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Don Cross began his Jujitsu career in 1957 when he
became a student with Professor Ray L. Law in Oakland, California. Prof.
Law was a direct disciple of Prof.
Henry S. Okazaki, Founder of Danzan Ryu, and one of the four
founders of The American Judo & Jujitsu
Federation. Over the next few years he raised through the ranks
to become an assistant instructor in Prof. Law's unique children's
classes, and adult classes. At least once a month throughout his
training he entered both judo randori and jujitsu kata tournaments
throughout California and Nevada. At Law's dojo he studied judo
with Joe Lous, a disciple of Judo Olympian Anton Gesink, as well
as Kenpo with Jim Shear, Shotokan with David Love, and T'ai Chi
Chuan with Albert Soo. An important aspect of Don's training with
Prof. Law was in Seifukujitsu, a Japanese healing art system. In
1964, at the age of 16, Prof. Law promoted him to Black Belt, and
later to Nidan, the Instructor's Degree Black Belt. He continued
his training with Prof. Law until his teacher died in 1969.
About a week before Prof. Law passed away he assisted Don in
establishing his first dojo in Sacramento at an adult education
facility. As Sensei Cross was becoming a seasoned teacher of Danzan
Ryu, he continued his advanced training under Professor Bud Estes,
another close disciple of Prof. Okazaki. He also trained in Sil
Lum Kung Fu, the famous Shaolin Temple fighting style, for many
years with Sifu Lee Birchfield, a disciple of Grand Master T.Y.
Wong.
In order to enhance and expand his knowledge and skill in the
healing arts, Prof. Cross studied Swedish Massage at the California
School of Massage, where he was certified as a Massage Therapist
in 1978. In 1980, with the blessings of Prof. Estes, he worked
with a small group of Jujitsu teachers to establish the first Japanese
Restorative Massage Certification Program for the AJJF. The first
three years of this program were held at his dojo in Sacramento.
He continued his involvement in the AJJF program as a Staff Instructor
and member of its Steering Committee until 1994.
In 1974 Prof. Cross was asked to become a member of the Board
of Managers of the AJJF as Manager of Regions. He served in this
capacity until the death of Prof. Estes in 1982, and then took
over his position as Manager of Internal Relations. He served the
AJJF in this role until 1994. In 1992 he was awarded the rank and
title of Professor, and has served on the Board of Directors of
the AJJF ever since then. He had also been awarded the rank of
Yondan by the U.S. Judo Association.
In 2003 Professor Cross was promoted to the Jujitsu rank of Shichidan,
7th Degree Black Belt by the AJJF. In addition, he was elected
to serve as Vice President of the Federation.
Spiritually, Don was baptized as a Presbyterian as a child. In
college he studied comparative religions intensely, and was drawn
to Hinduism and Buddhism. He studied Integral Yoga and Hatha with
Swami Satchitananda, Tantrik Yoga with Ananda Marga, and Raja Yoga
with Master Subramuniya. He was initiated into Vedanta by Swami
Shradhananda, of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Order, and sang Sanskrit
hymns in the church choir for many years. Recently he completed
a yearlong course in mysticism and spiritual healing, and was certified
as a Spiritual Healer and Counselor by the Universal Star Link
Temple of Light. He is currently a student of Tibetan Buddhism.
Prof. Cross studied Tian Gong (Qi Gong) with Grand Master Le
Tian for several years, and was certified by him to teach this
unique system of Chi Gong and spiritual development.
Academically, Prof. Cross earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political
Science and Sociology from California State University, and later
a Master's Degree in Education. He holds a life Standard Teacher's
Credential in California.
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