Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Shawn of the Dojo

Local 53 steward Shawn DeJong shares his skills as a sixth-degree jujutsu black belt at his studio in Goderich, Ontario

By Cathy Miehm

IT’S HARD TO PIN DOWN Local 53 member Shawn DeJong—both figuratively and literally.

Shawn works long days as a heavy equipment operator for Merner Contracting Ltd. in southwestern Ontario. When that job is finished, the husband and father of three spends many evenings teaching at the martial arts studio he runs in Goderich, Ontario.

Shawn, 48, has a sixth-degree black belt in jujutsu, a practice he started learning in his early 20s.

“Early on in my life, I was looking to get into policing,” he says. “A lot of the instructors—who are still my instructors now—were all police officers.”

Jujutsu is a preferred form of self-defence for many police forces because it teaches officers to restrain a volatile person without the use of weapons. Shawn likes to call it “involuntary yoga.” It’s also described as “the gentle art of folding clothes while people are still wearing them.”

Shawn has trained in and teaches Hakko Denshin Ryu JuJutsu (“The Spirit of the Eighth Light School of the Art of Gentleness”), which specializes in the use of wrist-locks and pressure points. Its origins can be traced to eighth century Japan, and it was later an essential part of samurai training.

WHILE SHAWN’S CAREER PATH LED to construction rather than policing, his jujutsu training has made a big difference in all areas of his life.

“The confidence level jujutsu builds means being able to walk with your head held high, and that is huge in every aspect of your life,” says Shawn, who’s training also serves him well as a CLAC steward at Merner.

Confidence-building is a big part of why parents bring their children to his studio, or dojo, Goderich Martial Arts, Hakko Denshin Ryu Jujutsu. While jujutsu is a very effective form of self-defence, students learn that it is only to be employed as a last resort.

“As students, they learn to enter the state of mind where they avoid a fight at all costs,” says Shawn. “And with the self-respect and confidence they develop, they could probably talk their way out of 90 percent of situations.”

Contrary to urban legend, jujutsu black belts are not required to register their hands as lethal weapons, says Shawn. But they have to be cautious, all the same.

“If you’re trained and ever find yourself in court, you do have to justify the force you used, just the same as a police officer,” says Shawn. “If somebody pushes you, and you turn around and break their nose, then that isn’t going to pan out too well for you.”

To get a sense of the true spirit of jujutsu, Shawn suggests a couple of movies that get it right.

“Hollywood is Hollywood, but I would say The Last Samurai (2003) or any of the John Wick movies are good if you want to see real jujutsu,” he says.

WHILE THE MAJORITY OF SHAWN’S students are kids and teenagers, adults also come to his studio for training. Their reasons for learning jujutsu range from wanting to try a new hobby to learning basic self-defence skills to preparing for a career in law enforcement.

Age is no barrier, as he currently has students in their 50s and 60s. Jujutsu is a great physical workout, incorporating cardiovascular training, stretching, breath work, and resistance training. It has the added benefit of teaching older students how to fall safely.

Perhaps more importantly, jujutsu can be a great boost for mental health.

“We have a slogan: Every time you enter the dojo, all your worries, everything that you’ve accumulated through the day, it’s time to release all that,” says Shawn.

“We have a bit of a meditative practice at the start, so everybody can clear their mind and go in there and have a good time.

“That kind of focus can alleviate mental stress and the pressures from everyday life. It’s an important part of what we do.”

10 Jujutsu Fast Facts

It evolved among the warrior class (samurai) in Japan from about the 17th century.
It emphasizes ground-fighting techniques, including submissions and grappling.
It allows a smaller person to overcome a larger opponent and thus is a very effective form of self-defence in real-life situations.
It helps improve physical fitness, flexibility, coordination, and mental discipline and provides a full-body workout.
It focuses on joint locks and chokes to subdue opponents and gain control during a fight.
It helps build self-confidence, mental resilience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
It uses a belt system, similar to other martial arts, to signify skill level.
It promotes respect for opponents and humility in victory and defeat as core principles.
It promotes problem-solving and strategic thinking to be able to anticipate and react to opponents’ moves.
It is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Sources: facts.net, britannica.com

The Warrior Class and Their Sword

The samurai were members of the warrior class in Japan that came to power in the 12th century and dominated until 1868. According to Britannica.com, “the ideal samurai was supposed to be a stoic warrior who followed an unwritten code of conduct, later formalized as Bushido, which held bravery, honour, and personal loyalty above life itself; ritual suicide by disembowelment (seppuku) was institutionalized as a respected alternative to dishonour or defeat.”

The swords used by the samurai were renowned for their craftsmanship. They feature strong, flexible, curved steel blades with an extremely sharp edge. Produced since the eighth century, the revered swords symbolized the samurai’s status in Japanese society. Some of the swords are official national treasures in Japan. The most expensive samurai sword in the world is the samurai Tachi created in the 16th century and used by Fukushima Masanori, a famous Japanese warlord. It’s valued at more than $100 million.

Sources: britannica.com, worldhistory.org, moneyinc.com

Shawn of the Dojo

10 Jujutsu Fast Facts

The Warrior Class and Their Sword

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