AJJF Board of Professors

Professor John Congistre began his martial arts training in 1952 with Professor Ray Law in Oakland, California, and practiced there until the dojo closed in 1969.  Professor Law was a student of Prof Okazaki and was one of the founders of the AJJF.   Professor Congistre has studied and competed in the judo, earning a sandan rank. His martial arts training includes: sport judo, karate, kendo, boxing, and massage. He has visited and instructed at many dojos across the USA.  His education includes a BS from the University of California Berkeley, and an MS from the University of Santa Clara. Professor Congistre is a retired Senior Design Engineer, a retired Lt. Col. in the Air Force Reserves and a life member of MOAA. John is married for 59 years, is the father of two, and a grandfather of three wonderful girls and one active grandson. Professor Congistre spends his spare time teaching martial arts, traveling, judging kata tournaments, skiing, hiking, biking and enjoying his family. He is currently the Treasurer of the AJJF, in that office he has increased the AJJF net worth substantially so that AJJF operations grew and continue to expand across the US.  The Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai recognized Professor Congistre’s kudan degree and have made him a life member.

Professor Robert C. Hudson is currently a Judan (10th degree black belt) in Danzan Ryu JuJitsu with the American Judo and JuJitsu Federation (AJJF). He also holds the distinct title of Shihan from Professor Sig Kufferath's Okugi class - a seminar taught by Professor Henry Okazaki to Professor Kufferath and others in the Islands. In 2003 Professor Tony Janovich, in keeping with the tradition of the Okugi class, ran the next Okugi class and asked Professor Hudson to co-teach certain aspects of the seminar with him. In March of 2002, Prof Hudson was given an Award of Excellence and the rank of Shichidan (7th degree black belt) by Professor Ramon Lono Ancho, headmaster of Kodenkan Hombu, Costa Rica. Prof Ancho was a direct student of Professor Okazaki. Prof Hudson is a sifu, or instructor, of Wing Chun Kung Fu and has done extensive study in the Chinese internal Martial Arts such as Chi Gong and I Chuan. Prof Hudson is a founding member of the AJJF Restorative Massage Program (now known as the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute) and is the Director of Technical Standards.

Professor Geoff Lane started his athletic career at the age of 10, swimming AAU, which he continued through High School.  Swimming led to water polo, which he played in high school and college, and learned some of his first combat techniques, though they were all underwater… Between swimming and water polo season Geoff wrestled for 5 years.  After moving to Chico, Geoff discovered the art of Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu in 1975 and never looked back. Geoff was lucky enough to train with Senior Professor Lamar Fisher as well as Prof Fisher’s Sensei, Professor Merlin “Bud” Estes. Geoff has also trained in Wu style Tai Chi, off and on, since 1977 with Linyi Maslin, daughter of Grand Master Young Wabu.  Geoff is currently the President of the AJJF.

Professor Don Cross, began his Jujitsu career in 1957 when he became a student with Professor Ray L. Law in Oakland, California. Prof. Law was a direct disciple of Prof. Henry S. Okazaki, the Founder of Danzan Ryu, and one of the four founders of The American Judo & Jujitsu Federation. Over the next few years he raised through the ranks to become an assistant instructor in Prof. Law's unique children's classes, and adult classes. At least once a month throughout his training he entered both judo randori and jujitsu kata tournaments throughout California and Nevada. He frequently competed against students of Prof. John Cahill, another disciple of Prof. Okazaki. At Law's dojo he also studied Kenpo with Jim Shear, Shotokan with David Love, and T'ai Chi Chuan with Albert Soo. An important aspect of Don's training with Prof. Law was in Seifukujitsu and the healing arts of DZR. In 1964, at the age of 16, Prof. Law promoted him to Black Belt, and later to Nidan, the Instructor's Degree Black Belt. He continued his training with Prof. Law until his teacher died in 1969.

Professor Tom Ryan,  began his martial arts career in the early 1970s while in the U.S. Army. He has studied Tae Kwon Do, boxing, wrestling, Kodokan Judo, Wing-Chun, Kyusho Jitsu, Improvised Combat Systems, Kuntao, Shitoyoshin Ryu Jujitsu and Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. He has been training with Professor Robert Hudson since 1985. He received the title of Renshi from Professor Kufferath in 1993. He is a godan with Kodenkan Hombu and received his Certified Menkyo Senior Master Instructor Diploma from Professor Ramon Lono Ancho, Jr. One of his many awards was the 1999 JiuJitsu Instructor of the Year by the American Budokai Society. Prof Ryan is the chief instructor at Palmetto Jujitsu Academy & Healing Arts Center, Inc., in Lexington, SC. He is Division 3 Manager for the AJJF, a full instructor of Danzan Ryu Theraputic Massage, and teaches in two area massage schools. Prof Ryan is the state representative for the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia and is actively involved with the South Carolina State Massage Board.

Professor Larry Nolte, began training in 1958 with Prof Tom Ball. In Sept. of 1960, he was awarded his shodan by Prof Bud Estes and Prof Tom Ball during the opening of the Medford Judo Academy. He became sensei of the Medford Judo Academy in 1962. Prof Nolte coached wrestling at the high school and junior high levels for more than 30 years. His martial arts training includes sport judo, jujitsu, karate and Okazaki massage. Prof Nolte continues to substitute in the public schools having retired with 35 years of service. The Medford Judo Academy is the oldest AJJF club in continuous operation, and has been in the same location since its inception. More than 40 of his students have been promoted to shodan or higher degrees. Professor Nolte graduated from the 2003 Okugi course taught by Professor Janovich, where he received a Kaidensho and teaching title of Shihan.

Professor Sheryl Hager, has been a student of Danzan Ryu for over 30 years, beginning her training with her mother and father, Jim and Jane Dean, in May 1966 at the Redding Jujitsu Academy. Prof Hager has studied a wide range of other martial arts including: Parker's Kenpo, Tai Chi, and Shotokan Karate. She formed the Hale O Lima Kokua Martial Arts Center in Sacramento in 1980 and continues to instruct special classes there. Prof Hager is a Certified Massage Technician in the art of Seifukujitsu, has served as an assistant instructor for the AJJF Massage Program and maintains her own massage clinic at the RJA.

Professor Tom Hill, has studied Danzan Ryu Jujitsu since 1971. In 1982 he opened his dojo, Shumpukan, in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and continues to practice martial arts four days a week. He also holds the rank of sandan in kendo with the All American Kendo Association and the rank of sandan in Iaido in the Meshin Muso Ryu style. He was Region IV Treasurer for several years and Public Relations Manager with the Board of Managers.

Professor Robert Hodgkin, began studying Jujitsu in 1982 under the instruction of Professor Gene Edwards at his dojo in Calistoga, California. Robert then moved to Provo, Utah, in 1984 and joined the Lehi Dojo under the instruction of then Sensei Dennis Estes. Robert today runs Bushido Jutsu Kan in American Fork, Utah.

Professor Troy Shehorn, has been studying Jujitsu for more than 35 years, beginning in about 1976 with Professor Nolte at the Medford Judo Academy. He is also a licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Oregon and a graduate of the AJJF Massage Course.

Professor Hillary Kaplowitz (they/them) is Dojo Cho of Pacific JuJitsu Kai Ohana and has been teaching in the Los Angeles area since 2000. Prof Kaplowitz began their training in 1977 in the youth program at the Santa Monica YMCA under Sensei Jim Nieto, where they also competed on the Judo team. After a hiatus, they went on to train under a number of Sensei including Mike Lynch and Ed Cook, receiving the rank of black belt in 1998 from Professors William Randle and Leif Bennett and becoming a student of Prof Robert Hudson in 2000. Prof Kaplowitz attended the 2013 Okugi and received a Shihan Kaidensho from Professor Tony Janovich, their Professorship from the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation (AJJF) in 2017 and the title of Shihan from their sensei, Prof Hudson in 2022. Prof Kaplowitz is an instructor in the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute and has served various volunteer leadership positions in the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation - currently a member of the Board of Professors and Executive Committee. One of Prof Kaplowitz's interests is in the iron fan techniques of Danzan Ryu and has published a book on the subject, Tessenjutsu. Prof Kaplowitz created a podcast called Danzan Ryu Origin Stories as a way to document some of our DZR oral history and provide insight and inspiration about training in the martial arts. In addition, Prof Kaplowitz is a professional educator and has a PhD in instructional design and technology.

Professor Delina Fuchs has trained consistently in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu (DZR) since 1978; Aikido, Iaido, and Jojitsu each since the 80’s; and holds a Rokudan in DZR and a Shodan in Nishio Ryu Toho Iaido. She is Dojo Cho of one of the oldest dojo in DZR, Chico Kodenkan (formerly the Chico Judo & Jujitsu Acadamy), and received her Shodan from Prof. “Bud” Estes’ student and , Richard Radcliffe in 1987. She has also had the privilege of training under the late Prof’s Bud Estes and Jane Carr, DZR Judan,; Iaido and Hojojutsu: Dara Masi, Menkyo Kaiden Shihan San Dai Kichu; Prof. Mike Esmailzadeh, Aikido; Prof. (Sifu) Robert Hudson, Qigong and Seifukujutsu; and master aupuncturist and author, the late Michael Turk L.Ac. Having attended the last three Okugi, she has received both Kyoshi (2003) and Shihan (2013) titles from Prof. Tony Janovich, Judan.

An educator by profession for over thirty years, Prof. Fuchs is a recently retired college English professor, having earned her Bachelors’degree in Physical Education and Masters in English from CSU, Chico. A lifetime student of the martial and healing arts and a successful massage therapist since 1987, Prof. Fuchs has completed all levels of the AJJF’s Danzan Ryu Seifukujutsu Institute’s healing arts program as well as serving as an instructor of DZRRT since 2007.

Prof. Fuchs has also served the AJJF as National Manager of Events from 2013-2022 and the Counsel of Senior Instructors (CSI) from 2003-4.  She has hosted (or co-hosted) three National Conventions: 2010, 2014, and 2022; co-hosted Brown Belt Weekend in Chico since 1996 and Camp Kodenkan North for four years. And in 2018, The Association of Women’s Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) honored her with an induction into their Hall of Fame for dedicating over 40 years of her life to martial arts.

Prof’s life goals include the perpetuation of our complete DZR system, both martial and healing, through her students; her dojo, Chico Kodenkan; the AJJF and DZR Ohana; and the many organizations and clinics she is invited to teach every year.

Professor Tim Merrill began studying DanZan Ryu in 1976 with Senseis Jim Tobias and Jo Ann Watson at the Lab in Livermore.  Their dojo, Yoshin Jitsu Kai, soon moved to downtown Livermore where it remains today.  Sensei David Gordon presented Tim with his Shodan in 1984.  Tim took over from Dave and ran the dojo from 1986 to 1995.  In 1995 Tim started a new dojo, Chiku Shin Dojo, in Concord.  Tim was certified in the first AJJF Okazaki Restorative Massage Class and completed Module 2 in 2007.  Professor Robert Hudson presented Tim with his AJJF Yodan in 2003, his AJJF Godan in 2009, and his AJJF Rokudan in 2014.  He has been a member of the CSI since 2005.  He worked as an engineer for a couple of decades, spent a bit over a decade as a high school science and math teacher, and retired in 2005.  Chiku Shin Dojo is now at Tim and Joanie’s home in Pleasant Hill, CA.

Professor Ward Melenich began studying fighting arts in 7th grade when he began wrestling. He wrestled through high school and college. In 1986, he began DZR with Sensei Gene Esala in Duluth, MN. He started the Kuroinukan in 1987 and was later joined by now Professor Sohn Wehseler (Rokudan). Ward is a student of Professor Patrick Browne. Ward started judo classes with Sensei Roger Jensen in 1990, received his Shodan in 1999. He took over the Duluth Judo Club that year to continue its 50 year tradition. Ward and his wonderful wife, Kathryn, will continue to host Camp Kodenkan Midwest in August.

Professor Scott Redden began his martial arts career at the age of seven at the (then) Redding Judo Academy under the late Professor Jane Carr (then Sensei Jane Smith). Seven years later, family issues led to a ten year break in the arts, and when he returned to his training at the age of twenty-four, the RJA had been renamed the Redding Jujitsu Academy.

During this period, there were many parallels between his jujitsu and family life. Prof. Redden earned his Shodan in March of 1995 followed by his first child five months later. Then in 1998, his second child was born, followed by his Nidan four months later in September. Twenty years after his Shodan, Scott Redden would be promoted to Rokudan on March 14, 2015. And, he received the title of Professor on his twenty-eighth wedding anniversary, April 9, 2022.

Professor Redden also completed Module 1 of the Danzan Ryu Restorative Therapy (DZRRT) through the AJJF’s Seifukujutsu, Healing Arts program in 1995. In the years to follow, he has served the AJJF Operations Committee as Chair of Clinics and Contests as well as a fourteen-year term on the AJJF Council of Senior Instructors (CSI). During his years of service, he helped to create the Demonstration Competition Rules, the Grant Application Form, and was also instrumental in updated and re-distributing the Sensei Manual originally written by Professor Jane Carr. In the years following his Yodan and title of Senior Instructor, Prof. Redden has been consistently teaching at clinics and National Conventions as well as the Redding Jujitsu Academy.

Professor Redden also trains in other arts; he is a student of Judo, holding the rank of Ikkyu in the United States Judo Federation, and can be found at the RJA regularly training and teaching American Practical Arnis, in which he holds a Seventh Degree Black Belt.

Professor Sohn Wehseler began training in Dan Zan Ryu in 1985 under Sensei Gene Esala, at the Hayashi No Dojo in Duluth, MN.  With Gene’s introduction to Professor Pat Brown, he began attending Camp Kodenkan Midwest in 1987.  Supplementing jujitsu, fellow student Ward Melenich introduced Sohn to Kodenkan Judo under the instruction of Roger Jensen.  During the 90s he also trained in Tai Chi for several years with instruction from Richard Tosseland.  Sohn is a graduate of the Mod 1 Seifukujitsu Massage Program.

As a co-sensei with Professor Ward Melenich at the Kuroinukan, Sohn continues to teach adults and run a junior judo program as part of the Duluth Judo Club.

Sohn worked as a licensed electrician in the State of Minnesota for over 30 years before taking a job with the City of Duluth as a Housing Inspector.  He is now a City of Duluth Property and Solid Waste Compliance Officer.

Sohn is happily married with two wonderful daughters.  He enjoys teaching, his family, and helping others.

Professor Jeremy Jones began his jujitsu training in 1991 at the Salem Budokai and trained up to Shodan before moving to Colorado after graduating college. There he began studying with Sensei Kevin Ott of Kokua Jujitsu Kai and joined the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation. When he moved to Utah he began to study with his current sensei, Professor Robert Hodgkin. He was awarded his Rokudan from the AJJF in April 2023 and the title of Professor in 2024. He also studied American Kenpo Karate and earned his 1st degree black belt in that system under Lou Donadio.  Professor Jones ran the Corvallis Jujitsu Kai before moving to the Portland, OR area where he is the head instructor of North Portland Danzan Ryu.

Professor Katie Murphy Stevens (she/they) began her study of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in 1990. Her perspective in the martial arts has grown and changed over the years - student, practitioner, teacher, work horse, mentor, artist - from one perspective, to another perspective, and sometimes all at once and mixed together. She credits many individuals as inspirations, especially her sensei: Sensei Cynthia Frueh who started her on the martial arts path and Professor Jane Carr who guided her transformation for 20 years.

Professor Stevens earned black belt rank in 1995. She was a school head of Makoto Kai in Woodland, CA from 2002 through 2024. She received the rank of Rokudan in 2020 and the title of Professor in 2024.

Professor Stevens devotes time teaching at regional and national seminars. She hosts clinics, tournaments and conferences. She served in administrative roles in the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation from 2003 through 2024. She was elected to the AJJF Board of Professors in 2024. Professor Stevens served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors from 2016 through 2024. She believes in working to sustain organizations that teach and preserve the martial arts.

Professor Stevens received the 2009 Bert Aspinall Member of the Year award, the 2010 AJJF Professor Dick Rickerts Sensei of the Year award and the 2021 AJJF Special Recognition Award. She was inducted into the AWMAI Hall of Fame in 2023.

Professor Stevens is a 1995 graduate of the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute intensive massage course.

Professor Stevens began her martial arts practice for some self-defense training and fitness, but she stays for the deep friendships and her love of the art.

Professor Keith Thompson joined the DZR family in 1993 on Randy Schuster’s first day as sensei of the Davis Ju-Do Kai and earned his Shodan in 1997. Keith became a student of Professor Robert Hudson in 2020 and was elevated to professor in 2024. Keith has opened two AJJF schools with his partner, Diane Carlson: Seidokan Jujitsu in 2007 and Yasei Mahi Jujitsu in 2017 also with Erin Carlson and Jason Spake. He is exceedingly thankful for all the wonderful teachers and students he has had over the years and is especially grateful for having so much of his family in the AJJF including his two kids, Zoë Chaira and Sojourner Thompson, plus Erin, Jason, and bonus son Zach Chaira. He has served the AJJF in various capacities and is a DZRSI Module II graduate.  Keith has been an elementary school teacher for over 30 years and has a graduate degree in education.

Professor Harry Burleson began his martial arts journey in Chico, California under the tutelage of Professor Bud Estes at the Chico Judo Academy. The year was 1967, and he was 10 years old. While there, he learned the basic skills of Judo and received his first junior rank, a pink belt.

His next experience with the martial arts was in Boxing under the instruction of his father. His father was a Marine Corps Drill Instructor and Marine boxing champion, so the training was instilled in him with intensity and discipline.

By the time he was in high school, the next progression in training seemed to be in the martial art of Karate, where he spent two years studying at the Nibukikan under Bill NeBill and Pat Haley. However, this style didn’t quite resonate with him, so he eventually transitioned to the Jujitsu program under Professor Lamar Fisher. He remained in Jujitsu under Professor Fisher until Fisher's passing.

After Professor Fisher retired from his duties as school head and before his death, he passed on the title of school head to Professor Burleson. Burleson then assumed the responsibilities of leading the Nibukikan for several years before opening his own school, “The Dojo,” where he continued the training he had begun and later earned a black belt instructor's rank in Kodokan Judo.

He continues to teach and study the arts of Boxing, Judo, and Jujitsu in the greater Chico area.

Professor Robert Rainey began his study of Danzan-Ryu jujitsu in 1984 at the age of 10 under Sensei Michael Perry Dingman, a student of the late Professor Jim Marcinkus. He earned his black belt through the Southern California Jujitsu Association in 1993 and later trained with Professors Dom and Helen Carollo. Following Sensei Dingman’s retirement from active teaching, Rob joined the Westside Dojo under the guidance of Prof William Randle, where he has served as an assistant instructor ever since.

An AJJF member since 2003, Prof Rainey is the School Head of Lawndale Jujitsu Kai and was awarded the title of Professor by the AJJF in 2025. He has received training in all three modules of the DZRSI Restorative Therapy Program under Prof Hudson and was honored with the AJJF Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Healing Arts Award in 2023.

Prof Rainey is a two-time graduate of the Okugi course taught by Prof Janovich, receiving the titles of Renshi in 2013 and Shihan in 2023. He has served on the AJJF Operations Committee as Insurance and Sanctions Chair for many years, first as a backup from 2014 to 2022 and then in an official capacity from 2022 to 2025.

Professor Patrick Hedgepath began his martial arts journey in 2007 when he sought a school for his son at Palmetto Jujitsu Academy & Healing Arts Center. There he met his sensei, Professor Tom Ryan. After observing classes, he joined the adult program and quickly became dedicated to Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, training at least four times per week.

He is a two-time graduate of the Okugi program, holding titles of Renshi from 2013 and Shihan in 2023. Professor Hedgepath is also a graduate of the restoration therapy modules 1-3. He is currently a co-school head at Palmetto Jujitsu Academy & Healing Arts Center.

He currently holds the rank of Rokudan in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation (AJJF) and Rokudan in the American Traditional Jujitsu Association (ATJA). He also holds the rank of Nikyu in iaido under Sensei Shuji Matsushita.

Professor Hedgepath currently also serves as the webmaster for the AJJF.

Professor Mark C. Roberts began his study of budo in 1979 and spent a year as an exchange student at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, studying the Japanese language and culture while practicing judo at the Kodokan.  He received a spot promotion to the rank of Ikkyu in 1982 at the hundredth-anniversary celebration of the Kodokan's founding.  Returning to the States, he took up Shorinji Kempo in Redondo Beach, CA, before moving to Northern California.  He began studying Danzan Ryu Jujutsu at Honshin Kan Martial Arts Academy under Sensei Jeff Penner in 1994, eventually becoming school head when Sensei Penner stepped down.  He is a graduate of the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute Modules I-III.  He was awarded the rank of Shodan in Aikido in 2013 and received a mokuroku in Katori Shinto Ryu kenjutsu in 2022.  He has served on the AJJF Board of Directors since 2021 as National Manager of Finance.

Judan - 10th degree blackbelt

Judan - 10th degree blackbelt

Professor Dennis Estes, holds a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu that is recognized by both the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation and the Kodenkan Yudanshakai, as well as a black belt in Daito Ryu AikiJutsu. Prof. Estes began training in 1959, at the age of six years old. He and his father Art Estes began training with Jay Monahan in Pullman, Washington. Monahan Sensei trained in both Kodokan Judo and Shudokan Karate while in Japan and later in the San Francisco Bay area in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu under Prof. Ray Law. While a teenager, Dennis assisted his father (who was his sensei) in teaching classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College as well as in the dojo. When Art Estes, his father, was injured in an industrial accident Dennis covered both the PE and Law Enforcement Classes at SWOCC as well as classes at the Dojo. After graduating from High School, he went into the United States Air Force. While in the states, he trained in Judo and he trained in Thai boxing while in Thailand.  Dennis is certified in both Utah and Idaho as a Police Instructor, and while in Idaho he taught at the Police Academy. Dennis has taught both basic recruit and in service classes.