Professor Bert Aspinall

AJJF Professor 1967
August 2, 1914 – April 11, 1994

Born on August 2, 1914, in Iowa, Bert moved to Alameda, California where he studied judo and then joined Laws’ American Judo & Jujitsu School in 1956.  Studying four to five nights a week, he obtained his Shodan in 1958, and Nidan the following year.

During this time, he taught classes at Laws’ school.  Promoted to Sandan in 1962, the next year he and James Birmingham opened Christian Judo Association in Oakland.

In 1964, Bert was promoted to AJJF Yodan and IJJL Yodan.  He was title Professor and received his AJJF Godan and IJJL Godan in 1967.  In 1968, he received the Vice-President’s Key Man Award.  Bert was promoted to Shichidan in 1972.

Professor Aspinall compiled a long service record with the AJJF, serving on the National Board of Examiners, Perpetuation Committee and Board of Professors.

He retired from teaching at the Christian Judo Association in the mid 1970’s.

Reprinted from Danzan Ryu:  An Unbroken Tradition (1992) by permission of the author, Mary L. Boland.