Danladi Whitten a.k.a. “Master Don” is the owner and head instructor at JTR Jujutsu International. A lifelong practitioner of martial arts and passionate instructor of self-defense programs, Master Don’s 37 years of experience in traditional martial arts and combative programs qualifies him as a field expert in the area of self-defense tactics. Master Don was born in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. His journey in martial arts began in 1982, at the age of seven. He accomplished his first major goal—to achieve a black belt in Tae Kwon Do —after ten years of rigorous, dedicated training.

He began teaching at the age of 15, diligently striving to establish his professional character: one of discipline, ethics and self-motivation. In 1993 he moved to Washington, DC to attend Howard University where he continued his training with the HU Tae Kwon Do collegiate program. In 2004, Master Don expanded his training, studying under Grand Master Dong Jin Kim in Korean Hapkido and Combat Jujutsu. In 2015, his teacher suddenly passed away. To honor his legacy and carry on his teachings, Master Don assumed the lead role at the martial arts school and federal government programs that Grandmaster Kim founded.

As head instructor, Master Don teaches weekly classes at JTR Jujutsu in Washington DC. He has traveled to Bogota, Colombia to instruct police units and private security firms. He leads government self-defense programs at the National Defense University, Department of State, and the DC Department of Youth Rehab Services. An advocate for public safety, Master Don routinely facilitates group workshops by providing physical training and education for women’s safety, survival, and self-defense. Master Don has also touched the lives of many as Doctor of Physical Therapy and the owner/operator of a private practice: Progressive Physical Therapy Center, established in 2001. He is blessed with a marriage of fourteen years and three children.