Ojukan Judo Club
Teaching Staff
Left to right: E. Vance, D. Sakata, C. Brown, J. Miller, Sensei Leidelmeyer, D. Bodell, M. Johnston, G. McMurray.
Rene Leidelmeyer, Rokkudan
Sensei Leidelmeyer began his practice of Judo with the Japanese soldiers running an internment camp in Djember, Dutch East Indies, from 1942-25. After the war, he practiced in Jakarta before emigrating to Holland in 1955. From 1955-60 he lived and studied Judo in Heerlen, Holland, and during the latter years was a member of the Dutch National Judo Team. He came to the United States in 1961 and began Judo in San Jose, California, with Sensei Bill Montero at the Pacific Judo Academy; then moved to Portland, Oregon, where in 1963 he joined Obukan Judo Dojo, and studied under Senseis Jim S. Onchi and Toshio Ichinoe. Sensei Leidelmeyer founded Ojukan Judo Club in 1965, and has run the club continuously since. He was awarded his rokkudan in 2001 (see photos).
Charles Brown, Yodan
Charlie Brown has practiced judo since 1958 and has been a National Referee since 1982. He is currently a PJU "C" referee, and holds P.A.C.E. Instructor, and USJI and USJF "A" Judo teaching certificates. Charlie recently retired from making steel.
Greg McMurray, Yodan
Greg McMurray began to practice Judo under Sensei Wolfgang Dill while a graduate student at Oregon State University in 1973. He earned his shodan in the Central Coast Yudanshakai during 1978 as a member of Palo Alto Judo Club under Senseis Sam Hamai and Tamo Kitaura. Greg joined Ojukan Judo Club later that year after returning to Oregon. He has a Ph.D. in biological oceanography and works for the Oregon DEQ.
Dick Bodell, Sandan
Dick Bodell has been a member of Ojukan Judo Club since 1968. He originally started Judo at Obukan Judo Dojo under Sensei Jim Onchi in 1958, earning his shodan in 1963. From 1981-1988, he published a regional Judo newsletter called Judo News. He was promoted to sandan in 1978. Dick is retired from multiple careers.
Joan Miller, Nidan
Joan started judo at Ojukan Judo Club in 1969. She was awarded Ojukan's first shodan in 1975. Miss Keiko Fukuda certified her to teach Junokata in 1976, and with her mother, Peggy Ploem, she placed second at nationals in Junokata. She founded the Judo program at Pacific Rim Martial Arts Academy in Beaverton in 1979 and still teaches there with Mr. Brown. Joan is also an N-2 national referee. Since 1979 she has been self-employed as an optometric physician and owns Baseline Vision Clinic in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Mike Johnston, Shodan
Mike Johnston started Judo at Ojukan Judo Club in 1986. He earned his shodan in 2000. Mike is a Detective with the Hillsboro Police Department and special
