IN THE KINGDOM OF MANY TALENTS

It could be said that Jorga brothers are trademarks of Yugoslav karate.  Univ. prf. dr. Ilija Jorga, MD. PhD., the younger of two, talks about things which determined his life path, famous teachers, talents, proving his worth...

Between brother and many talents

Univ. prf. dr. Ilija Jorga, MD. PhD. (SOKE, 10. dan), one of karate pioneers within SFR Yugoslavia, the founder of Fudokan karate style, doctor of sports medicine, professor of physiology at the Belgrade University, our best karate instructor, famous champion of Yugoslavia and Europe with numerous medals won at European and world championships, the selector of Yugoslav karate national team for the time period between 1968 to 1980…there are enough titles and vocations for several people to share, but even that is not all.

It appears that karate and medicine are your two most important professional determinants?
"It appears that way usually.  However, it was art which played a big role in my life, and continues to do so to this very day.  As a child I attended ballet school, I was extremely talented, my flexibility was amazing.  I loved ballet but dropped out at the age of twelve, only because my brother Vladimir could not deal with the fact that his brother went to ballet school.  Vladimir was always into sports being the athletic type, he went for judo, boxing, later karate.  But, I wasn't talented for ballet only; I also attended "Bora Stankovic” music school.  I had no trouble singing two octaves with full lungs, I had a perfect pitch.", reveals Ilija Jorga with much pride.

Still, Vladimir took his role of separating his brother from the art world so seriously, that he brought all of the karate players he knew at the time to Ilija's first solo performance.  "I was so nervous before my first concert.  But when I spotted my brother and the rest of karate players occupying first four rows of the concert hall, I went numb.  And, of course, my performance was a disaster."

Your older brother was persistent in keeping you away from the art world and influenced you to turn to sports instead?
"Yes, but before turning to sports for good, I managed to enroll the Sculpture program at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Fine Arts after finishing high school.  I was among seven students chosen among 1600 candidates that year.  But, that summer our father tragically lost his life and I transferred to the School of Medicine, respecting his wish.  I also managed to make Vladimir quit his studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and enroll Medicine too.”

So you very much influenced each other's life choices?
Yes, but always with sincerity and best intentions.

First steps in martial arts

Was there a particular moment when you decided to enter the world of martial arts or you gave in to Vladimir's persistence over time?
“One day my brother came home with an eye bruise and claimed he had fallen, but I followed him only to discover that he was involved with a boxing school.  I entered the school, saw him boxing inside the ring, and as he probably wanted to show off before his younger brother, he punched his opponent a bit harder.  The other player started hitting him back hard that I rushed to the ring and jumped the guy from the back, as I couldn't bear watching him hit my brother.  I became aware of the importance of martial arts, but couldn’t see myself boxing, I hated skipping rope and I found boxers' shorts to be funny.  And also, Vladimir started karate lessons.  One time we wanted to show me "the special new technique", as he named it, so he grabbed me and I ended up falling and breaking my shoulder.  I started karate lessons with one hand", narrates Ilija Jorga with laughter about his karate beginnings. 
It was 1959, Ilija was 19 and his first teacher was Vladimir Jorga.

"I was very hard working”

Time management, a very demanding category for all of us, has never been a difficulty for Ilija Jorga.  Studying medicine as the best student in his class and engagement in karate were just pieces of puzzle that needed to be well fitted into unique whole.

How did you manage to be an excellent karate sportsman and a good student at the same time?
"I was very hard working, maybe even a bit of a nerd.  But, it is not difficult to achieve it all.  I used to study with the washbowl full of cold water next to me, so whenever I would start falling asleep I would touch the cold water, wake up and go on. Ever since those times I never slept for more than five hours.  It is not hard to do it all."
Not if you're born as Ilija Jorga.  The only way to go was up when it came to his career in karate and medicine.  Since 1965., when he became the University champion of Serbia, numerous medals started piling up.  He was the champion of Yugoslavia in kumite thirteen times in a row, international championships brought him eighteen medals, and during his time as a selector of Yugoslav karate national team from 1968 to 1980 he won 65 medals at different international contests – and this was only a part of his success.  Prioritizing was never a problem for Jorga, but he nevertheless transferred from Surgery to a less demanding program of Physiology, so that, in his words, he would have more time for karate.

If you started your day as a doctor and finished it as a karate player, how did other others perceive you, as one or the other?
"At the Medical School I started out as an assistant, later became an assistant professor and, finally, full time professor at the School of Medicine in Belgrade.  My colleagues were not thrilled with the fact that I was also a karate player, and vice versa applied among my karate colleagues.  Either way, I had to prove myself to everybody, to work at my maximum.  It is true that all nations are considered equal in karate, but the Japanese overdid some of the things, relationship between a teacher and a student was often characterized by an authoritarian obedience.  As I had my other world of medicine aside beside the world of karate, in my case those relationships could not really function in such manner.  I even believe that my inner sense of confidence prompt me to further successes in karate, inventing Fudokan style, founding of World Federation etc."

The Importance of a Teacher

Your teachers were Tatsuo Murakami, Taiji Kase and Hidetaka Nishiyama.  How did they all influence you?
"Tatsuo Murakami was the first Japanese teacher to hold seminars in Yugoslavia.  He was ardent”, remembers Jorga.  "He would show us a particular technique only once and we would then repeat it endlessly.  He also had powerful hits.  When he was diagnosed with cancer, I realized just how dedicated he was after he approached me with words: "If you continue on, I will live through your work" and referred me to Taiji Kase.  Of course, all of Japanese instructors worked throughout Europe and were hard to reach and persuade into instructing in Yugoslavia, nevertheless Yugoslavia at that time was a leading sports nation, as 10% of population were active sportsmen.  I waited a whole year before persuading Kase to visit Yugoslavia.  He was an extraordinary teacher, and it is well know just how much he has contributed to karate popularization in our region, he was even nicknamed "the Red Instructor" for his willingness to instruct in Yugoslavia.  Nishiyama was also an exquisite teacher, I collaborated with him on traditional karate enhancement, and his death in 2008. was a great loss to the world of karate.  The role of the teacher is enormous.”

Are students, usually young people, prone to idealizing their teachers and coaches, assigning them superhuman characteristics?
"Teacher is half-god to his students. Teachers have great responsibility before their students; their devotion needs to be felt.  That young person assisted on his way is very important, that one who sees you as a Superman.  Nevertheless, no matter how young they are, students are not ignorant or naïve, they can tell how devoted or qualified their teachers are.  This is why membership in many clubs dissipates.  Healthy lifestyle and sport are vital part of marketing industry, and often serve to only deceit the young.  Many practice sports but need to get to the heart of it and grow to love what they are doing.  If your student leaves you, you have lost him forever."

The Art of the Fight

The basis of Budo concept of traditional karate, upon which your Fudokan style is based, is mental and spiritual advancement.  Therefore, karate should not be placed within the context of competition, as it is viewed as life growth above all.  Is modern lifestyle, where many things are "false and fast", presenting an obstacle to the Budo concept?
To the contrary.  I am convinced this present time and situation is on our side, all the more as the Olympic Committee recently rejected WKF, sport karate. Simply put, the core of karate cannot be changed.  Karate, above all, is a moral category.  The fight is moral.  There you are with your opponent - you and him, it is an honorable encounter.  In my karate there is no jumping or yelling allowed, it is inconceivable.  This is the process of growth which lasts a lifetime.  This is why karate is for complete individuals only".

As you were winning numerous medals as a young competitor at world championships, were you aware of the true strength of this discipline, mental stamina?
"I weighted 69 kilos only but I was extremely fast and foolishly brave.  One needs to be mentally fit in order to “slam” into a guy twice your size.  There was only one category back then and I will never forgive my brother for introducing different sport categories.  Budo does not differentiate between male and female karate, weak and the strong.  It is all in the art of the fight."

Even though it all appears ideal, is there anything you have regrets about?

“Yes there is and I will never forget it.  I remember so vividly the European championship in Brussels in 1970.  My opponent was Italian Ennio Falsoni.  "The Great" Shirai was his teachers, and during our match he was also the judge.  I was completely aware of how quick my game was, as he would blink and I would already find myself behind him.  My ipon was given half points by Shirai even though it was worth hundred points, it was as big as the Mont Everest.  Needless to say, I didn't win...Even though Belgians didn't like us, they wer

e booing for ten minutes after the match.  I was the moral winner of the game.  I knew I was better and swore that I would win the next European championship in London in 1971.  I transferred from Surgery to Physiology program at the Medial School so that I would have more free time for karate”. And of course, he did become the champion.

The World Federation

At the age of 40, in 1980., you promoted Fudokan style along with your brother Vladimir and Taiji Kase.  How did the Japanese react?
"Their reaction could be best described with a sentence 'Japanese had hard time swallowing it'.  Nevertheless, they appreciated the effort, knowledge and work invested, even though it was within their national arena, so to speak.  I was the first white man to earn 10. dan in 2007. from the All Japan Jujitsu International Federation."

What makes you proud? Medals, recognitions, Fudokan style invention…?
"What truly makes me proud is creation of the World Traditional Fudokan Shotokan Karate-Do Federation, now present in 86 countries.  I created a world federation and registered it in Switzerland, so my federation has the same credibility as FIFA does, for example.  I am extremely satisfied with it, as it is important to complete whatever you dedicate your life to”.

Is success measured by personal feeling of satisfaction in relation to self actualization?
“One time in Moscow I was in the company of some Russian tycoons.  One of them asked me: 'Jorga, are you a rich man?' I answered: "Yes, I have two million..." then deliberately paused, only to continue with much content: “…people. I have two million people believing in what they are doing.  None of you have that".

Jadranka Jaksic-Turcinovic