In 1961 Mike Bryne, Bob Wingfield, Jane Dean (Prof. Carr), and James Dean founded the Redding Judo Academy (later renamed the Redding JuJitsu Academy, Inc.). Prof. Estes as one of Okazaki’s students, trained Prof. James Musselman who in turn trained Prof. Tom Ball who trained Mike Bryne who was Prof. Carr’s first sensei.
Originally Prof. Carr began JuJitsu to get in shape from having two children. What started out as a way to get some exercise has developed into a lifetime passion. Under Professor’s watchful eye and steady hand the RJA has been a Redding institution for more than 40 years. Over the years Professor Carr has trained over 20 black belts, from Shodan through Yodan, and hundreds of students. Like Professor Okazaki, Professor Carr took the knowledge of massage she learned from DZR and opened her own very successful massage practice.
Now, Sheryl Hager, Prof. Carr’s daughter and RJA senior student has inherited the title of School Head for the RJA. Sensei Sheryl was on the RJA mat growing up, received her Shodan at age 17, and opened and operates her own dojo, Hale O Lima Kokua. She still commutes to Sacramento to teach classes in addition to teaching at the RJA.