Membership card from the Philadelphia Judo Club: my first "civilian" judo introduction. Ishikawa, Sensei was then a Hachidan (7th degree) who later was made a Kudan or 9th Degree from the Kodokan. The card is dated from 1965 and is torn at Sensei's signature, but his "chop" is still visible.
Ishikawa, Sensei (then Shichidan or 8th degree BB) with newly minted shodan Bill Dearing (1st degree BB) in Sensei's new dojo located in Virginia Beach, VA in 1980.
Membership cards from the Scranton Judo Club, Scranton Pa. Founded and/or attended by Ishikawa students. Bob Ancherani was the sensei and a good friend who was not only superb technician but an excellent role model for judo and one of the best teachers I have been around. Fred Murty (currently Rokudan 6th degree BB) received his first black belt here. Fred, Sensei is a strong competitor who reached National prominence several times and was the Pennsylvania state Judo Champion over 20 times.
Bill Dearing, Ancherani, Sensei and Pete Rusnack; Scranton Judo club promotional announcement: me to Yonkyu (again!!) and Pete to Nikyu following a Shufu promotional event.
Bill Dearing, Ancherani, Sensei and Joe Green, at the Scranton Judo Club.
Fred Murty, (Now Rokudan) and Bill Dearing: 1978 or 79.
Same time period: "strong" Randori photo: Tai-Otoshi, or body drop (a Te-Waza technique) Bill Dearing, Tori.
Washington (MO) Judo Club, founded by Bill Dearing on the campus of East Central MO College in the early eighties. The first class.
Shiai (contest) from the same period. The throw is a popular leg technique (Ashi Waza) familiar to all judokas as Uchi Mata. Bill Dearing, Tori.
Washington Judo Club: Observing randori. Notice the cocky attitude of a "new" black belt. Hands in obi—a no-no unless a Master rank.
With son, Christopher Dearing in Saint Louis, same time period.
With son, James Blackburn, 1997. James had just made Sankyu (3rd class brown belt).
With former sensei and friend, Bob Ancherani at Bob's house in Scranton, PA in 2000.
Goshin Karate & Judo Academy, Scottsdale, AZ. With friends and fellow martial artists, Cathy Anderson and Mike Anderson in 1996. Mike was one of the finest examples of how martial arts can influence positively, although he would have denied it with typical humility. He was a great karate sensei, and a good friend.
With former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Sweden's Ingmar Johansson in 1996. Interestingly, the Champ's brother was a Scandavian judo champion! Good thing he went that way as Sweden outlawed professional boxing.
Kata: The first throw of the Nage no Kata (Formula of Throws); Uke Otoshi or Floating drop (a Te Waza). Tori is Ron Crabtree, Uke is Ralph. Ron was a Godan 5th degree BB and my sensei at the time. Ralph is known at the club as an "uber" Uke... he makes any demo look great. Ron, Sensei is one of the most well versed experts in kata and contributed to my understanding and attempting to learn judo kata.
Kata: Ju-no-Kata (Formula of Gentleness). Ron, Sensei and Ralph again performing, this time with Kata Otoshi (step 5). Note Ron, Sensei has avoided Ralph's attack and is positioning a hand strike.
Kata: Katame-no-Kata (Formula of Grappling): The "fine points" of Ude Garame or Entangled Arm lock performed by Ron Crabtree as Tori and myself as Uke.
Kata: Goshin Jutsu (Modern Self Defense). Patricia Horne (then Ikkyu, now Shodan) applies Choku-zuki—a knife defense against me with obvious glee. All judoka know that smiling is not part of the kata process, nor is playing for the camera, but then Pat enjoyed a little revenge on her sensei.
With Ron, Sensei and Roger, Sensei (center). Roger, Sensei taught us Go-no-Sen or the Formula of Counter throws. This kata, while practiced for years in Europe, was seldom seen in the US and is not an "official" Kodokan kata. We were privileged to be one of the first in the Southeast to attempt it and secured our certificates at the USJA All Carolina camp in 2002. Roger, Sensei was a European champion in the sixties.
I am applying Waki Gatame or standing arm lock in a teaching session with Karate International Black Belts (Karate) around 1998.
Corporal of Marines: Circa 1960's Where Bill Dearing first was exposed to martial arts. Boot camp in those days featured judo instructors. At the time of this picture Dearing's Regimental Unarmed Fighting Instructor was Sgt. Rosenberry, USMC judo champion and BB holder in karate & kendo. Dearing served sometimes as his uke.
Kata Garuma: throw: classified as a Te Waza or hand techinique the shoulder wheel is one of the most spectacular of judo's many waza. Dearing is the tori (taker) and judoka Joe Green is the uke (receiver). 1980.
Letter from Washington, MO, 1983: His Honor, Mayor Bob Dierkes, recognizing Dearing's community service which involved a youth judo/jujitsu class at the city's recreation center.
Bill Dearing's 1st Dan or 1st degree black belt promotion certificate, from 1980. The list of approval signatures are like a "who's-who" of the times, including the bottom one, the Senator-to-be from Colorado, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, an Olympian and strong infulence on modern judo. Interestingly, judo BB promotional certificates always style the judoka as a "student" or "expert student" until the 4th degree (yodan); the first time a judoka is designated an "expert".
The "welcoming" judoka at a Halloween party in Raleigh, NC. This judoka would give Freddy of Elm St. a tough time.
With business collegue Patrick Li at the Great Wall, 1998. Patrick, like many in China was familier with and practiced a form of Tai Chi.
With tennis great, Tracy Ausin at the 1997 Lipton Classic in Key Biscayne, FL.
Jason Cryan, currently 5th dan, as a referee at NC State judo tournement, 1996. Jason is poised to call the match, when what appears to be a juji gatame or cross elbow lock is applies. Juji gatame is one of the kansetsu waza or joint locking/dislocation techniques.
Dearing on a trip to Lapland Sweden, June, 1996. In the background is Mt. Kebnakasi, the highest point in Sweden. Note the snow covered ground. Lapland is above the Artic Circle.
With His Honor, former Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, September, 2002.
North Raleigh Judo Club judokas taking care of each other in a "Massage Train".
E. C. "Bill" Dearing teaching basics of kata gatame to Junior class. Looking on is Mr. Olevesky, 9th dan Sanshinkai Jujitsu (and Dearing's Sanshinkai Sensei).
North Raleigh Judo Club Black Belts; taken at the close of the weekend judo seminar for Karate Black Belts in June of 2004. Left on first row: Bill Dearing (Seminar Instructor; 4th Dan Judo), next to him, Rob Olevsky, 3rd Dan Judo, the Club Sensei and an owner of Karate International of Raleigh, NC.
Dearing applyies a standing Waki Gatame
Beginning of a judo club. A back yard and some students. Dearing, sensei working with new student, Bill G. Billy also had ranking in the USMC Unarmed Combat system.