Ann Maria Rousey DeMars
Encyclopedia
Ann Maria Rousey DeMars was born August 15, 1958, at Scott Air Force Base
in Illinois. She grew up in the small community of Alton, Illinois
and began her judo
career at the age of 12 at a local YMCA
.
in Tokyo
, Japan
. While there, she trained under Sensei Osawa.
She graduated from college with a degree in business in 1978. She also won the US Senior Nationals, US Collegiate Nationals and the US Open. In the absence of women's judo world championships
, she quit competitive judo and studied for an MBA
at the University of Minnesota
.
DeMars earned her MBA in 1980. She missed the first women's world championships while in grad school, but in 1981 won bronze in the British Open and Tournoi d'Orleans. In 1982, she was ranked #1 in the USJI rankings and won the US Open. However, she did not contest the second women's world championships due to having a baby that year.
DeMars enjoyed more success in 1983, including the Pan American Games
and US Senior Nationals, and in 1984, winning the Austrian Open, Canada Cup (now known as the "Rendezvous"), and the US Senior Nationals. She came out of retirement to win the 1984 World Judo Championships, becoming the first person representing the United States to win a World Judo Championships (her name at the time was Ann-Maria Burns).
has also been successful in judo.
DeMars pursued further study, including an MA and PhD
in educational psychology from the University of California, Riverside
. She also taught college for several years in North Dakota
.
DeMars' husband died in 1995 due to complications relating to Bernard-Soulier syndrome
following a sledding accident. She remarried in 1997 and moved to Southern California
where she currently resides. She had a fourth child in 1998.
Circa 2001, DeMars co-founded Spirit Lake Consulting with Erich Longie April St. Pierre. The company strives to improve life on Indian reservation
s and in other disadvantaged communities. DeMars is currently vice president.
In 2006, DeMars was elected Vice President of the USJA, ahead of Peter Contardo. She remarked: "I think it is important for women to not only be in follower positions as supporters and students, but also in leadership positions."
In 2008, Demars was hired by the University of Southern California
ITS Customer Support Department as a
Statistical Consultant. She has over 27 years experience working in SAS and has contributed through her any Wiki and Blog Pages. http://www.thejuliagroup.com/blog/ She supports both UPC and HSC Campuses including the satellite office in Orange County.
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
in Illinois. She grew up in the small community of Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
and began her judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
career at the age of 12 at a local YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
.
Competitive judo career
DeMars won her division at the USJA Junior Nationals at the age of 16 – her first major competition. The same year, she entered college at Washington University as a business major. At the age of 18, as a college junior, Ann Maria was an exchange student at Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. While there, she trained under Sensei Osawa.
She graduated from college with a degree in business in 1978. She also won the US Senior Nationals, US Collegiate Nationals and the US Open. In the absence of women's judo world championships
World Judo Championships
The World Judo Championships are the highest level of international judo competition, along with the Olympic judo competition. The championships are held once every year by the International Judo Federation, and qualified judoka compete in their respective categories as representatives of their...
, she quit competitive judo and studied for an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
DeMars earned her MBA in 1980. She missed the first women's world championships while in grad school, but in 1981 won bronze in the British Open and Tournoi d'Orleans. In 1982, she was ranked #1 in the USJI rankings and won the US Open. However, she did not contest the second women's world championships due to having a baby that year.
DeMars enjoyed more success in 1983, including the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
and US Senior Nationals, and in 1984, winning the Austrian Open, Canada Cup (now known as the "Rendezvous"), and the US Senior Nationals. She came out of retirement to win the 1984 World Judo Championships, becoming the first person representing the United States to win a World Judo Championships (her name at the time was Ann-Maria Burns).
Career after judo
Following her judo successes, DeMars married a second time and had more children. Her third child, Ronda RouseyRonda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is an American judoka and mixed martial artist. She formerly trained at the Olympic Training Center in Wakefield, Massachusetts under guidance of Jimmy Pedro and is now part of Team Hayastan in Santa Monica, California.Rousey trains under Gokor Chivichyan, Leo Frincu and Gene Lebell,...
has also been successful in judo.
DeMars pursued further study, including an MA and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in educational psychology from the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
. She also taught college for several years in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
.
DeMars' husband died in 1995 due to complications relating to Bernard-Soulier syndrome
Bernard-Soulier syndrome
Bernard–Soulier syndrome , also called hemorrhagiparous thrombocytic dystrophy, is a rare autosomal recessive coagulopathy that causes a deficiency of glycoprotein Ib , the receptor for von Willebrand factor, which is important in clot formation.The incidence is estimated to be less than 1 in 1...
following a sledding accident. She remarried in 1997 and moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
where she currently resides. She had a fourth child in 1998.
Circa 2001, DeMars co-founded Spirit Lake Consulting with Erich Longie April St. Pierre. The company strives to improve life on Indian reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
s and in other disadvantaged communities. DeMars is currently vice president.
In 2006, DeMars was elected Vice President of the USJA, ahead of Peter Contardo. She remarked: "I think it is important for women to not only be in follower positions as supporters and students, but also in leadership positions."
In 2008, Demars was hired by the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
ITS Customer Support Department as a
Statistical Consultant. She has over 27 years experience working in SAS and has contributed through her any Wiki and Blog Pages. http://www.thejuliagroup.com/blog/ She supports both UPC and HSC Campuses including the satellite office in Orange County.
Sources
- World Judo Championships Results
- US Open Historical Results
- USJA Board of Directors and Officers as of January 20, 2006