Biography

Professor Joe DeBattista started training in Judo and JuJitsu in 1970, from a Physical Ed class in college.

He fell in love with Judo and started looking for a dojo to further his training. Having visited various dojos in the area, he discovered Cahill’s Judo and JuJitsu. Unlike some of the traditional schools, Willy Cahill’s sense of Kokua (hospitality) and Ohana (feeling of family) was very strong, and he immediately knew this was to be his dojo. It was a place that you could train hard for competition with some of the top coaches, while still having fun learning the techniques.

While serving in the Navy, he kept up his training always having his gi with him and looking for dojos to visit and practice. During a stint with the Military Police in the Philippines, he was tasked with teaching defensive techniques to newly assigned personnel, and later to military family members.

Joe feels privileged that he has had a chance to train and learn from some of the best martial artists in the world, but also from his students. He says that they all help to make him a better teacher.

He has taught classes and seminars around the world, and throughout the United States, and is currently one of the main JuJitsu instructors at Cahill’s. Joe says that he loves it when his students master that difficult technique, and get that sense of accomplishment.

Professor DeBattista currently holds the rank of Sichidan (7th Degree black belt) in Kodenkan JuJitsu (sometimes referred to as DanZanRyu Jujitsu) from JuJitsu America, and a Nidan (2nd Degree black belt) in Kodokan Judo through the United States Judo Association. He is also on the Board of Directors for the JuJitsu America organization, and a certified Referee for Sport Jujitsu.