Chris Finkbeiner

Christina Bratton-Finkbeiner began studying Judo in 1994 under Master Jan Finkbeiner at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.  Initially her intention was to learn self-defense to protect herself.  She entered onto the Judo mat without any knowledge of the sport of Judo or any other martial art.  What she got was a camaraderie with the college students who were 17 years her junior, a lifelong love of judo and a competitive drive she did not know she had.  Judo also provided a physical workout somewhere between high impact aerobics and weight training.

Juniata was a competing club, so Chris was given the opportunity to build humbling character competing in local, state and international competitions.  The club also attended and hosted Judo seminars and clinics.  It was at one of the clinics Chris was introduced to Aikido.  Chris began training in Aikido four nights a week in the summer of 1996 under Lamar Moore and Rachael Volberg.  In 1997 Allegheny Aikikai Aikido was taken over by David Hurtubise.  Chris continues to train under David.  

Chris started her Ju-Jitsu training while at Juniata College.  Formal Ju-Jitsu training began in 1999 under Master Finkbeiner.  Chris already had the basics for Ju-Jitsu with the Judo throws, arm bars, chokes and grappling, and the wrist bends and multiple attacker defenses and movement from the Aikido.  Chris' Judo and Aikido training dramatically heightened her Ju-Jitsu level.