Past AJJF Professors

Professor Rory Rebmann, began studying Judo & JuJitsu in 1959 at the age of 11 under Prof. Ray Law in Oakland, CA. He remained a student until Prof. Marie Law closed the dojo at the end of 1969 following Prof. Ray Law’s passing earlier that year. He was promoted to Shodan in 1964, and received his title of Professor in 1978. He ran a few dojos with fellow Profs. Congistre, Aspinal, and Birmingham. In 1973 he and his wife Patricia moved to Livermore, CA and started classes with the YMCA. Prof. Rebmann promoted his first student to black belt in 1976. Amador Judo and JuJitsu Studio was expanded in 1983 to its own location and has grown to be known as one of the premier Judo & JuJitsu studios in the country. Amador has promoted over 80 students to blackbelt in jujitsu, and 18 in Kodokan Judo. The dojo has garnered many awards and National titles, producing 18 Team National Kata Awards and over 200 National Kata Champions. In Judo the dojo has won 3 National Team Titles, 9 straight State Judo Team titles, and has produced over 100 different State and National medalists including sending Players to represent the US in international competition. Prof. Rebmann currently holds the rank of Hachidan in the AJJF, Judan in Shoshin Ryu and is a Rokudan in Kodokan Judo. He has served the AJJF in a number of ways: he is a retired member of the BOP, he is a past executive director, was the AJJF President from 1984-1990, and then was the VP from 1990 – 2001. He and his dojo have hosted the National convention several times: in 1971, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1998, and 2011. In 2010 he was inducted into the Danzan Ry JuJitsu Hall of Fame. He also was awarded the 2001 Shoshin Ryu Instructor of the Year award, and in 2000 he received the Kodenkan Heritage Award. You can find Prof. Rebmann teaching at his dojo 6 days a week. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his granddaughter Alexa and his family.

Professor Gene Edwards was born in Chico, California on January 24, 1943.  Gene began training in jujitsu while in high school at Orland Judo & Jujitsu Academy with (Prof.) Musselman.  He was promoted to Shodan in 1959 and became a co-school head at Orland in 1960. By 1963, Gene moved to Chico and commuted to teach his classes at Orland.  He also began teaching with (Prof.) Ball at Chico State College.  In 1964, he became sole school head of Orland and taught there until he went to the Navy in 1968. Stationed in the Philippine Islands, he established the Okazaki Do of the Philippines at Columban College in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines.  There were no mats, but about 12 hardy students worked out on hardwood floors.  He taught there until he left in late 1969. Returning to California, he started the Calistoga Institute in 1970.  Classes were held at a high school, and he also taught at classes sponsored by Napa College and the local parks and recreation department.  Gene moved to Middletown in 1984 and soon turned these classes over to a student.  By 1985, Gene started Shin Mei Kan club. Gene has studied judo, various styles of karate and tai-chi and teaches kempo-jutsu and tai-chi to his jujitsu students.  He has sponsored national and regional AAU tournaments. Professor Edwards was promoted to Godan in 1976 by the AJJF and later to Rokudan in 1988.  Professor Edwards retired from the AJJF in the late 1980’s and moved to Montana where he established the Christian Jujitsu Association on May 5, 1994.  

Reprinted from Danzan Ryu:  An Unbroken Tradition (1992) by permission of the author, Mary L. Boland. Additional information provided by Bob McKean, July 8, 2008.

Betty J. Maillette began her jujitsu training at Professor Laws’ American Judo & Jujitsu School in Oakland, California around 1958.  Receiving her Shodan in 1962, she was referred by Professor Ray Law to teach a class in women’s self defense at the Oakland YWCA.  These classes soon became the focus of her teaching. In 1964, she was promoted to Nidan and by 1965 received her Sandan and started the Oakland YWCA Judo Club, where she taught for several years.  In 1968, she was promoted to Yodan.  She received the title of Professor and Godan rank in February of 1972. A talent for photography led Betty to hold the post of AJJF photographer for many years.  She was active in the Federation’s fund raising programs and has held regional and national posts including Vice-President and President of the Federation.  She was also instrumental in the production of the National Kata Operations Manual, and has served on the Board of Professors. In 1972, Betty began organizing a school specializing in classes of self defense for women.  She named this school The Dojo and operated it from 1972 through 1982 when she retired. Currently ranked Rokudan (1980), Professor Maillette lives in Oakland, California.

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

Professor Chuck Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 22, 1930.  In his early twenties, Chuck was introduced to jujitsu by his supervisor and close friend, (Prof.) Carl Nelson.  He soon joined the class and began learning jujitsu. By 1959, he began teaching at the San Lorenzo Boys Club.  In 1961, he taught at Sukoshi Dojo, a judo school.  Chuck was very interested in judo, and competed for several years.  He also studied techniques of karate and aikido. In 1965, he moved to Chico, California, and taught classes at Paradise Judo Club for the next three years.  He helped to start the judo and jujitsu program in the physical education department at Chico State in 1968, and taught classes there until he moved four years later. In 1972, Chuck moved to Redding. Not long after he moved, he was involved in a serious auto accident which nearly claimed his life.  Hospitalized for over a year, he spent three years recovering from the effects of the accident.  He credits his miraculous recovery to this martial arts training. Chuck was active in the AJJF for more than twenty years.  He held a number of national and regional offices during those years. His AJJF jujitsu ranks include:  Shodan (1959), Nidan (1960), Sandan (1961), Yodan (1963) Godan and title of Professor (1965) and Rokudan (1976). Now retired from the AJJF, Professor Smith lives in northern California.

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

Jim began studying jujitsu with Prof. Estes in December, 1948.  He progressed though the kyu ranks and soon began teaching classes of his own. He has stated many schools in California.  Seeking a job in broadcasting, he moved to Hollywood, where he started the Hollywood YMCA Judo & Jujitsu Club.  Soon, he started the Oroville Judo & Jujitsu Club.  The job of police officer led to his move to Orland where he started Orland Judo & Jujitsu Club. When he moved to Eureka, he started the Eureka Judo & Jujitsu Club, then it was on to Las Vegas to work in television.  There he started the Las Vegas YMCA Judo & Jujitsu Club.  He also established the Sparks Judo & Jujitsu Club in Reno, Nevada. An employment move led him to start the Kodenkan Institute in Sacramento.  Later, he moved to San Francisco and began teaching at Kodenkan Judo & Jujitsu Group of San Francisco, Inc., at San Carlos, where he currently teaches. Jim has been a motion picture operator and a newspaper photographer.  He has also attended the Don Martin School of Broadcasting.  He has been a radio and television announcer, and has held such jobs in media as cinema photographer, audio engineer and video cameraman. His AJJF jujitsu ranks include:  Shodan (1952), Nidan (1954), Sandan (1956), Godan and title of Professor (1960) and Rokudan (1988). Professor Musselman retired from the AJJF in 2007.

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

Professor LaGue was born in Reno, NV on June 12, 1941.  He began his martial arts training under the direction of his father in 1950, who taught him boxing and later jujitsu.  He also studied aikido under Bill Cox, judo under Mack McIntosh as well as Savate. Herb began to study and teach Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in 1968 at the Sparks Judo & Jujitsu Club, which was under the direction of Larry Cary.  He also trained under French judo teacher Pierre LaCarre at the Sparks club. In 1970, under Professor Bud Estes, Herb was promoted to the AJJF rank of Shodan.  In the early 1980’s Herb became sensei of the Sparks club and changed the dojo’s name to the Bushidokan.  In 1995 he was promoted to the title of Professor by the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation. Professor LaGue retired the AJJF in 2006.  He is still actively teaching Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and is the founder of the Bushidokan Federation and the Danzan Ryu Zenyo Bujitsu.

Information provided by Bob McKean, July 8, 2008.

Although he studied both judo and jujitsu, Mickey Davenport focused his training on the sport of judo. Throughout the fifties, Mickey studied and competed in judo in Sacramento, California.  He was very active in the predecessor to the AJJF, the Northern California Judo Federation, and worked hard to perpetuate the sport of judo throughout the Sacramento area. He was responsible for organizing numerous tournaments, and held various conventions and clinics both for the Northern California Judo Federation and later for the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation.  He was a very successful coach, and his junior judo teams won many trophies in competition throughout his teaching career. Mickey was very active in the newly formed American Judo & Jujitsu Federation during its formative years.  He sponsored clinics and was involved in the early conventions in the Sacramento area.  He was promoted to Godan and made Professor in 1966. Professor Davenport left the AJJF in 1969.

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

Bud Fuller began his jujitsu training with Professor Estes at Chico Judo & Jujitsu Academy in the middle 1950’s.  One of his principal teachers was Professor Fisher who taught at Chico for over two decades.  Bud studied at Chico for several years, moving his studies to Orland Judo & Jujitsu Club under professor Mussleman for a period of time. Involved in both judo and jujitsu, Bud was instrumental in drafting the agreement between the AJJF and the United States Judo Association delineating ranking requirements and rank-recognition requisites between the two organizations.  Bud was also active in the AJJF for many years, holding various positions including Vice-President of the Federation. He was promoted to Godan and made Professor in 1967.  In 1969, together with Professor Kitty Smith, Bud founded the Nibukikan where he taught both judo and jujitsu until 1972. In 1972, Professor Fuller moved to Oregon and retired from teaching martial arts.

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

Gretchen “Kitty” Schultz Smith began her jujitsu training in the mid 1950’s with Professor Carl Nelson.  It was there that she met (Prof.) Chuck Smith; they were married in 1958.  When Chuck began teaching at San Lorenzo Boys Club, she moved her training there, and studied with him over the next several years. In 1961, she took over classes at San Lorenzo and taught there until they moved to Chico in 1965.  From 1965 – 69, Kitty studied with Professor Estes at Chico Judo & Jujitsu Academy.  In 1969, Kitty, together with Bud Fuller founded the Nibukikan and taught there until after her divorce from Chuck Smith in 1971. In 1967, Kitty was promoted to Godan and made a Professor.  From 1960 – 72, Kitty was very active in the AJJF, holding various offices from Vice-President to Director of Central Office.  In addition to teaching jujitsu, her junior judo classes were very successful in competition. Professor (Smith) Schultz became inactive in the AJJF in 1972.  She is currently retired from teaching.

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