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Sensei Jeffrey Balzer, Sandan USJA, Nidan
KDK
Sensei Jeff started his pursuit of Judo in 1968 under
Sensei Hank Kraft, at the Queens & Island Judo center. He progressed
to Blue belt in 1973. Under Sensei John Brisbois he achieved Purple
belt in April of 1973 at the Smithtown YMCA Judo Club. He continued
his Judo path at Waseda Judo club with Yamashita Sensei from 1975 to
1980 receiving his Shodan in August of 1980.
A keen and very active Judo competitor he played in many local &
regional Shia’s, YMCA, Promotional, Yoshida Cup and the Junior
Olympics. Playing with many great local and national Judo talents.
As many of us Judoka, Sensei Jeff continued his Judo while in
College, at George Washington University while achieving degrees in
Electrical, BS and Nuclear engineering, MS. During this time he
taught Judo at the Georgetown Boys Club in Washington, DC.
During the time from 1980-2000 he played when time did permit. He
was working in the nuclear field and left in 1985 to work in and now
currently the owner of a family business, Woods Lock and Door, Inc.
in Valley Stream. He married his wife Wendy in 1987 and started a
family in 1988. They have two children Morgan now a Cardiac Nurse
in Memphis, Tennessee and Tyler is a student at Farmingdale State
College graduating in Business Management in December 2011.
Judo again finds a place in his life in July of 2001, when he is
“put under the ether “ by Sensei Clifford Wolff at the Boy Scout
Explorer/Venture Crew 1882 BSA Judo-Kai, in Bay Shore, NY. His
teaching responsibilities were that of Kata Coordinator, Tournament
preparation and special training techniques for adults, boys and
girls of the club.
During this time his wife Wendy came to see what this Judo “stuff”
was all about. There were some young girls whom returned home from
their college education and came back to again play judo. Well,
watching her first randori she got to see the both of them taken
away in ambulances that night. Sensei Jeff calmly told her that does
not happen every night. They were fine without any real injuries
except to their Gi pants being cut off and their pride.
Sensei Jeff achieved a long over do promotion in November of 2001 to
Nidan.
Currently a co founder and Senior Sensei of Judo Dojo Yukidaruma, at
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sayville, NY. He is responsible for
many aspects of teaching and promoting the great sport of Judo to a
new cadre of judoka. He has completed child protection training,
background screening, CPR & First Aid training.
He enjoys more frequent travel with Wendy now that the children are
older and enjoys exercising on a regular basis.
If you would like to contact Sensei Jeff he can be reached at (631)
804-7828 or
WoodsLockAndDoor@aol.com |
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Sensei Joe Schneemann, Sandan USJA, Nidan KDK
Sensei Joe found his way to Judo in 1968 under Sensei Laurence
Rotkin at the East Jr. High School Judo club in Brentwood, NY. He
found a long-term love for the sport. He played off and on through
out Jr. & Sr. high school at several local Shia’s in Suffolk and
Nassau. A favorite time was the workouts on the beach at Robert
Moses state park. In 1973 Sensei Joe started college at the
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he played on the
University Judo team, under Sensei Betty West. He competed very
often in the Dixie states Judo conference. Throughout the southern
states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and Louisiana he
attended many weekly and monthly college judo tournaments. His best
competition record was to receive a bye, a competitor he was not. He
was promoted to Orange belt in 1973. He left Alabama and in 1974
married his Junior & High school sweetheart Kathy and lived in
Islip, NY. As with many Judo players time came and went, children,
college, and jobs. He worked a local hospital and was able to help
Kathy become a nurse and she allowed him to pursue a career in
orthotics & prosthetics. Their children both live locally Brian a
banking /IT person, and Erin a paralegal, Admin asst. Sensei Joe was
very active in Islip little league Baseball& softball, Boy Scouts,
Brownies, Church youth group and local business service clubs.
Scouting is where he met Sensei Clifford Wolff. Throughout the many
years of scouting there would always be talk of an old love Judo. In
1995 as Brian was finishing up his requirements for Scouts Eagle
award Sensei Wolff “put him under the ether” and began to start a
Boy Scout Judo club. In 1996 Sensei Wolff and Sensei Joe co founded
with Sensei Walter Ing as the advisor, Post/Crew 1882 BSA Judo-Kai.
This was an Explorer group for boys and girls. Both Brian and Erin
found they too liked the Gentle Way and both progressed to Brown
belts. Through the years Sensei Joe practiced and was promoted to
Nidan in August 2003. He found that he was a much better instructor
than a competitor. Highlights included a club with members of almost
30 students, club participation in many local tournaments,
demonstrations and self-defense classes for local groups. The club
was active in relief for the first responders for ground zero in
2001. Sensei Joe even got to visit the National USJA training
headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. During his time with the Post,
Sensei Joe also helped Sensei Wolff write his book “Sensei Sez”. The
comedian Louis Black stated “ writing a book is like Sunday night in
school and knowing the big report is due in the morning and it’s not
finished yet, EVERY DAY” Again work and personal responsibility took
control and Judo again was put back on hold and Sensei Joe left the
Boy Scout Club. In 2009 he found his way back to the mat as a guest
instructor at Arigatai Dojo in Manorville, NY a PAL Judo club.
Sensei Joe has been certified by the USJA as a Coach and a Naga no
Kata instructor, AAU coach certification, CPR, First aid. Youth
protection by the BSA, and YMCA holds background clearances. In 2010
after discussions with Pastor Brian Noack of St. John’s Lutheran
Church in Sayville, NY and a summer judo club was started at the
Church in June of 2011. Judo Dojo Yukidaruma was expanded to a
weekly outreach for the Church in September 2011. With co founders
Sensei’s Jeff Balzer and Kurt Walz and Sempai Erin Schneemann, our
new club is bringing Judo to young and old alike. Contact Sensei Joe
on his cell 631-579-0391 or Email at
senseiyukidaruma@hotmail.com.
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Sensei Kurt Walz, Sandan USJA, Shodan KDK
Sensei’s Bill Fortunado and Walter Ing first introduced sensei Kurt
to Judo in 1969 at South Shore Judo Club in West Islip, NY. As a
junior judoka he studied and he progressed through the ranks and was
awarded Blue belt in 1977. During this time he was active in many
local and state competitions. High school, College and career paths
took Sensei Kurt away from the mat. He went to Suffolk Community,
and St. Joseph’s College and earned a degree in Business
Administration. He has been at Motorola technologies in Holtsville,
NY, since 1994 and enjoys a very challenging position planning
materials needed for worldwide repair operations in his position as
a Sr. material Planner & customer service logistics analyst. In 1997
Sensei Kurt found his way back to Judo when a good friend, and
fellow judoka suggested he check out a Boy Scout Judo club in Bay
Shore, NY under the direction of Sensei’s Walter Ing and Clifford
Wolff. He was back in the Judo fold and studied and assisted
teaching both young and old alike. In June of 1999 he was promoted
to Sankyu, a Brown belt, and became Post/Crew 1882 BSA Judo-Kai’s
second Sempai. Here was a position he excelled in and was happy to
share what ever he could. Thru diligence and hard work Sensei Kurt
was awarded Shodan in June of 2002. He was indeed reluctant to join
the Yudansha ranks…but with a little cajoling and outright threats
he became Sensei Kurt! Continued studies and receiving training as a
Nage-no-Kata instructor, and attended Regional referee seminars,
youth protection and is background cleared, he was also active in
many demonstrations and self-defense classes to the local community
and aided 9/11 first responders in 2001. In August of 2007 he was
again recognized for his Judo skills and awarded Nidan. In 2007 he
co founded with Sensei Doc Watson, Arigatai Dojo in Manorville, NY a
PAL Judo club, where he is currently the lead instructor. In April
of 2011 a personal milestone year for Sensei Kurt, he was re
recognized by the USJA with a “Lifetime Achievement Award”. Always
looking for more time on the mat Sensei Kurt joined as a co founder
with Sensei’s Jeff Balzer and Joe Schneemann Judo Dojo Yukidaruma in
June of 2011 for a summer judo class. A community program offered at
St. John’s Lutheran Church Sayville, NY. With Sensei Kurt’s
assistance the club now has a yearlong venue. “Judo has been a
welcome part of my life, and lessons learned on the mat have helped
through personal, and professional life. I hope in some small way to
pass on the art, and help to keep Judo alive.” Two Yellow Labradors
keep Kurt busy, as well as motorcycling, racquetball, and scuba
diving. If you would like to contact Sensei Kurt he can be reached
on his cell 631-456-1735, or Email at
sempai61@aol.com.
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