Newsletter - March 2003

Join with us this month and the months that follow as we begin to celebrate 30 years! 

It is exciting to have had the privilege, to have been able to instruct Martial Arts in the Tri Valley since March 22nd, 1973. It all began when Prof. Rebmann and I walked into the multi purpose room at East Avenue School, laid down their fold up mats and excitedly waited to instruct our first group of junior and senior students.  

After a few months of instructing classes, there was an article introducing the program and Prof. Rebmann in the Herald. Shortly after the article was published Prof. Rebmann was at Granada High School, in Livermore, when up walked a very, well for lack of a better word, arrogant young man. This young man had read the article, that had been published and he had a few questions to ask Prof. Rebmann in regards to the article. During their conversation he advised Prof. Rebmann that he had trained in several martial arts, and had competed in judo. At our next class in he walked, and came onto our mat to train at the age of 17 under Prof. Rebmann. I’m not sure he ever missed a class, demonstration, tournament or convention. He trained hard, he became a life long friend and our first Black Belt in March of 1976, we went on to get his Nidan 2^nd Black in 1978, and his name is Marc Lakner.   

Many of the goals we had then, we have not lost sight of today. We wanted a Martial Arts Studio that always valued each and every student for their individuality, we wanted a Studio that offered only the highest level of Nationally ranked instruction, one that would eventually be home to State, National, International Champions, we wanted to be in the position where no student would be turned away because of a financial hardship, we wanted to offer Martial Arts instruction in an environment where one day  we would welcome our own children, we wanted to be an integral part of our Community, but above all we wanted to always strive to be better then we were yesterday.

We thank the following students and their families for their dedication and long term commitment to the Amador Judo & Jujitsu Studio:

3+ years

5 + years

7+ years

8+ years

10+ years

20+ years

25+ years

Jim NiCastro

Our 30^th year Celebration is planned on May 31^st, 2003 at the Veterans Hall in Livermore.  Please plan on joining us and the instructors of the Amador Judo & Jujitsu Studio!

T-Shirts, thanks to Heidi Novell, we now have an order form. All T-Shirts, Sweatshirts will be paid for in advance. If you would like to order an Amador T-Shirt/Sweatshirt/Tank Top now is the time, as we will be turning in the order shortly.

All Kata teams need to begin practicing for our travel tournament April 27^th, in Santa Clarita, please make sure you have scheduled a practiced during the week or on Saturday.

We will post open mat practices on Sunday.

We will be hosting a Kata Tournament in June, at Cal High San Ramon.  A sign up sheet will be posted shortly.

Upcoming events:

April 27^th, 2003 – Jujitsu Kata Tournament – Santa Clarita

May 3^rd, 4^th, 2003 – Honey and Wine Festival, Livermore

June 8^th, 2003 – Kata Tournament, San Ramon

June 14^th, 2003 – Rodeo Parade

August 29^th, 30^th, 31^st – Ohana, Foster City

Patricia Rebmann