Professor Don Anthony Jacob was born in Trinidad on October 16, 1954. His Martial Arts career started at the age of nine when he started learning Judo from his first Instructor, Sensei Clyde Thomas. From that day forward, the then shy little boy from a broken home and poverty-stricken family began to change. The discipline and intensity of his training helped focus him towards success and international recognition in life. Today he is one of the most well known and gifted Martial Artists in the world.

In a magnificent career that has spanned over four decades, Professor Don Jacob not only founded Don Jitsu Ryu, the lethal fighting system of martial arts, but has also produced a host of world champions, authored several books and spread the Purple Dragon school to many parts of the world, from USA to Canada and several Caribbean countries. In addition to this, he has studied, taught and represented Trinidad & Tobago as a cultural Ambassador in many countries, including the United States, Canada, England, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Australia, Oman, Bahrain, Bahamas, St. Croix and Guatemala.

As the head of a large international network of students, Professor Don Jacob has always recognized the importance of discipline and insisted upon certain codes of conduct and protocol within the Purple Dragon Family. He does not only preserve uniformity among the various schools but also insists upon the high standard of discipline for which Purple Dragon is admired worldwide.

Professor Don Jacob was the first Trinidadian to perform at Madison Square Gardens at one of the most prestigious martial arts shows in the world, “The Oriental World of Self Defense” in 1977. He was also the first colored martial artist in the world to write books on the art of Jiu-Jitsu. Among his published works are “High Impact Jiu-Jitsu” and “The Official Manual for Rape Prevention”.

In 1981, he won the Canadian Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame award for the Best Demonstration in the world. He won the Canadian Championship at the C.N.E. in 1978. He became an Honorary Citizen of Alameda, California in 1981. He also coached the Trinidad Jiu-Jitsu Team, which won second place in the 1st World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in 1984, which was held in Canada and was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, USA March 1991

Professor Jacob feels he owes all of his success to his teachers who gave him a lot of encouragement: Sensei Clyde Thomas, Dr. Moses Powell, Master Tusui Yoshitaka and Professor Wally Jay, as well as all of his students and fans that have remained at his side and supported him.Today, Purple Dragon is preparing for its 40th Anniversary in July 2010. A Documentary-Film is in the works, a Purple Dragon magazine is already in circulation, and students are sharpening their skills for the World Martial Arts Championships, which the school will host in Trinidad and Tobago. The healthy competition will breathe more life into the martial arts. Be a part of and experience the 2^nd Caribbean Hall of Fame Awards, the magnificent night time shows, the tourist spots, the food, culture and the best local hospitality in Trinidad and Tobago. The Purple Dragon International Network has been known for producing top-ranking world events, but this one, you will never forget!

Remembering Sensei Antonio Jacob

September 6, 1983 - December 24, 2002

He lived and trained with the top Purple Dragon teachers who were students of his father before he was born, always asking questions about Don Jitsu Ryu. He often asked them, “What was it like in Purple Dragon before I was born?” After receiving the knowledge, he always passed it on to his students. Sensei Antonio Jacob was the younger son of Professor Don Jacob. Since the age of seventeen he was traveling on his own to the US and Cayman Islands, where he taught classes and conducted seminars for students. Just before his death, Sensei Antonio had expressed a desire to join his elder brother, Sensei Daniel Jacob, to assist him with his dojo in Canada. A strong, burly young man, best remembered by Purple Dragon students for the flair in which he executed his self-defense and sparring techniques, died fighting off two guys, when the third one, which he did not see, shot him during a robbery in an insurance agency in Trinidad. He was introduced to the martial arts at the age of three, attended high school and taught at World Headquarters and other Purple Dragoon branches internationally. Sensei Antonio Jacob won the Junior World SKI Continuous Sparring Championship in December 2001.

As a martial artist he was dedicated and committed to his work, with a dream to expose Don Jitsu Ryu and Purple Dragon to the world.

You are always in our hearts, rest in peace.