The Professor Bert Aspinall Award

The Professor Bert Aspinall Award

Professor Bert Aspinall

Professor Bert Aspinall was a student of Professor Ray Law and later established his own dojo at a church in East Oakland, CA. He was a man of faith, and taught his students to trust in God. In an article he wrote for the Kiai Echo in 1993, he said, “Let your mind be strong with sincerity that can pierce iron and stone. Repay the favors of nature, work for the public good, make yourself a man who nature is pleased to live with.” As a memorial to the great teachings he lived by, Prof. Bert Aspinall donated an award to the AJJF which is given by the AJJF Board of Professors (BOP). It is to be awarded to an AJJF member, below the rank and title of Professor, who has given an inordinate amount of himself or herself in the support of the AJJF. The recipient need not be a jujitsu student, but a member who has donated a large part of his or her time in service to the organization. Past recipients are listed below. The AJJF and the BOP owe a debt of gratitude to the many individuals who work so hard to support and promote the AJJF and Master Okazaki’s teachings.

Recipients of the Professor Bert Aspinall, Professor Jane Carr Award

YearRecipient
2023Jason Davis
2021Dianna McKinzie
2019Lyle Najita
2018Patrick Hedgepath
2017Tim Merrill
2015Steve Balzac
2014Steve Balzac
2013Filiberto Gutierrez
2012Kevin Colton
2011Dominic Beltrami
2010Monica Villanueva
2009Katie "Murph" Stevens
2008Nerissa Freeman
2007Pete St. Pierre
2006Robert Hodgkin
2005Hillary Kaplowitz
2004Tom Ryan
2003Cynthia Frueh
2002Matt Bigham
2001Randy Schuster
2000Bob Karnes
1999Loretta Silvagni
1998Edward Shatzen
1997Betty Fisher
1996Patricia Rebmann
1995Rich and Nancy Young
1994Tanja Brekke
1993Roy Lonnberg
1992Brian Fennen
1991Jan Ball
1990Vern Brekke
1989Carl Dozier
1988Barbara Gessner