Fran Vall

Fran Vall

Judo Biography

Fran Vall is one of those small, quiet people who are easily missed in a dojo, but she has created an outsized and outstanding impact as a kata competitor, instructor, technical official, national and international kata judge, ubiquitous contributor and a friend to so many during her 65-plus years as a judoka.

She started judo in 1959. Her journey took her to the US Department of State Foreign Service, living in such places as Japan, Afghanistan, and Sudan. She was able to learn Judo and Naginata (* see note below) while stationed in Tokyo, Japan in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

Photo of Fran Vall during her work for the US State Department Foreign Service

She has been a lifelong member of the Washington Judo Club since 1959 and was one of the assistant instructors until February 2020 when COVID caused their program to close. She has achieved the rank of Shichidan through her long and successful competition record and service to judo locally in the Washington, DC Metro area, nationally, and internationally in the Pan-American Confederation.

Fran is a USJF Life Member and a proud member of Shufu Judo Yudanshakai. She continues to serve Shufu as a teacher and member of Shufu Board of Examiners. Her fluency in Japanese also makes her an instant diplomat whenever judoka from Japan visit the Washington area, as has happened often during her lifetime in judo. Visitors ranged from college teams to the great Yasuhiro Yamashita, to senior senseis from the Kodokan.

Fran redefines aging as an honored senior sensei who lives life vibrantly and makes contributions to the world. "I go out into the world every day with mother nature, and it gives me a chance to reflect and to think about my life." She was featured in a short film” Sensei Fran Kicks A**”, in which she discusses being a little "granny" with much learning and wisdom to share.

Publicity for a short film" Sensei Fran Kicks …"

Sensei Fran has reflected on aging. "As a Sensei, as you age, you adjust to life and look at things differently. Your body changes and so you do, you address the art in a different way. There’s a different insight, there’s a different feeling, a different way of approaching and teaching and it’s really helped to become a better teacher and to be more insightful, just working with people who are coming up, or who have also trained all their lives as well."

Fran has been able to train with many different teachers and different levels of teachers and says, "It just gives you a different feeling of understanding of how much more there is, not only on a physical, but a psychological level. Many senseis’ lives are a historical background of where judo came from, how they have amassed knowledge, skills, and training, as well as how hard they had to work to get to their accomplished levels. We are all students, continuously learning and improving ourselves."

Karen Whilden and Fran

Karen Whilden, Fran and Edwin Takemori at clinic

Fran is a person who approaches life positively and courageously. We all need role models and Fran really believes in making connections with people all over the world. It’s a big part of who she is and her dedication to martial arts and to living life in an engaged community-oriented way. One of Fran’s favorite judo activities is to teach children, especially Special Needs judoka.

Fran teaching kids at College Park Judo Club

In addition to mentoring at three martial arts clubs, she finds time to work as a ski and snowboard instructor and volunteer in her community. She is guided by her Jewish faith and a quest to never stop learning.

Fran with Jimmy Takemori

Fran assisting with kata clinic at Senior Nationals

Fran assisting unknown junior

Fran with Yasuhiro Yamashita

Some of her accomplishments

USJF Shichidan USJF # 7-279 (11/6/2021), Kodokan Shichidan

Awards:

2008 – James Gosnell Inspirational Award – from Hui-O Dojo
2012 – Senior National Kata Grand Champion, Irving, TX
6/2019 – PJC Kata judge – Katame/Ju/Nage/Kime no katas – Pan American Judo Confederation
7/2021 – Philadelphia Historic Martial Arts Society – Hall of Fame

At the Philadelphia Historic Martial Arts Society Hall of Fame

Fran Vall with Karl Tamai

National Kata Awards with Karl Tamai:

2005 – Katame-no-kata – 3rd
2006 – Katame-no-kata – 2nd
2008 – Ju-no-kata – 1st,
Katame-no-kata – 1st
2010 – Ju-no-kata – 1st,
Katame-no-kata – 1st,
Kime-no- kata – 1st,
Grand Champions
2012 – Ju-no-kata – 3rd,
Katame-no-kata – 4th,
Kime-no-kata – 1st
2013 – Ju-no-kata – 2nd
2014 – Ju-no-kata – 3rd

Contributions

Regularly attends all Shufu Judo Events as a Kata Judge and technical official (timekeeping/scoreboard).
Upon retirement from kata competition, Fran has regularly been a Kata judge at the Senior Nationals. Canada and in the Pan American Confederation.
Events participated at as a kata judge: Shufu Open, Virginia Open, Maryland Open, Eastern Open, Ken Tamai Memorial Open, Faye Allen Kata Tournament, Wild Cat Invitational, Senior Nationals

2016 Senior Nationals (Irving, TX) Group picture

Photo of 1996 Atlanta Olympics Judo Technical staff (Tad Nalls, John Anderson, Roy Englert, Fran Vall and James Takemori)

Demonstrating Naginata

See a video of Fran Vall

*NOTE — Naginata – Japanese martial art that uses a blade attached to a pole. It is a combat system that teaches respect, patience, etiquette, self-confidence, and self-control. The practice of Naginata teaches perfect control and balanced movements of the body. Fran is a 4th dan in this Martial art.

Judo Biography

Some of her accomplishments

Awards:

National Kata Awards with Karl Tamai:

Contributions

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