The History Behind The Creation of Go Jiu Bujitsu

Doshu Mark Colangelo created (2006) and founded (2007) the hybrid/mixed martial art - Go Jiu Bujitsu (The Way of Hard and Soft Martial Arts). Doshu Mark Colangelo first learned Cuong Nhu Karate (hereinafter referred to as CN Karate) while in law school from Sensei David C. Holdway III, who had moved to San Diego, California to attend law school after graduating from the University of Florida, Gainesville, where he had earned his 1st degree black belt in CN Karate. Training in CN Karate became Doshu Colangelo’s passion, as well as his physical and mental escape from the stress and challenging demands of law school. Soon he was training with Sensei David C. Holdway III one on one, 6 days a week. The seed of martial arts had been planted in him, and it continued to grow to such an extent that it became his life’s work – a definite a labor of love. Doshu Colangelo was tested for and received his black belt in CN Karate by CN’s founder, Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong in 1984.

Thereafter, Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong trained, mentored, tested and promoted Doshu Colangelo from 1st degree black belt through CN Karate’s highest tested rank of 5th degree black belt, in May 1996 (at that time becoming only the seventh person in the history of the art to earn that rank).  He also earned an additional black belt from Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong in the CN Soft-Style, in May 1986 (which had a completely separate 9 Kyu curriculum involving Aikido, Judo and Tai Chi and also became one of only ten individuals in the history of the art to earn that rank).

Doshu Colangelo began teaching CN Karate as a green belt and eventually carried the full responsibility of leading the dojo as a brown belt when Sensei Holdway moved away. After his instructor’s return, and earning his black belt, Doshu Colangelo accepted the responsibilities of Chief Instructor, while Sensei Holdway taught when he could do to the demands of his law practice. After teaching CN Karate for 13+ years 2-3 days a week at a YMCA, and while practicing law full-time as a civil litigation attorney, Doshu Colangelo was so passionate about martial arts, teaching it and being acutely aware of its’ potential for profound effects on the lives of its’ practitioners, Doshu Colangelo gave up his life as an attorney and opened a full-time dojo which he has continued to operate since March 15, 1994.

Doshu Colangelo continued to cross-train in Jujitsu, Shotokan, Aikido, Wing Chun and Tai Chi. His method of focus, training and study was to consistently devote over 1½ or more years or more of intense practice to each art.

As was the life of Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong, Doshu Colangelo’s life was greatly impacted by Professor/Grandmaster Ernie Cates. Specifically, during Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong’s development of Cuong Nhu, he studied Judo with then “American Marine Lt. Ernie Cates, a Judo and Goshin Jitsu instructor who had been in the first Olympic Judo Trials.”¹ Through Professor/Grandmaster Cates’ instruction, Grandmaster Ngo Dong “began to better understand the spiritual side to martial arts”¹. “During this time”² Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong “also took his black belt in Judo”² from Professor/Grandmaster Cates. “He finally ‘understood the effectiveness of the soft-style’,and felt there had been something lacking in his shotokan training.”²  As primarily a Shotokan/hard/cuong style practitioner, (“fourth degree black belt”¹) Grandmaster/Dr. Ngo Dong was so influenced by: Professor/Grandmaster Cates’ instruction in the soft/nhu arts; the “cuong nhu co-development theory”³ of Vovinam; as well as his experience and skills in Wing Chun, Boxing and Tai Chi, that he created the “hard-soft” Vietnamese Martial Art of Cuong Nhu Karate. Also, in May 1994 and upon the recommendation of Professor/Grand-

¹ Quotes from Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts Instruction Manual First Edition Copyright 1979 “About the Founder”
² Dragon Nhus – Special Edition Fall 1995 p.17; Karate Illustrated – March 1974 Article by Gail Malone
³  American Vovinam Institute Student Manual Copyright 2004; Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao’s “Philosophical Knowledge for Blue Belt through Blue belt III – Question and Answer #11; NHA Magazine “Vovinam Viet Vo Dao  -A Tradition of patriotism and Service to Society March/April 2006; www.vovinam.com