History of  NKJU® National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union

Where Students Come First

A group dedicated to preserving the teaching of Richard P. Baillargeon, the original founder of NKJU National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union. This is an organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of martial arts training and personal development. 

​In 1973, Sensei Baillargeon was still the USA Representative for the SKKU, Seishin Kai Karate Union of Japan, under the leadership of Sensei Teruo Hayashi and Soke Shogo Kuniba.  In 1974 when Sensei Richard P. Baillargeon left his position with SKKU to form his own organization, The National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union. 

​It was well known in the American Karate circles, prior to passing in 1989 of Sensei Baillargeon that Baillargeon asked Dr. Lemuel Stroud if he would be interested in taking over NKJU. Dr. Lemuel Stroud decline to take over due to administrative issues. Sensei Baillargeon at one of his last tournaments verbally named Tola Lewis as successor the 2nd Kaicho of NKJU.  There is no dispute of the Nidai Kaicho of NKJU by NKJU® but after this the history becomes gray.  The name of NKJU National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union was change to NKJUI to add (I) National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union International.  The organization was incorporated along with changes to patch and other identifications of the original NKJU. 

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There are those that will argue that the “I” does not change the organization and that legal definitions do not mater and that it is simply a matter of semantics. 

According to records found at the North Carolina Secretary of State office NKJU International was dissolved. SOSID 0420575.  The dissolvement of NKJU/I allowed for the organization to be started by another party.

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After this revelation that NKJU was changed to NKJUI and that it had been dissolved, conversations with members of the American Karate Circle and personal friends of Richard P. Baillargeon it was decided that NKJU needed to be reestablished to bring back the values that Sensei Baillargeon taught.  There was no better person to bring back NKJU to its original values other than Sensei Baillargeon’s senor student Roy Davis III.

Sensei Roy D. Davis III studied directly under Sensei Baillargeon 4-5 days a week from 1973 to 1987.  In the summer of 2016 Roy D. Davis III started the process of resurrecting NKJU as taught by Sensie Baillargeon.  As to avoid any good old boy mentality that many in today’s American Karate Circles seem to promote, efforts were made to legally acquire ownership and the ability to promote NKJU as taught by Richard P. Baillargeon.  Trademark for NKJU® National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union was applied for and awarded.  A business was established in the State of Georgia to ensure the legal usage and promotion of NKJU® National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union. Sensei Roy D. Davis III  has been recognized and is an active member of UMAAI United Martial Arts Association International, IKMA International Karate Masters Association and AGK American Goshin Budo and Kobudo.

Those of us here at NKJU® National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union with support from our affiliated organization have a sole purpose to train today's martial artists in the “old ways” and stay true to the foundation and heritage or Sensei Richard P. Baillargeon along with bringing back the correct name NKJU® National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union and the original Patch as it was intended to be used.

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Please contact us with any questions about NKJU® we are always happy to answer any questions.