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Gerald Lafon
Director of Coaching, 6th Dan, USJA Master Coach
He was born in New York City in 1951. In 1961, his family moved from Secaucus, New Jersey to Paris, France. Since his father Pierre had been a judoplayer in the 1940s in France and England, he too got the “Judo bug” and started his training in 1965 under Jacques Bardel, 2nd dan. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1969, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1970-71, spending one tour of duty in Vietnam as a field radio operator. In 1972, he continued his Judo training under Benso Tsuji, 6th dan and became the head instructor of San Diego More... |
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Bernie Semel
Assistant Coach, 6th Dan, USA Judo Master Teacher Class A
He was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1950. After five years of participating in various sports at the local YMCA, his father encouraged him to take up Judo, which he did in 1963 when he joined the Tidewater Judo Club. Under the initial instruction of Y. Jack Palmer, a 3rd class brown belt, he got a solid and well-rounded education in the basics of Judo. In addition, he learned about Seriyoku Zenyo (Maximum efficiency with minimum effort) and Jita Kyoei (Mutual benefit, mutual welfare), which taught him to give back to Judo, which he has done for over 40 years. He earned his senior brown belt on his sixteenth birthday. He served as an assistant instructor in the senior class for many years. More... |
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Dean Tateyama
Assistant coach, 1st Dan, USJA Level I Certified Coach
He was born an “Army brat” in Naha City, Okinawa in 1963. He started Judo at age seven at Camp Kue Judo Club in Okinawa, Japan under sensei Tsuruo Fukushima, 6th Dan. He continued his training with the Ginowan Police Judo Club and earned his black belt at seventeen. He also wrestled for eight years, first as a 4-year varsity wrestler for the Kubasaki High School (Department of Defense Dependants School), and then as a member of the University of Southern California (USC) Wrestling Team. He has been an assistant coach for the kids class since 2004. His son Aric is one of Judo America's top young competitors. |
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Fereydoun “Fred” Horeh
Assistant coach, 1st Dan, USJA Level I certified coach
He was born in Tehran, Iran in 1968. He started wrestling at age seven under his father's tutelage, then studied Judo at fourteen at the Esteghlal Shargh Judo Club in Tehran, under A. Shamloo, 4th Dan. He was an assistant coach at the club from 1988-94. He received his black belt in San Diego from Jesse Jones, 8th Dan, in 2002. He has been an assistant coach for the kids class since 2005, shortly after his son Amin and his daughter Ida joined our program |
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Jerry Wright
Assistant Coach, 1st Kyu, USJA Level 1 Certified Coach
He was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1964. He started Judo in 1991 at the North Orange County Budokai. In 1997, he was promoted to 1st degree brown belt by Jerry Warren, 5th Dan. He served as the assistant Judo and Jujutsu instructor from 1993 until 1997. He has received personal instruction from Judo legends Phil Porter, 10th Dan and "Judo" Gene Lebell, 8th Dan. Besides Judo, he has also studied Tenjin Shin'yo-Ryu Jujutsu, earning in 1996 a 3rd degree brown belt from Joe DeStefano, 5th Dan. From 1997 to 1999, he also studied Brazilian Jiujutsu, Vale Tudo and Yoseikan Aiki-Jutsu under Norm Belsterling, 6th Dan. He has been an assistant instructor for the kids class since 2004 when he joined Judo America. His sons, John and Ben, are also members. |
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