Meeting Donn F. Draeger: A Turning Point

A: To be honest, my time at the Aikido dojo was the real beginning of my martial arts journey. It was there that I began meeting teachers, including judo and kendo instructors, as I mentioned in the last episode.

Introduction to Draeger Sensei

A: My sensei, Tambi, told me that someone would be visiting the dojo the following month: Sensei Donn F. Draeger. Many people have heard of him, though some may not. Sensei Draeger was a martial arts expert who wrote over 35 books and numerous magazine articles. Today, people are amazed when I tell them I met and trained with him. Some even find it hard to believe.

My sensei told me a little about him beforehand. At the time, I didn't know much about him, I just thought he was a gentleman visiting from the United States. But he had spent most of his life in Japan. He read, wrote, and spoke fluent Japanese, and deeply understood Japanese culture. Some Japanese martial arts sensei even said he was born in the wrong place and time, that he should have been born in Japan during the samurai era.

Draeger's Reputation

A: He was highly respected in the Japanese martial arts world, receiving the highest ranks possible in various martial arts. He was even awarded the rank of 8th dan in some karate and jujutsu styles, the highest rank typically given to foreigners at the time.

So when he came to visit I was introduced to him. I was still a bit arrogant, thinking, "I'm a karate man, what does he know?" But he was the most gentlemanly man I had ever met, much like my own Sensei Tambi. He was very humble and unassuming. You wouldn't necessarily know he was a martial artist just by looking at him. He and Sensei Tambi were very similar in that regard – humble and polite in their interactions with people.

Training and Learning

A: I got to know him and we would talk for hours on end. At the time, he was teaching Jodo Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, the martial art of stick fighting. He trained under the founder, Shimizu Takaji Sensei. I was already practicing Kobudo, so I thought, "Okay, this is a weapon. Let's learn."

I started training Jodo under him and continued until I came to Germany in 1980. I was promoted to 1st kyu in Jodo Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, graded by both Draeger Sensei and the founder, Shimizu Takaji Sensei, at the Iikido dojo. Takaji Sensei came to Malaysia with some of his students to teach and grade us. We even had a large demonstration at a city hall. I still have photos from that event.

Draeger: The Living Encyclopedia

A: Draeger Sensei truly opened my eyes and ignited my enthusiasm for learning about martial arts. He was known as a "living encyclopedia." You could talk to him about any martial art in the world, and he could tell you the dos and don'ts.

Because he was writing books, he would sometimes ask Tambi Sensei to introduce him to local martial artists. Tambi Sensei knew that I knew many martial artists in the city and parts of Malaysia. Because I was always in the newspapers for competitions, many martial artists knew and respected me.

Acting as Interpreter

A: I was reasonably proficient in English, Tamil, and Malay at the time, and even had a little bit of broken Chinese (Cantonese). I could communicate with Sensei Draeger and with Chinese, Indian, and Malay martial artists. I knew many of them because of my competition days.

So, I started making appointments for Sensei Draeger, introducing him to these martial artists. Draeger Sensei was very skilled at photographing and interviewing people, and I served as the interpreter. I would translate from their language into English for Draeger Sensei. He used this information to write the histories of these masters and their martial arts.

He would often stay for a month or longer, sleeping in a special room that Tambi Sensei had prepared for him at the Iikido dojo. I would drive him around to meet and interview various masters.

Building a Bond

A: My bond and friendship with Draeger Sensei grew, evolving into both a student-teacher relationship and a deep friendship. We were more like friends outside of training, sharing meals and discussing martial arts. I learned a tremendous amount from this "living encyclopedia."

I could talk about him forever; you could never fully capture his life story. The time I spent with him was wonderful, something I treasure for my entire life.

Draeger's Connection to James Bond

Q: I heard that John Draeger was involved with James Bond?

A: Yes, he was! He directed the fighting scenes and even acted as Sean Connery's stand-in for the fight scenes in the movie You Only Live Twice. You can see photos and films of his work from that time. He was a truly great martial artist.

I was so lucky to have gone to the Aikido dojo. I call it a "Budo dojo," not just an Aikido dojo, because martial artists from all disciplines gathered there. I called my dojo in Kelham "Budo Academy" because it encompassed all martial arts. So, although it was technically a Shirokhan Aikido dojo, martial artists of all kinds would visit and respect my sensei, Tambi. It's a big story, and I'll continue in the next episode.