By Jeremy Hannaford
Free Press
Sensei Robert Griechen was awarded with his Rokudan (sixth degree black belt) on May 7 at the Kokoro Judo Club in 100 Mile House.
Griechen, who received his Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1975, has now become the highest ranked man in judo north of Kamloops.
He thanked his family and his students for coming out to the ceremony.
“It’s great to do what you like to do but more importantly, it gives [judo] another voice.”
Robert also thanked Kokoro Judo Club Sensei Ian Briggs (second degree) and Aline Strasdin (fifth degree) from Prince George for pushing him towards this achievement.
Strasdin is not only one of the highest ranked women in British Columbia, but she also trained under Griechen in a summer camp at Kalamalka Lake.
Griechen then thanked the parents for letting him teach their children and he also thanked his wife, Ann.
The ceremony, which was held at 11 a.m., had several other talented members of the Canadian Judo community present. In addition to Briggs and Strasdin, there was also Chris Smiley (second degree) from Lake Country, Jeff Dimarco (fourth degree) from Williams Lake and his son, Kieth Griechen, (third degree) from Lake Country.
“He’s my dad and my sensei and it’s great to see all his hard work paid off,” Kieth says.
Kieth, who won a gold medal in 2015 World Masters Jujitsu Championship, has been running the Lake Country Judo Club his father opened 35 years ago.
After the ceremony, the Griechens and the other senseis continued the day by teaching the senior judo class.
