The 50-Year Club honors those individuals who have dedicated at least 50 years of their lives to practicing and promoting Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. We are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals in our midst.
The honorees are listed below, and includes the year he or she began the study of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.
1948 – Professor Lamar Fisher, Judan
Professor Fisher first became a student of Professor Bud Estes in 1948, and taught at the Chico Judo and Jujitsu Academy from 1950 to 1972. He achieved the rank of Professor in 1956. Prof Fisher also taught women's self defense courses for 10 years at Butte College. In 1981, he became school head of the Nibukikan in Chico, California. Prof Fisher is currently Senior Professor of the AJJF.
1952 – Professor John Congistre, Kudan
Professor Congistre began his training with Professor Ray Law in Oakland, California, and practiced there until the dojo closed in 1969. He has studied and competed in sport judo, earning the rank of sandan. Prof Congistre has also trained in karate, kendo, and massage. Prof Congistre is currently the Treasurer of the AJJF. The Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai have recognized Professor Congistre's rank of kudan and have made him a life member.
1954 – Professor William G. Randle, Judan
Professor William G. Randle, Kudan, began jujitsu in 1954 at Prof. Law’s dojo in Oakland, conveniently located eight doors down from his grandparents’ home. He opened his first dojo in 1958 in his parents’ garage in Santa Monica. In 1962, he started his second dojo at the Santa Monica and Palisades YMCAs and after a hiatus in the Franciscan Brotherhood in Ohio and Texas (where he also had a dojo at St. Edward’s University), opened the Westside YMCA Jujitsu dojo in West Los Angeles in 1972 and has been sensei there ever since. Character development is the primary focus of Prof. Randle’s teaching. Professor Randle and his lineage are responsible for over 200 Danzan-Ryu black belts. Prof Randle is a Director of the Santa Monica YMCA and serves as House Committee Chair and Board Member of the Santa Monica Rotary Club.
1956 – Kathi Congistre, Sandan
1956 – Patricia Rebmann, Shodan
1957 – Professor Tom Ball, Kudan
Professor Ball began jujitsu with Bud Odom and received his shodan in 1958. He taught at UC Davis in 1964 as a yodan and founded the first martial arts dojo in Davis since World War II. Hundreds of students from around the world studied with him from 1964 – 1972. Prof Ball is currently school head of the Shingi Kan. He has also helped establish the AJJF's Okazaki Restorative Massage Program, now known as the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute, and sits on the Standards Committee. He is the current President of the AJJF.
1957 – Professor Don Cross, Shichidan
Professor Cross began his training with Professors Ray and Marie Law in Oakland, California. Prof Cross has also studied tai chi chuan, judo, kempo, Goju Ryu, Shotokan Karate, kendo, Sil Lum Kung Fu, and chi gong. Prof Cross has served on the AJJF's Board of Managers as the Manager of Regions and the Manager of Internal Relations. He also helped develop the AJJF Okazaki Restorative Massage Program, now known as the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute. Prof Cross was the sensei of Jujitsu-Do Martial Arts Center for 33 years and currently serves as the Vice President of the AJJF. Prof. Cross is currently teaching DZR at his new dojo in Eugene, Oregon.
1958 – Professor Larry Nolte, Rokudan
Professor Nolte began his training with Professor Tom Ball. In 1960, he was awarded his shodan by Professor Bud Estes and Tom Ball. He became school head of the Medford Judo Academy in 1962 and has coached wrestling at the high school and junior high levels for more than 30 years. Prof Nolte has also trained in sport judo, karate, and Okazaki massage. More than 40 of Prof Nolte's students have been promoted to black belt and the Medford Judo Academy remains the oldest continuously operating dojo within the AJJF. Prof Nolte also graduated from the 2003 Okugi course taught by Professor Tony Janovich, where he received a Kaidensho and teaching title of Shihan. Prof Nolte currently serves as the Secretary of the AJJF.