A leader is a dealer in hope.
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Napoleon Bonaparte
Photo by Bob Brink and used by permission.
Head Instructor
Bill Beebe is the head instructor for the Ozark Judo program. He is ranked as a Yodan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) in Kodokan Judo certified by the United States Judo Federation, USA Judo and the Kodokan Institute in Tokyo, Japan. Bill began studying Kodokan Judo in Wasilla, Alaska in 1981 at 31 years of age under Sensei Ron Hildebrand in the Sanshi Judo Club. Hilderbrand Sensei was then ranked as Yodan, but was promoted to Godan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) by the United States Judo Federation while Bill was his student.
Bill competed in Alaska in local tournaments and the Alaska State Judo Champoinships in both shiai (free fighting) and Kata (prearranged forms). He received several first, second and third place trophies in the Masters Shiai Divisions (fighters 35 and over) and several second and third place trophies in the Senior Shiai divisions (fighters 17 and over). In addition, he competed at the US Senior Nationals in the Masters Shiai divisioins, gaining bronze medals in 1994 and 1996. He and his kata partner, a student from the Artic Knights Judo program in McGrath, Alaska, competed in the Nage-no-Kata (forms of throws) and Katame-no-Kata (forms of groundwork) at the US Senior Nationals and at the Alaska State Championships. They won gold medals in both katas at the Alaska State Championships and finished in the middle of the divisions at the US Senior Nationals which contained nineteen or more teams each time they competed.
Bill served as President of the Alaska Judo, Inc., the Governing Body for Olympic Judo in Alaska. He also served as secretary for the Alaska Judo, Inc. Board of Examiners. He is a National Referee in Olympic Judo and is also certified as State Level Coach in Kodokan Judo. His certifications are through USA Judo.
Assistant Instructors
Brian Bowser is an assistant instructor for the Ozark Judo program. Brian is ranked as a Sankyu (Third Class Brown Belt) in Kodokan Judo. He began practicing Kodokan Judo in 2004 under Beebe sensei in Melbourne, Arkansas. Brain has competed in the Dallas Invitational Judo Tournament taking fourth is the Senior Novice Heavyweight Division. Brian will be the principal coach at Melbourne when we open that program.
Clay Maple is an assistant instructor for the Ozark Judo program. Clay is ranked as a Sankyu (Third Class Brown Belt) in Kodokan Judo. He began practicing Kodokan Judo in 2006 in Calico Rock, Arkansas under Beebe sensei. Clay has competed in Dallas, Memphis and Tulsa. He took home a silver medal from the Tulsa tournament in 2008, winning it by submission due to armlock. Clay is the principal coach at the Calico Rock Dojo. Clay is studying to become a Regional Referee in Olympic Judo an hopes to take his test in September 2008.