Daily Bulletin - April 25, 2003

Local Judo club members win at Nationals

by Gary Goltz

Goltz Judo Club black belts fared well at the US Judo Masters Nationals held Saturday April 19, 2003 at the Riviera Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Allen Johnson, 5th degree black belt, a retired business owner and substitute teacher, took gold in the male over 60-year-old heavyweight division and silver in the open weight division.

Nick Niakan, 5th degree black belt, President of aFe Power, took bronze in the male over 40-year old middleweight division (shown with his coaches OJ Soler & Gary Goltz).

Nick Niakan and Gary Goltz at the 2012 SEMA Convention in Las Vegas.

Updates

Nick Niakan took silver at the 2007 USJA/USJF Winter Nationals. His son Arman started judo in 2011 and is following his dad's footsteps. In 2016, Nick was promoted to 6th degree black belt.

Allen Johnson moved to Seattle where he married his high school sweetheart and instructs at Emerald City Judo Club. He took a bronze at the 2011 World Masters and a Gold at the 2012 Nationals.

Allen Johnson's Gold Medal Match at the 2013 Winter Nationals

1n 2015, Allen was promoted to 6th degree black belt.

Update: Allen passed away on April 4, 2018 Video Tribute 1 & Video Tribute 2

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