Prof. Kufferath was a master of Jujitsu. He begain his studies of Jujitsu under Professor Okazaki in 1937. He earned his Black Belt in 1941, an became an instructor in 1942. Under Okazaki he studied the Kata arts of Danzan Ryu, and he guaduated Okazaki's Nikko Restoration Sanatorium Seifuku Jitsu (japanese physical therapy) course in 1943. It was customary for a Jujitsu instructor to be well trained in the healing art's to. Prof. Kufferath would often accompany Okazaki on house calls to help treat patients.
In 1944, Prof. Kufferath was inducted into the U.S. Army. After completing basic, he was assigned to the Special Services and taught hand to hand combat. This assignment came after he defeated the lead hand to hand combat instructor, when confronting him in a training exercise. Prof. Kufferath was honorably discharged in 1946. He resumed teaching at his Kaheka Lane School.
Professor Okazaki appointed Prof. Kufferath Chief instructor of his main Dojo,the Kodenkan, in 1949. In 1948 he was given the title of Shihan (master) by Prof. Okazaki, a certificate called "Kaidensho", or full Transmission and Mastery. After Prof. Okazaki's death in 1951, Prof. Kufferath was formally elected by the board of Directors of the AJI to suceed Prof. Okazaki as head of the Danzan Ryu system, in addition to Jujitsu, Prof. Kufferath studied Judo, Aikido, and Kempo. In 1957 Prof. Kufferath moved to California, to continue teaching the Okazaki arts untill his passing on May 7 1999.
He will be missed by all his Students and Friends, We will always remember him as a Great Professor.
He served as Instructor to the 82nd Airborne, 1st Special Forces Group, 5th Special Forces Group, West Point Military Academy Cadet Judo Team, U.S. Special Warfare School and the Assitant Cammander of the New York Military Academy. He served in the military for 27 years, including seven tours of Vietnam as a Green Beret in the Special Forces Unit, had 3,000 combat parachute jumps, receved 28 Military Citations and retired as an Officer in the U.S. Army.
During his early years, Ancho appeared in the movies: The Naked and the Dead, Beach Head, Get-Set-Go, and tv appearances, with Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen and Jack Parr Shows. In those shows he demonstrated his three finger poke. In that he penetrated a 6 inch by 12 inch solid white pine block of wood, with a three finger thrust.
After his military career, Prof. Ancho remained active and colorful. He regularly visited martial art schools throughout the country, to encourage young instructors. Although not considering himself an intellectual, Ancho's achievements have proven him to be a thinking man. He held senior ranks in Kodokan Judo (awarded at the Kodokan in Japan); Kempo Karate And Kodenkan Jujitsu. He held the title of Professor in Kodenkan Jujitsu and Kodokan Judo. He was a Preceding elder of Danzan Ryu. He continued teaching Martial Arts and Writing poetry until his passing on Jan. 27 2003.
We will miss and never forget Prof. Ramon Lano Ancho Jr.
He became a student of the late Prof. Ancho in 1975, till his passing in 2003. Douglas was awarded the title of "Professor" by Prof. Ancho and the KDRJA board in 1996. He holds the rank of Shichidan (7th). He graduated the Okazaki Long Life Restoration Massage Therapy course in 1986 and Seifukujitsu course in 1990, and graduated Okugi in 2003.
Douglas is the founder of the KDRJA, an it's current President. He advanced his Oriental medical education with the Eastern Oriental Med. School.he is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine(OMD) (MD:MA) He is a Diplomate for the National Commission for the Certification for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). He is national board certified and registered with the Pennsylvania State Board. He practices Chinese Medicine in Carlisle,Pa. and teaches the Okazaki arts.