Slobodan Saric "Sara"

1970-2006

Born 1970. in Pozarevac, Serbia. Finished primary and secondary school as the best in his generation. Finished school of reserve officers as the best in class, reserve lieutenant in National army. Studied economy and law.

Practiced shortly karate shotokan in his early childhood. Excellent basketball player. Actively trained budo arts in Budo Club Pozarevac (aka Shinbukan) since 1996. Due to his incredible physical abilities and excellent intelligence, Slobodan was moving very fast from "beginner" to superb instructor. In 1999, during NATO bombing on Serbia, Slobodan was training with core group of Serbian Budo Council Yudansha, and was promoted to Menkyo Shoden - 1st Dan Jujutsu. Slobodan's rank was also recognized in Serbian Ju-Jitsu Federation, as well as in several foreign organizations (BZIS, AJJF, AJA, etc.).

As of year 2000 Slobodan Saric was among the most active jujutsu instructors in Serbia and Montenegro. With few other leading instructors of Serbian Budo Council he gave seminars and promoted Sport Jujutsu under JJIF rules in following towns and clubs in Serbia: Pozarevac, Mala Krsna, Crvenka, Sremska Mitrovica, Perlez, Sabac, Vrsac, Petrovac, Kraljevo... Beside this, he also assisted and was running parts of seminars given to practitioners and clubs from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia. Slobodan was among a few of the first and best referees in Serbian jujutsu community. He was running Duo System competitions, Jujutsu Fighting System, and was also instructor on seminars for future referees. On several tournaments organized by the Ju-Jutsu Federation of Serbia and Serbian Budo Council he was a Supreme Referee, selected by other coaches and referees as the most knowledgeable and most trusted, a real man of honor and integrity. Sara also refereed on foreign competitions, including international tournaments in Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. In 2005 he participated on Technical Congress of Ju-Jitsu International Federation, held in Bulgaria. He was official representative of Ju-Jutsu Federation of Serbia.

During whole of his career as a coach and referee, Sara has never competed in Sport Jujutsu. However, everyone knew that he was superb in all aspects to active national champions. Sara's modesty was simply too big. He always wanted younger to get their chance. During jujutsu classes no one was better than him. Hardly anyone managed to subdue Sara during groundfight, or in a karate sparring. He was endlessly fast, strong and with superb timing and feeling for distance. Only poverty of Serbia, his injuries and his death prevented him from becoming a world class champion. Still, all of those who won medals in Serbia knew that their medals also belong to Sara. Because he taught them...

In 2003 Slobodan Saric was given Menkyo Shoden license in Kenjutsu. He was also Sport Chanbara yudansha, promoted in 2005 to 2nd Dan by International Sport Chanbara Association certified instructors. In the same year he competed on European Sports Chanbara Championship in Moscow, and placed amongst the 6 best European fighters in Choken Free (long sword - free style) and Kodachi (short sword). Sara was undoubtedly the best active swordsman in Serbia. Current champions in Chanbara are his students. All current most senior kenjutsu instructors in Serbia remember him as strong opponent in sparing and wonderful assistant in demonstrations.

Slobodan Saric participated on two seminars of Kenjutsu International Association of Instructors (KIAI), held in Serbia. He was one of the most notable instructors on these events, loved by all participants from Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, England...

Sara was Vice-president of Serbian Sport's Chanbara Association. His other former positions were: Coach of National Chanbara Team, Vice-president and Board member of Serbian Budo Council, President of Referee Commission in Ju-Jutsu Federation of Serbia, etc.

In 2004. Slobodan Saric got Menkyo Chuden - 3rd Dan Jujutsu. In 2005, after Serbian Budo Council had entered the International Traditional Kodokan Judo Organization within MAIF, Sara was promoted to 1st Dan judo. Posthumously he got 2nd Dan.

Slobodan Saric was also instructor to prison guards and police jujutsu teams. His teaching abilities were appreciated by all who have received instruction from him. It was a pleasure attending his classes and watching him demonstrating his skills and knowledge. Despite all of this, he never wanted to open his own club. Until his final day, he remained faithful to his dojo, Shinbukan school in Pozarevac, where he was assistant instructor. Practically the last thing he saw before his life has ended was tatami full of his students and friends.

This great jujutsu, judo and sword instructor was a true budoka. His calmness, peacefulness and goodness will always be remembered by all who knew him. His technique will be remembered by all who saw him, all of his students and associates, his friends and teachers, all of his budo friends who are living in Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, England, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, France, America, Indonesia...

Fare well, my friend.