SHIHAN

Professor Tony Janovich, 8th Dan

Prof. Tony  Janovich began his Jujitsu study  under Prof. Kufferath at the age of 12. Previously he had studied under his  father, who had taught hand to hand combat in the Marine Corps. Janovich spent  many hours in training, even practicing after class and on weekends with his  teacher. In addition to his  physical training, he was also amassing a great deal of knowledge about the life and deeds of Danzanryu founder Prof. Henry S. Okazaki from Kufferath.

Under  Prof. Kufferath he was guided and instructed through Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu  including all the "Okugi" (advanced  teachings) levels and is the only person awarded a "Kaidensho" with the title of  Shihan and "Mokuroku" instructors scroll directly from Kufferath. In addition Janovich became a master of  the Okazaki system of Restoration Therapy known as Seifukujutsu under the  tutelage of Prof. Kufferath. In 1997, Janovich was awarded, 8th dan, the highest degree ever given by Kufferath,  who had also awarded him the title of Professor back in 1989.

In the  summer of 1993, both professors Kufferath and Janovich held a special class  called Kodenkan Jujitsu Okugi for  black belts from 2nd dan to 5th dan. This class was held at their dojo in Campbell, Ca. black belt instructors from across the  United States came to be a part of this historic event. This class was keeping in tradition and based partly on the class held by Okazaki in 1948 that he  called "special class". In this class, the students were taught all of the advanced techniques from Danzanryu  and were awarded a Kaidensho, or "full transmission certificate". In doing this class, Professors  Kufferath and Janovich continued a Danzanryu tradition that begun some 45 years  earlier.

A former police officer, he has taught for the Department of Defense, various police agencies and colleges. He has owned  and operated the Kodenkan Jujitsu  Restoration Therapy for 27 years. Prof.  Janovich was the most senior student and chief instructor of Prof. Kufferath  prior to Kufferath's death.

Prof. Janovich is the  treasurer of a great storehouse of knowledge on the Danzan-Ryu kata, history and  traditions, and also holds black belt ranks in Aikido and Judo, and has studied several other martial arts. He also reads, speaks and writes Japanese. He has contributed several articles on  H. S. Okazaki to Black Belt magazine. He can be contacted at: Professor@kodenkan.com

His dojo  is the Kodenkan Jujitsu School located  at: The Community Recreation Center, 969 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara, Ca. 95051,  (408) 260-0237

The Credit for the information on this page is to George E. Arrington III

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