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Professor Vernon M. Jones Jr., D.D.
Taishi

Chief Instructor/Founder

Mr. Jones’ mother and father studied martial arts initially under Jim Martin, Jack Williams and Tracie’s Kenpo of Hollywood. Mr. Jones began his formal training with Professor Philip Chenique in Atemi-Ryu Ju-Jitsu, and was one of Chenique’s first students promoted to Black Belt and the first to begin teaching on his own.

Remarkably, Mr. Jones has run his own martial arts school since the age of 14, in the Miami Dade Area. Currently B.L.A.M. Ju-Jitsu Center has over 50 diverse and highly respected Black Belt students under him ranging from 4th to 1st Degree. His students have collected over 250 State Championships or Finalists awards in only 7 years of competitions and have been recognized as outstanding competitors and judges.

Taishi Jones is a ten-time state of Florida martial arts champion with numerous other awards to his credit. He has competed and won on both the Open Sport Karate and Traditional Karate circuits in forms, weapons and sparring. As a 3-Man Team Fighter and 2-Man Tag Team Fighter he has won grand championships with teammates such as Mike Green, Calvin Thomas, Manny Reyes Jr., Alex Reyes, Eli Thompson, Gus C. and his very own student Josue “Co-Co” Morales.

Undefeated in the Self-Defense Division since 1988, he has also vanquished other notable martial artists in forms or fighting such as: Manny Reyes Jr, Preston Clements (Team Paul Mitchell – #1 Ranked Fighter in 1999), Mike Door, Armando Ramos, James Sisco, Paul Knight, and Glenn Melman to name a few.

Mr. Jones was promoted to 6th Degree by Grandmaster Moses Powell and recognized as the founder of Black Lotus Ju-Jitsu. Some of his notable coaches and influences have been Professor Visitacion, Dr. Powell, Professor Chenique, Vernon Jones Sr., “Lil” John Davis, Herbie Thompson, Veronica Walker, Tony Palmor, Luis Fernandez, Nelson Garcia, and Ray Irrazary.

The promoter of one of Florida’s finest martial arts events, the Superstar Invitational Tournament, he is also known for his fairness and commitment as a judge and competitor. He has performed martial arts demonstrations and taught for various Governor Offices, State Attorney Generals, Local/State/Federal/International Law Enforcement Agencies, School Systems and other agencies ranging from Guam to Canada, the US and 35 of its states, 3 territories and 4 other countries.

The Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame named him as the 1999 Instructor of the Year, the 2000 Promoter of the Year and the 2001 & 2002 Man of the Year. In 2003 he was deemed the World Fighting Champion by the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) and the 2003 National Weapons Champion in the Senior Division. That same year he captured numerous Grand Championsionship Titles throughout the State of Florida and was the only adult State of Florida Triple Crown Champion from the Florida League of Martial Arts (FLMA). The Florida Black Belt Association (FBBA) also named him once again as its Weapons & Sparring State Champion for 2003.

Unfortunately, due to a motorcycle accident in 2004, Mr. Jones stepped back from active competitions and currently performs on rare occassions for charity events and demonstrations. This time off has allowed him to mainly focus on his two new daughters, Amaya & Cleopatra Jones. He looks forward to the day when he will return to competition along with his daughters in Team Competition & as their #1 Fan & Coach.

Background

Vernon M. Jones Jr. was the National Program Director for Youth Crime Watch of America (www.ycwa.org) a dynamic, youth-led prevention program which empowered youth and adults to work together to fight crime and drugs in their schools and communities. Vernon was responsible for the state, national and international programming which took him to nearly every county in the state of Florida and over 35 other states, 3 US territories and 4 countries to initiate or expand various programs. Vernon has spoken and appeared before approximately 2 million individuals, teaching and instilling positive philosophies to law enforcement agencies, school systems, housing authorities, public officials, businesses, houses of worship and many more.

He began his journey into youth crime prevention after being in Hollywood Mall as a boy, at the same time as Adam Walsh, who was unfortunately abducted and murdered. As the former Youth Crime Watch “Poster Child”, student member and leader, his 15 years of experience with the program and its philosophies, allowed him to empower youth to make the difference and to get involved in their neighborhood through crime prevention.

Furthermore he has been a featured national speaker (since the age of 14), a guest at the White House for youth leadership programs, a member of various national boards and was the first Central Outreach Coordinator/Supervisor for the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (O.N.D.C.P.), South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (H.I.D.T.A.) program under the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General, Janet Reno and the National Crime Prevention Council (McGruff – www.ncpc.org) presented him as the winner of the 1995 National Youth Crime Prevention Service Award. He has received numerous commendation letters, awards, certificates and merits to his credit.

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