Sensei Fran Vall started to train in 1959 at the age of 21 but what comes after turns out to be more awesome. In 1972, when Sensei Fran was assigned to Japan for her Foreign Service duty, she trained there for the art of Naginata and she also trained Judo in the Kotokan in Tokyo. Presently, at age 81, she still teaches Judo and ski lessons for her community which is in part the reason why the documentary Sensei Fran Kicks Ass was conceptualized.