Newsletter - Summer 2002

Amador Judo & Jujitsu Studio celebrates 29 years….

We would like to begin by thanking you for your support of our highly unique Martial Arts Program. Honestly it is hard to believe that it has been slightly over 29 years since we humbly began instructing classes. Back in March of 1973 both Prof. Rebmann and I never thought the journey would be so rewarding, difficult, heart filled or such a learning experience for both of us.

I’m not sure what we expected that evening at East Avenue School when the two of us walked out onto the mat, to instruct classes for the Tri Valley YMCA. I’m unclear now too, what moments stand out above the rest but here are just a few glimpses, of full and rich memories, while we journeyed on the road, we have been traveling these past 29 years.

• 1983 our new location and on our own.

• Natalie Laursen, receiving from Prof. Ozakaki’s daughter, Imi Mullins a scholarship award, Ohana 1998. 

• Collin Morrison walking into our Studio and letting us share in, what would be the last years of his life. 

• 1986 Ryan winning 1^st place at his first Judo Tournament. 

• Finding solace with Karen Bauman and Dee Craig that night in 1979, after I have learned my father had died. 

• Pink booties for our firstborn Ashley and then 5 years later a pink belt. 

• Prof. Rebmann receiving the title of Professor in Jujitsu in 1978. 

• In 1976 our first student ever to be promoted to Black Belt Marc Lakner. 

• Ryan running in Oakland from mat to mat as he coached his students at his first judo tournament as a coach. Then watching him 6 years, later, 2001 with his first triple crown judo player Meagan Higgins, in Ohio.

• Our first group travel to Redding in a 1972 Chevrolet Vega with 3 teenage students in the back seat. Then full circle as we gathered in February 2001 as a group with Prof. Rebmann at the gravesite of Prof. Ozakaki, the founder of DanZanRyu Jujitsu, in Hawaii. 

• Tommy Olsen on our mat just out of diapers at age 3, under the instruction of Ashley.

• And it would be really difficult to leave off Hutch, he was a dad who had a vision for his son that nightly brought Danny to class from San Leandro.

Our students and families have truly celebrated with us over our successes, they have helped to pick us up when we have fallen. We have found that we have laughed, cried, over both our joys and sorrows. We have celebrated, the essence of our lives with you.  We have traveled with you and even rode lazily down the Ohio River. We have reached out to you over these past years and we thank you for 29 heartfelt and memorable years.

This August the Amador Judo Team, under the instruction of Ryan Rebmann, will "take it to the next level" and will have the following competitors Nate, Natalie and Joshua Laursen, Meagan Higgins, and Larisa and Grayson Lindstrom competing, in Florida on an International Judo Competition Level. They are training very hard and we wish them the Best of Luck!

The next Studio travel will be August 31^st, September 1^st. We will be supporting the Shoshin Ryu Annual Convention. Clinics are set for all day Saturday and a Jujitsu Kata Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, with a banquet dinner Sunday night for those wanting to attend. We are thinking that a group day at California Adventure would be FUN; Screamer is a ride that is a little difficult to pass up….

Patricia Rebmann