Terry Spencer : Head Instructor

 History:

• My original teacher was Master Jung Ho Kim of Kim’s Academy in Memphis. He is an authentic Korean master that graduated from Yong In University in Korea with a Bachelors degree in the martial arts. He is a 6th degree in Judo, a 6th degree in Taekwondo, and a 5th degree in Hapkido.
  
• While at Master Kim’s I also studied with Joey Gingery who was the leading blackbelt student. He was a navy seal and is a formidable national competitor. He is one of the instructors at Memphis Judo and Jiu Jitsu today.
  
• I then moved to Nashville and began to train under Dan Smith. Dan is a 20 year veteran of the Special Forces. He was a bronze medalist at the national championships when he was in college. Active duty has often interrupted his competition career. He started competing in masters’ judo and has been a 5 time national champion and a 3 time world champion. Dan is a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq wars where he won two bronze stars and three purple hearts. Dan is a 5th degree in Kodokan Judo, a 6th degree in Shin Shin Jujutsu and a 7th degree in Korean Yudo. Dan was selected by the U.S. Olympic Commitee to coach/manage the U. S. team to the World College Games in Beijing, China. Dan is my teacher today. He teaches at the gym he owns in Dickson, TN; Dickson Athletic Center.
  
• I have competed in many tournaments and have many medal performances. Most recently I have fought in the masters national championships 5 times with a bronze medal in 2004 and silver in 2006. I also competed in the 2007 US Open winning the bronze medal.

Jim Irvine (4th degree Black Belt)
Jim received his black belt in 1983 and actively competed until 1990. He has been coaching Judo for over 25 years including local Judo clubs and seven years as the head Judo coach at a Stephen F. Austin State University. Although his passion is learning/practicing the classic art of Judo, he has coached many successful collegiate and national level competitors. Jim is married and is the “Papa” of twin daughters which he adores. 

Jim recently moved to Tennessee from Texas where he was very active in Judo including:

• Executive Board of Texas Judo Inc. 2001 – 2006
• 2000 U.S. Senior Nationals - Venue Coordinator & Announcer
• 2006 U.S. Senior Nationals - Announcer
• 1996 – 2006 - Tournament Director – Kodokan Judo & Physical Fitness Invitational Tournament (A Texas All Star Tournament) and the
• “Old Timers” Masters Tournament - hosted by Shigeyuki “Ace” Sukigara
• Official Judo representative to the Dallas 2012 Olympic Bid Committee (with Sukigara-san)
• Official Judo representative to the 1998 International Sun & Star Celebration (with Sukigara-san)
• Technical Official at numerous state and national tournaments
• Hosted Clinics including: Basic Judo Skills, Competition Techniques, Coaching Skills, Self Defense, & Kata Clinics including Kodokan Goshin Jutsu
  

[Picture left to right - Jim Irvine (Columbia Judo), Yukimitsu Kano (President of Kodokan Judo Institute & the All Japan Judo Federation), Saburo Matsushita (Director, Department of Education, Kodokan Judo Institute) and Jim's instructor Shigeyuki “Ace” Sukigara (Chief Instructor, Kodokan Judo & Physical Fitness)]

Jim has had the great honor and privilege of learning from a legend of US Judo, Shigeyuki “Ace” Sukigara. Sukigara-san’s Dallas area Judo school (Kodokan Judo & Physical Fitness founded in 1961) has produced numerous national level competitors including Daniel McCormick, member of the 2008 Olympic Team. Sukigara-sensei was born in Nagoya, Japan and after graduating High School he was recruited and sponsored to train Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo by Risei Kano (the son of Jigaro Kano, the founder of Judo). While at the Kodokan, he had the unique privilege of being included with the thirteen Special Research Students to receive special training by some of the greatest names in Judo (Sumiyuki Kotani-10th degree, Toshiro Daigo-10thdegree, Yoshimi Osawa-10th degree, and Kenji Tomiki-creator of the Kodokan Goshin Jitsu Kata and the Tomiki style of Aikido).


Joe Dan Pickering is a 1st degree black belt in Judo and assistant instructor. He started practicing judo during college in 1998 under sensei Fred Barnett in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Upon graduating from college in 2001, Joe Dan moved to Nashville, Tennessee with a 1st degree brown belt. He briefly trained with sensei Dan Smith in Dickson, but after getting married and moving to Spring Hill, was unable to train with a nearby judo club for a few years. Joe Dan eventually found the Columbia Judo club in 2005 and finally achieved the rank of black belt under sensei Terry Spencer. He continues to learn as well as teach judo at the Columbia Judo club.