In Memoriam – Additional Honored Ohana
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.
Additional Honored Ohana
John Gussman Passes
John Gussman Coach John Gussman began the study of Kodokan judo in 1962 with Frank Hubbard Sensei in Dearborn, MI. He competed on a national level until 1978. Since that time, he has coached and trained judo competitors on the national and...
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Memorial in Honor of Sensei Jess Green – by Sensei Conor Witham
The AJJF lost one of their most beloved yudanshas this year. Most of you know him because he was a 50 Year Club inductee at the last convention and was always teaching the AJJF youth at camps and conventions. I’m talking about my Sensei, Jess...
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A Tribute to Skip Maxfield
A Tribute to Skip Maxfield By Sean Hummer The AJJF has lost one of our Ohana, Sensei Skip Maxfield of the Nibukikan dojo in Chico, CA. He left us Saturday, May 1st at approximately 2pm. To those of you who never had the good fortune to meet him...
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The Passing of Professor Jerome (Jerry) Kunzman Sr. – by Jerry and Jerold Kunzman
It’s with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Professor Jerome (Jerry) Kunzman Sr. on the morning of Oct 12, 2018 from a ruptured aorta. The ER team at the hospital was extraordinary. We are so grateful, they put in a 110% effort to...
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Professor Lee Eichlberger Passes
The AJJF joins the rest of the Danzan Ryu community in mourning the passing of Professor Lee Eichlberger. Prof. Eichlberger began his study of DZR in 1966 with Professor Wally Jay and was very well known in the Martial Arts community at large....
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Dr. Bill Gessner, In Memoriam – By his Wife, Barb Gessner
Bill Gessner, 92, died unexpectedly yet peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning, January 27, 2018. He was the loving and devoted husband of Barbara Gessner for over 34 years. Bill was born on September 1, 1925 in Norristown, Pennsylvania and...
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Professor Sam C. Luke passes
Professor Sam C. Luke passes away 5-23-2017 Professor Sam C. Luke started practicing Jujitsu at the age of 10. He was a reluctant student because he wanted to play with his friends not attend jujitsu class. Sam S. Luke was his sensei, and Dad made...
read moreRemembering Betty Fisher by Delina Fuchs
“Charlotte Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Fisher, wife of past AJJF Senior Professor Lamar Fisher, was buried in Chico, CA along side her beloved. I, of course, knew her because she was a loyal and active supporter of both her husband and the AJJF. But I met...
read moreRemembering Jose Bueno
Remembering Jose Bueno Stephen Balzac It was, I think, 1998. I had hauled a pile of fencing equipment up to Camp North in Ft. Jones, Calif., and was teaching an intro fencing class. Someone ran up to me and told me that there was a person I needed...
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