid 2001. They had been friends for many years having met through the same art some 10 years earlier and they had both travelled a similar path within their respective Ju Jitsu careers. They were now looking for a way to both promote their national Ju Jitsu associations within their respective countries and to give the members an international stage on which to further promote the art in the manner they felt it should be taken. The first correspondence was that of two friends renewing their friendship and very soon they were discussing Ju Jitsu at some depth, so much so that they decided to meet. The meeting took place in Gillingham, Kent, which is in the South East of England on the 2nd February 2002, a date monumental to everything that followed.

Four people took part in that inaugural meeting, the two friends who had been corresponding, Leslie Ottoey from Belgium and Roger Wilkes from England, accompanied by Diane Monk and Tom De Jeager. Together they spent the weekend covering all of the points they felt pertinent. Suddenly they all found that most of the thoughts they had had were the same for each of the others and that with one or two very minor differences they were all looking for the same thing. They agreed to move into the organisation immediately and on that weekend in Gillingham, England the association known as "Yoshimi Ju Jitsu International" was born. The name Yoshimi translates to mean "Friendship" and the four agreed that this must be the most important factor on which the association was founded. There was to be no President or Chairperson, no committee or officers, each country joining would be responsible for their own country and the art within that country, they would then arrange international events to which all of the other member countries would be invited. Yoshimi is a circle of friends sharing Ju Jitsu with friends from both within and without its membership.

The First "Yoshimi Ju Jitsu International" congress was held during April of 2002 in Aalst, Belgium when Ju Jitsuska from England, Belgium, Denmark, Holland and Hungary attended, This was followed by an invitation to attend a course in Alborg, Denmark. The name was beginning to become well known. Hungary was the next country and within weeks, Yoshimi Ju Jitsu International Hungary was the next name to be added to the growing list of member countries, very closely followed by New Zealand where contacts had been made by Roger having visited to run gradings and several seminars. During this time a friend of the group added his country to the list and soon Ireland were also part of the group. In as many months five countries were now part of Yoshimi Ju Jitsu International and collectively we felt that some form of recognition was needed.

The badge was drawn by Tom De Jaeger with one or two very minor alterations by the others. The kanji say's "Friendship" and the Cherry Blossom traditionally Japanese denoting peace, friendship and harmony there is intentionally no western writing on the badge as it is considered that everyone wearing the badge will know what it stands for. We are yet to reach our first birthday as this piece is written but with the spirit within the group is such that our current five member countries will soon be joined by many more. Our second year is planned and with the current organisation the seminars will be in Belgium, Ireland, Hungary and England, full details are shown in the Kyushin Ryu Ju Jitsu Events page. One country is missing from this list and that is New Zealand. Of course distance is a primary factor, however fear not we have not forgotten our friends from the "Land of the Long White Cloud" and a visit, which is already in the diary, will be made in 2004.

We have written a great deal about this exciting new organisation, which is simply an international group of friends following Ju Jitsu in their respective countries and meeting internationally several times a year. We have explained why we started it and upon what it is founded, we hope that you approve and enjoy the site. If what we have said is of interest to you please do not hesitate to contact us, anyone may attend our events or join us on our trips, everyone is a friend.