Professor Chuck Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 22, 1930.  In his early twenties, Chuck was introduced to jujitsu by his supervisor and close friend, (Prof.) Carl Nelson.  He soon joined the class and began learning jujitsu.

By 1959, he began teaching at the San Lorenzo Boys Club.  In 1961, he taught at Sukoshi Dojo, a judo school.  Chuck was very interested in judo, and competed for several years.  He also studied techniques of karate and aikido.

In 1965, he moved to Chico, California, and taught classes at Paradise Judo Club for the next three years.  He helped to start the judo and jujitsu program in the physical education department at Chico State in 1968, and taught classes there until he moved four years later.

In 1972, Chuck moved to Redding. Not long after he moved, he was involved in a serious auto accident which nearly claimed his life.  Hospitalized for over a year, he spent three years recovering from the effects of the accident.  He credits his miraculous recovery to this martial arts training.

Chuck was active in the AJJF for more than twenty years.  He held a number of national and regional offices during those years. His AJJF jujitsu ranks include:  Shodan (1959), Nidan (1960), Sandan (1961), Yodan (1963) Godan and title of Professor (1965) and Rokudan (1976).

Now retired from the AJJF, Professor Smith lives in northern California.

Reprinted from Danzan Ryu:  An Unbroken Tradition (1992) by permission of the author, Mary L. Boland.