The Sacred Dojo of Soke Richard Morris

A Lasting Legacy

Early in the 1890's Jiujitsu was becoming unfavourable in Japan due to the shifting nation and Imperial rule, many former Juijitsu Teachers took up other jobs and and the ones that did still practice their art often would not teach new students. It was a changing time, Jiujitsu was a art for the Samurai and we all know what Imperial Japan did to the legacy of the Samurai.

It was Jigoro Kano through his revamped art of Jiujitsu which he called JUDO that would really take over as it was safer and competition based to make it appeal to a wider audience.

But Traditional Jiujitsu teachers where still teaching their art but in smaller numbers. And because of relations between countires and oversea workers who would travel to Japan, many from the UK .

It was these old school Masters that survived and passed on their art not just to the Japanese but to Westerners and like Professor Yukio Tani many travelled abroad to teach their art.

If you look at how Jiujitsu started in the UK, it was fragmented. It was not till the arrival of Professor Yukio Tani and his Colleagues that it became well known and many where curious about it's fighting technique.

It is without doubt that Soke Richard Morris was fundamental to the growth of Japanese Jiujitsu in UK and Worldwide.

If you look at many of the top class teachers of Jiujitsu of many organisations throughout the UK , many where introduced to Jiujitsu by Soke Richard Morris .

And not just in the UK but in far of places like Russia , India and Europe.

It is without doubt that that Soke Richard Morris was the Father of Modern Day Japanese jiujitsu in the UK and Europe and without his passion for the art it may have dissapeared and been overshadowed by other arts.

These are stills from the World Kobudo Training videos Soke Morris presented

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.

Professor Yukio Tani Sensei

Soke Morris was also adept in Shaitsu, he really was like a modern day Wong Fei Hong. If you got hurt in training or if by chance you happened 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 practitioner into the car .

A Modern Day Wong Fei Hung

The Sensei drives like a lunatic (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 practitioner 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 someone’s toe nail after it came of in training Soke Morris was the UK's very own Wong Fei Hong.

Soke Morris teaching in Latvia

Jiujitsu International and World Kobudo

It was in the mid to late 90's that I myself was being taught by Soke Richard Morris , then known as Hanshi Richard Morris , of course by this time in his career he was World renowned. And attending classes you where not solely taught by him but his many Black belts of various grades he had cultured throughout the years.

His knowledge of the arts was quite astounding and could always show you something to make you go wow in awe.

Hanshi as we called him then came across as a very likeable person.

He was always patient in teaching and never seemed to get frustrated with his students (something i have seen other Instructors do).

From the outside anybody meeting the man outside of the training environment would never believe that this gentle looking man who would be perceived as someones granddad on appearance was this world renowned Juijitsu Master.

In reality when your attending classes and being trained and graded by someone of this standing it is easily to forget how revered they really are. We would have quite a few Instructors from other clubs come along to train or do seminars purely because they wanted to train or be part of something Hanshi was offering.

It becomes more apparent of how regarded Soke Richard Morris was when you attend a convention like myself and others did.

A place where Masters from all around the world come together to teach and pass on there knowledge , it was at one of these conventions that you could see how regarded he was .

People travelled the world from other continents just so they could be Graded by the committee with Soke Richard Morris at the head.

It's then you realise that the person teaching you is something special.

Now around 2000 the World Kobudo went through a change in UK , break away clubs formed and by 2001/2002 Richard Morris concentrated on his own organisation Juijitsu International .

Shortly after this Soke Morris did become quite ill and this of course affected the clubs. But Soke did bounce back and returned to the mat and continued to teach, do Grading's and travel offering his knowledge to clubs worldwide which where affiliated to Juijitsu International.

For me it was a privilege to have been taught by Soke Richard Morris , he brought his knowledge to the world and his legacy lives on in everyone who trained under him.

We where deeply saddened to hear of his passing in 2019 and dedicate this page to him.

Hanshi / Soke Richard Morris - Domo Arigato

Sertes Nake

February 2020

Updated September 2026