In March 1902, in effort to get into shape by dropping excess weight, President Theodore Roosevelt brought a Boston jiu-jitsu master to the White House to learn the Japanese self-defense art. Professor John J. O'Brien, said to be 27 years of age in 1903, and living at 92 Gladstone Street in East Boston, went to Washington, D.C. and trained Roosevelt in jiu-jitsu twice a day. Addtionally, O'Brien gave instruction to the youngsters of the White House in physical culture, and this may have extended to members of Roosevelt's staff. O'Brien was the "Inspector of Police" while in Nagasaki, Japan, and was the man who brought jiu-jitsu to America. John J. O'Brien of Boston should not be confused with James J. "Jack" O'Brien of Philadelphia, a policeman and trainer. John O'Brien worked as an instructor at the Paris Street Gymnasium in Boston. Roosevelt was unsuccessful in using jiu-jitsu training to lose weight, according to the Seattle Daily Times, and O'Brien returned to Boston. Sources: Boston Globe newspaper; March 19, 1902 Seattle Daily Times newspaper; March 30, 1902 Sedan Lance newspaper; April 3, 1902 Research by Tim Hornbaker |
Theodore Roosevelt |