History of the Black Dragon Fighting Society

Black Dragon Fighting Society.
South Africa History

Black Dragon Society started during 1952 with the first instructor named Prof. Jack
Robinson 10th Dan Judo ,who at the time was the UNBEATEN JUDO CHAMPION
Soke Ben Mangles’ were the second Master Instructor and started in 1960
teaching and he at that
time were teaching a combination of Ju Jutsu and Ninjutsu, with the
emphasis on 3 second elimination techniques.
My training with Soke Ben Mangels 10th Dan Judoka will include be in Dojo and then at times
he will take us outdoors to fight in the streets, with any weapon of choose and we will
normally go home after class bleeding, but very impressed by his
harsh but productive classes.
Until the early 70`s when Shihan Barry Pictor 8th Dan Koga Ryu Ninjutsu took over from Soke Ben
we then purely trained in Ninjutsu and he combined Ju Jutsu and
Kempo striking techniques as well. We spend time on bush warfare
training, building of traps, survival in bush and finding the basic
survival needs. It was because of his approached that Ninjutsu
became the BDFS main syllabus and school of thought to train in.

It was during the 80`s that I took over the BDFS in South Africa and reworked
the training syllabus to teach Ninjutsu as first style but also Ju
Jutsu, Escrima and Chi Gung as it seem to balance out with each other
and so give the general student from the street an additional edge. Our
training is so based that we do survival training, rope work including
abseiling, traps and snares and on a Yodansha Level explosives and
the mechanisms’ and the working parts there off.
Once a student would reach the Level for testing in Yodansha he / she
have to hand – in a 40 x page Thesis on basis Ninjutsu History and
Traditions. He will have to complete a First Aid Level 3 course, Scuba
Open Water 2 certificate and then Firearms training certificates for
handguns and Rifles. If that has been produced then only will be
allowed to take the test.
The test is done over two days and the first day he is tested on the
syllabus contents from white belt to his present rank with a pass rate
of 70%, then he may do the final test, held in the nature with a radius
of 1 km and he will be up against 30 x students that is allowed to
carry weapons during this test.
If he reaches the point of cut-off where I will wait for his arrival ONLY
THEN has he passed the test of Yodansha.
My training started at the tender age of seven (7) and the first Sensei
that took me in Sensei Ken Wittstock, was instrumental in my strong
foundation in the Martial Arts Worlds. His senior and second
instructor Sensei Stan Smith took me to the level where I took the
test for Yodansha.
I then met – up Sensei Johan Gerber who was a Ju Jutsu Sensei and he
showed me the soft and hard side of Martial Arts, which also lead to
me searching for the Ultimate Style – Koga Ryu Ninjutsu.
Koga Ryu Ninjutsu contrarily to all speculation is alive and well around
the Globe with some if not the best Instructor teaching and guiding
the few that last in our System. Koga Ryu Ninjutsu has become to me
a Philosophy of Life, and guide me daily to new height s, which every
person should follow to be ready for the daily onslaughts and
obstacles’ we have to face.
During my travels around the Globe meeting with so many Masters
and spending time training have learned that Ninjutsu Practitioners
can be trained but a Ninjutsu Sensei are born to take the next level
and ultimately reach the level of Judan Level, Sensei will admit this is
the time one become Full Circle and sit down to recap all the
knowledge one have obtained in a life span, and you are face with
many questions to answer and be honest with oneself and revisit and
do Introspect, measuring the knowledge you have and how you share
it with the students entrusted unto you.
I always tell me students we have walked before them and made the
mistakes and don`t forget the broken bones and injuries, they don`t
have to make the same mistakes, but learn from us. You can do Kata a
lifetime and still know nothing or have a good positive minded Sensei
and learn a move with the full application in a few minutes, and apply
it in life threatening situation and survive?

My success is only thanks to my Instructors who painstakingly took the
time and patience, guiding me on the road which has proven to be the correct path.

One can only praise them and carry them on hands of thanks.