In Memoriam

The American Judo and Jujitsu Federation remembers and honors its ohana who have passed.

Read more about their lives and contributions
Danzan Ryu Founder
AJJF Founders
AJJF Professors
Additional Honored Ohana

Have an update, additional information or new entry? Contact us at gro.fjja@ohceiaik.

Danzan Ryu Founder

Professor Henry Seishiro Okazaki

Henry S. Okazaki was born in Japan on January 28, 1890. He moved to Hawaii as a teenager and, at the age of 16, learned he had tuberculosis. Through hard training in the martial arts, Okazaki recovered completely and vowed to dedicate his life to propagating Jujitsu and Judo. During the years 1927-28 Okazaki developed a complete, integrated martial arts system: Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.

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AJJF Founders

Professor John Cahill

Born just after the turn of the twentieth century in Hawaii, John K. Cahill was active in sports at a very early age. Around 1934, when he was 27 years old, John joined Master Okazaki’s classes at the Kodenkan in Honolulu, Hawaii. Read more

Professor Francis Merlin “Bud” Estes

This article is entitled “Uncle Bud,” and not “Professor Estes” as he was known to anyone reading this, because I am his nephew, Burl Estes, and that is how I knew him. Tenth Degree Black Belt Francis Merlin Estes was, and always will be, simply Uncle Bud to me. Read more

Professor Ray L. Law

Ray and Marie Law touched the hearts and minds of many thousands of people in the 30 years they actively taught Kodenkan Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in Oakland, California. Read more

Professor Richard Rickerts

Richard (Dick) Peter Rickerts was born in Petaluma, California, on July 18, 1906.  He joined the Coast Guard and was stationed in Hawaii where, in 1929, he met and began to study with Master Okazaki. Read more

AJJF Professors

The four most recent memorials are show below. Link here to view all memorials for AJJF Professors.

Additional Honored Ohana

The four most recent memorials are show below. Link here to view all memorials for additional honored ohana.