Professor Hillary Kaplowitz, Shihan (she/they) is Dojo Cho of the Pacific JuJitsu Kai Ohana and has been teaching in the Los Angeles area since 2000. Prof Kaplowitz began their training in 1977 in the youth program at the Santa Monica YMCA under Sensei Jim Nieto, where they also competed on the Judo team. After a hiatus, they went on to train under a number of Sensei including Mike Lynch and Ed Cook, receiving their black belt in 1998 from Professors William Randle and Leif Bennett. Prof Kaplowitz then began studying under Professor Robert Hudson in 2000 and holds the rank of Shichidan, 7th Degree Black Belt.
Prof Kaplowitz attended the 2013 Okugi and received a Shihan Kaidensho from Professor Tony Janovich, their Professorship from the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation (AJJF) in 2017 and the title of Shihan from their sensei, Prof Hudson in 2022.
Prof Kaplowitz is an instructor in the Danzan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute and has served various volunteer leadership positions in the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation – currently a member of the Board of Professors and Executive Committee.
One of Prof Kaplowitz’s interests is in the iron fan techniques of Danzan Ryu and has published a book on the subject, Tessenjutsu. Prof Kaplowitz created a podcast called Danzan Ryu Origin Stories as a way to document some of our DZR oral history and provide insight and inspiration about training in the martial arts. They have also been a regular contributor to the AJJF Kiai Echo publication. In addition, Prof Kaplowitz is a professional educator and has a PhD in instructional design and technology.
Learn more about Professor Kaplowitz from the interviews on DZR Origin Stories and True Stories & Other Damage Podcast