Black Belt School of Judo

Diane started Judo at the age of 10 under the direction of Harold Forshey Sr. (7th Degree

Red & White Belt) in Miami, Fl.  She quickly

advanced to Black Belt in 1979, at age 17.

While living in Florida, Diane won many local,

state, & regional tournaments.  She placed

2nd at the Jr. Olympic National Tournament

three years in a row 1978, 1979, & 1980.

In 1986, she was asked to train on Full

Scholarship at the National Judo Institute in

Colorado Springs and part-time at The

Olympic Training Center under Ed Liddie

(Bronze Medal Olympian) and Phil Porter

(10th Degree Red Belt). While there,

Diane placed 4th at the US Open, 1st at the

Continental Crown, 2nd at the National

Ladder Tournament, 1st at the Canadian

Open, and 4th at US SR Nationals to name a

few.

After taking a short break to repair physically,

Diane placed 1st at the 2003 Senior Nationals

in the Masters division, 1st at the 2003

Liberty Bell in the Masters division,  1st in

the Masters division at the 2003 Louisiana

Swamp Tournament and 1st at the Eastern

Collegiate Championships. During the Eastern

Collegiate tournament, Diane sustained a

broken collarbone and shoulder injury forcing

her to stop competing. In 2008, after moving

to Southern Mississippi, Diane began to teach

and compete again. While in Mississippi, she

has quickly become the 2009-10 Mississippi

State Champion, the 2009-11 Louisiana State

Open Champion, the 2009-11 Gulf Coast

Open Champion, the 2009-10 Masters

National Champion, 2010 Masters US OPEN

Champion, 2010 Masters Pan AM Champion,

and the 2009 World Masters Champion. 

In 2010 & 2011, Diane was voted the

Outstanding Female Master Athlete of the Year

for the United States Judo Association

(2010) and USA JUDO (2010 & 2011).

Among Diane's other accolades:

• a 4th Degree Black Belt

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• a National Certified USA Judo & USJA Referee

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• a Certified Continental USA Judo & USJA Coach
  

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• a Life Member of the United States Judo Association with a registered Charter Club status
  

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• a Member of USA Judo with a registered Club Status under Black Belt School of Judo

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• Specializes in Competition and Tournament Style Training

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• A member of the World Masters Judo Association

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•  A Member of the PJC Association
  

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•  Bronze Life Member of the USJA