Rachel E. Matheney
Nidan (2nd degree black belt) – Jukido Jujitsu

Rachel Matheney began her Kokondo training the art of Jukido Jujitsu on October 31, 2001. Ms. Matheney trained regularly at the Florida Jukido Jujitsu Academy under her sensei, Master George Rego for over a decade. Ms. Matheney had undergone private instruction with Master Rego. Ms. Matheney was also regular Florida attendee of the IKA’s International Seminar and the Florida Seminars with Shihan Arel and his successor, Kaicho Greg Howard. She has also benefited from brief but intense private training with the most senior living Kokondo Sensei, Master G. Howard (9th dan).

As a senior kyu (below black belt) and as a dan (black belt) Ms. Matheney has served as an assistant instructor in the youth jiu-jitsu classes at the Jukido Academy head dojo in Palm Coast, Florida, including the Florida Kokondo Regional Seminar. 

In 2004 Ms. Matheney was one of four brown belts to go through extensive training and testing for promotion to shodan (1st degree black belt). Along with three others Ms. Matheney was part of the 1st black belt testing in the history of Kokondo in Florida. The extensive testing consisted of six evaluations; 5 of which were conducted by her own sensei and, and the final by Shihan Arel. She was promoted to probationary shodan (black belt) in the art of Jukido as a result of these tests in January of 2005. During the 2005 Florida Kokondo Seminar (December 11, 2005) Ms. Matheney was awarded permanent shodan.

Ms. Matheney was well known in the dojo for her powerful nage-waza, never say die attitude, and strong passion for the unity and family that is Kokondo. Like her mentor and sensei she also had a love of Jukido randori (freestyle jujitsu sparring) and enjoys it thoroughly.

On December 10, 2006 she was elevated to the status of Instructor when she was awarded her instructors certification by Sensei Rego & Shihan Paul Arel – making her the 1st individual to start training in Florida from white belt to black belt, and become an IKA Certified Jukido Jujitsu Instructor.

At the conclusion of the 2008 International Kokondo Semianr, Sensei Matheney was promoted to the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Jukido Jujitsu. This is a significant achievement in that Ms. Matheney was the first person in Florida IKA history to be promoted to this rank.

Ms. Matheney is currently inactive as an instructor of Jukido Jujitsu and student of both karate and jujitsu IKA arts. However, all dojo members who have had the opportunity to work with her – look forward to her active & eventual return to Kokondo and her dojo family.