Soke
Michael DePasquale, Sr.
"Father of American Ju-Jitsu,"
By Carmen Katsaitis
Soke DePasquale Sr. is one of the
true pioneers of martial arts in the United States having begun his study of the
martial arts in the 1940’s. On September 23, 2006 at 1:30pm Soke Michael
DePasquale, Sr. passed away. The world has lost a martial arts legend and
pioneer. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he returned home
and resumed his pursuit of study in the arts. He is a renowned Jujutsu Master
and holds the 10th Dan rank and the titles of Ni Dai, Shihan, and Professor of
the Martial Arts. He is considered the "Father of American Ju-Jitsu,"
having founded one of the first Ju-Jitsu schools in the U.S., sanctioned by the
Japanese Federation. Soke DePasquale is the Grandmaster of the International
Federation Of Ju-Jutsuans (IFOJJ). He holds a 10th degree Black Belt in Ju-Jitsu.
His knowledge of the art of self-defense is unsurpassed. Shortly after his
induction into the United States Army, at the onset of World War II, the senior
Soke DePasquale was trained as a CID (Criminal Investigation Detachment) special
agent. Upon his return to America, Soke DePasquale did two things, which altered
the course of both his life, and that of Martial Arts/Law Enforcement history. The
first was to join the Long Island Railroad Police, in which he promptly became
one of the most decorated law enforcement officials on the East Coast. The
second was to bring the art of Ju-Jitsu to the United States as the American
representative of the world headquarters of the Hakko Ryu Hombu in Japan. The
Shihan (Master) was also chosen to represent Martial Arts at the 1963 World’s
Fair. After retiring from the Railroad Police, Soke DePasquale served as
corporate security director for several large corporations prior to launching
his own company called International Protection Systems Inc. As a whole, the
company provided the business community of New Jersey with excellent service,
including, Investigations, Consulting, and Uniformed Professional Security
Officers Service. Soke"D" is a member of many professional
organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police, American Society of Law
Enforcement Trainers, International Law Enforcement Association, Rockland County
Shields and the National Law Enforcement Association. Soke DePasquale Sr. has
been recognized as a leading advocate for professionalization through extensive
candidate selection and training of the security officer service industry.
Soke
DePasquale has been profiled in New Jersey Business Magazine, Who’s Who in Law
Enforcement, the Sunday Herald, and has also been featured on WCBS-TV, and WWOR-TV.
He has also been a licensed Private Detective since 1966. Soke DePasquale has
been inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame and has earned
innumerable awards in the Martial Arts. Soke DePasquale has been considered one
of the top Ju-Jitsu parishioners in the world. He recently attended a Martial
Arts exposition in Japan as the guest of honor of the Japanese Federation. Along
with his many honors and titles he also holds the title of Professor of Martial
Arts. Soke Michael DePasquale Sr. was in demand as a teacher, worldwide and was
continuing to travel to all parts of the world teaching self-defense for the
average citizen, police defensive tactics to law enforcement agencies, such as
the U.S. Marshall Service and the F.B.I., and the most advanced Martial Arts
techniques to Black Belts. He is an expert in cane and stick fighting style of
Hepi-Ryu.
Soke DePasquale and his wife, Josephine, A 2ND degree karate Black Belt, recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. A true legend will be missed by all who knew him.