The Late Soke Richard Morris
Born 21st May 1936 - Passed 15th July 2019
aka Dicky Morris
Styles :
Aiki Jujutsu / Juko Ryu Jiu-Jitsu
Shiatsu
Soke Richard Morris was a master of Jiu-Jitsu who was active in the art for some Sixty odd years and was still active in the martial world up to his passing in 2019, which in it self is a great achievement .
Richard Morris's first experience of Martial arts came when his Father and Uncle came back home after the Burma Campaign they had experienced the arts and passed on what they new to Richard.
But his first real teacher was Professor Alf Morgan , one of the first men in the UK to be trained by Sensei Yukio Tani from Japan.
Richard Morris attained his 4th degree black belt from Professor Morgan ,he passed away some time after.
After this he met Professor James Blundel and Robert Clarke.
Richard Morris went on to become the chairman of the British Jiu-Jitsu Association (BJJA) and the Director of the World Jiu Jitsu Federation (WJJF) in partner ship with Professor James Blundel and Robert Clarke.
Now from what I Know Richard Morris and James Blundel eventually broke away from WJJF ,for reasons i won't go into here.
This was in 1986 when Richard Morris resigned from both posts in the WJJF and BJJA.
It was now that he set up and founded Jiu jitsu International in a bid to bring together the best in Jiu-Jitsu ,not just in the UK ,but Worldwide.
In 1992 he co-founded the World Kobudo Federation with John Therien and Alain Sailly ,bringing together more and more World renowned masters ,he ran the UK part of the organization along with Bryan Cheek who was appointed ''International Coordinator'' they had met when Bryan got involved with Professor James Blundell ,they formed a alliance with Other Masters from Europe and Canada and the Eastern Block.
Linage
Sensei Yukio Tani came to the UK in the late 1800's .
It's here he took residence and taught Jujutsu in his own clubs and later at the London Budokwai.
His style was of a Fusen- Ryu style Jujutsu.
He paid his way by fighting in matches in London Music halls. He met Alf Morgan who was a Catch Master ( British Wrestling) , he taught him Jujutsu and it was Professor Alf Morgan who Taught Richard Morris.
Soke Morris was also adpet in Shaitsu , he really was like a modern day Wong Fei Hong. If you got hurt in training or if by chance you haapened to try and attack him , which I'm sure no one did.
Soke Morris could put you right ,his study of the body and Shiatsu was proof.
I know of one guy who whilst training at a session unfortunately was the bearer of a over egear training partner who thought he was in a real fight and decided it would be a good idea to go full pelt and dislocate the other guys shoulder.
In a bit of a panic the residing Sensei who had no knowledge of what to do , hastily borrows a car of a fellow club member and proceeds to usher the injured practioner into the car .
The Sensei drives like a loonatic (not sure if he had a driving licence and he was wearing sandals) to Soke Morris house , the unconvinced practioner who thought he should go to hospital is ushered into Soke Morris house where he is laid down and held down so Soke Morris can pop that shoulder back into place , which he did.
What's funny is this was the first meeting for that man with Soke Morris and in the end I think he said the other Sensei's driving was the more scary thing.
Another incident is of another practioner who had a neck injury and just could turn his neck without extreme pain. After seeing a doctor who was of no help and suggested he wear a medical collar so he didn't have to turn his head for six weeks , he eventually was able to make it back to the training dojo with some help and Soke Morris performed some kind of neck realignment and within two days he was good as new.
From Dislocations , twisted backs and even resetting someones toe nail after it came of in training Soke Morris was the UK's very own Wong Fei Hong.
Soke Morris is also credited as one of the trainers of KickBoxer star and Martial Artist Alain Moussi along with John Therien , John -Yves Theriault and Carlos Machado.
Alain Moussi Holds a 6th Dan in Jujutsu
And a 1st Dan in Brazilian Jujutsu
Source : Wikipedia