INSTRUCTORS
JUDO
Nick Zaffuto 6th degree Black Belt
Our club founder, "Mr.Z" began Judo in 1945 in Pearl Harbor, while a member of the United States Marine Corps, and began the first Judo Club in Pittsburgh at the downtown YMCA. He has been teaching judo for over 60 years and currently run's our kids program.
Here is an opportunity to have your children learn judo from a true old school master.
Phil Farabaugh, 1st Degree Black Belt
A former college wrestler and a black belt in judo since 2000. He has been training and teaching as one of the head instructors at South Hills Judo for a seven years
Highlights of his judo competition record include:
• 2005 Fall Classic National Championships (3rd place)
• 2004 USA Judo National Ladder (2nd place)
• 2003 Quebec Open (3rd place)
• 2002 Morris Cup (2nd place)
• 8x PA state champion
Phil began training in 1995 at Slippery Rock University.
Ricky Brown, 1st Degree Black Belt
Ricky Brown, a black belt in judo and an Olympic contender, teaches judo two times a week. He is one of the head instructors at South Hills Judo. Rick has been training judo for most of his adolescent and adult life. Realizing the importance of martial arts in his own personal development and success, he aims to share that with Pittsburgh youth. Rick has trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and amassed an impressive competition record. Highlights include:
• 2007 Pedro’s Judo Challenge (3rd place)
• 2007 Liberty Bell Classic (2nd place)
• 2006 Flag City Open (1st place)
• 2002 Liberty Bell Classic (2nd place)
• 2002 USA Judo National Championships (5th place)
• 2001 USA Judo National Championships (2nd place)
• 2001 Swamp Classic (1st place)
• 2000 U.S. Open (2nd place)
• 1999 USA Senior Championships (3rd place)
• 1998 Senior Nationals (3rd place)
• 1997 USJI Junior Olympic Judo Championships (2nd place)
• 1997 Junior Nationals (2nd place)
Rick's mentoring is not limited to martial arts. He and his brother, Martin, also provide academic tutoring before the classes to ensure that his pupils excel both in and out of the classroom. Rick provides a positive role model to those at-risk youth that would not otherwise have one.
Scott Fingal, 1st Degree Black Belt
A black belt in judo, Scott is an instructor at the Club and President of the Board of SHOJI, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides high quality judo instruction to underprivileged, at-risk youth in the Pittsburgh area.
In addition 14 years of judo, Scott has trained in Fillipino Martial Arts
and Muay Thai.
Paul Dieseroth,1st Degree Black Belt
Real Martial Arts... Real Coaching... Real Results
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