I feel I must clarify something here.Originally posted by john denora
I am a full life Professor of the American Judo and JuJisu Fedearation (AJJF) for many years. We have in the past been awarded the AJJF's largest dojo award and also the Tomdachi award.
Mr. Denora is not, and has never been, a Professor of the AJJF.
That rank is only awarded after many years of dedication to Danzan Ryu. Mr. Denora has never studied DZR to any appreciable extent, although he has sometimes attended or participated in events where DZR instructors taught or demonstrated the art.
Some years ago, the AJJF instituted an "outreach" program in an attempt to propagate DZR by recruiting isolated or unaffiliated dojo and offering them group insurance and an opportunity to study DZR under traveling clinicians (usually AJJF Professors). The program seems to have been quite successful, and has attracted a number of schools in Europe, South & Central America, and the Middle-East who now practice DZR. These groups are called Allied Schools, and their pre-existing ranks are registered initially with the AJJF as Allied Ranks (assuming they present acceptable documentation). As their DZR instruction progresses, they are eligible to test for regular AJJF rank if they choose.
An Allied Rank certificate cites the name of the organization that granted the rank--it does not suggest that the pre-existing rank was in any way awarded by the AJJF.
Some years ago, Mr. Denora's club joined the AJJF as an Allied School. He has so far not pursued the opportunity to study Danzan Ryu, and his participation in the AJJF has mainly been limited to occasional attendance at seminars and conventions. He was also kind enough to allow Professor Hudson the use of his school facilities for the AJJF Massage Program at one time.
I've never heard of the "Tomodachi Award" in the AJJF, but I've only been a member for a couple of decades.