Wally Strauss: 1908-1987
Professor Wally Strauss was a master instructor in Jiu-jitsu, Tai-jitsu, Judo, Judo-do and Shotokan Karate. Wally held the ranks of 10th Dan Jiu-jitsu with thje World Jiu-jitsu Centre and 8th Dan in Jiu-jitsu and Judo with the International Jiu-jitsu League and the World Tai-jitsu Organisation. He also held the rank of 6th Dan in Shotokan Karate.
In Austria, Strauss trained in Jiu-jitsu, Judo and Judo-do under Professors Kuehrs, Koeasky, Ascenbrenaer, Ebetshuber and particularly Julius Fleck and Hubert Klinger-Klingerstorff. While studying at Oxford, he trained with Mikonosuke Kawaishi.
Just prior to and during World War 2, Strauss worked for the British Government — initially in Spain, then later in China. In China, he was interned by the Japanese. His treatment during this time affected him greatly after the war.
Wally came to Australia in 1951 and set up one of the earliest Jiu-jitsu and Judo schools in Melbourne. He applied a modified system of Kawaishi Judo and adopted Milokosuke Kawaishi's approach to techniques and terminology. He could be a difficult person and many Australian martial artists had their noses put out of joint by his attitudes, however he was technically superb.
When Professor Julius Fleck passed away in 1967, Strauss inherited the art of Judo-do.
Strauss formulated his own martial art/philosophy which he called Ido. Ido was a cycle of skills including Jiu-jitsu, Judo, Judo-do, Karate, fencing and hunting. Ido is very poorly understood by most as Strauss was inclined to secrecy. Kancho Barry Bradshaw was probably Strauss' highest graded student of Ido, receiving the rank of 6th Dan from his teacher. As Kancho Bradshaw and Professor Strauss were nolonger affiliated when Strauss passed away, the inheritance of Ido passed back to Germany. While the inheritors were skilled in Jiu-jitsu, Judo and Judo-do, they had little more than academic understanding of the art/philosphy of Ido and the commonly seen translation of 'perpertual movement' is quite inaccurate.
Strauss' legacy of excellent technique and a broad base of skills is still taught by his long time student and disciple, Barry Bradshaw, within the Australian Federation of Instructors.