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Grant for 100 USJF clubs

Fill out this USJF survey form for $100 grant

Good morning USJF community,

Last month, USJF put together a small grant program for those USJF clubs that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will provide 100 USJF clubs $100, taking into consideration financial need and effective usage judged by an ad hoc committee. We understand this is a very small amount, but we hope this can provide some relief, whether it is used to buy telecommunication software to host virtual class (e.g. Zoom), partially pay rent, subsidize club dues for your students, etc. For those who do not need this, please pass this along to your fellow USJF clubs that do need any help. Please go to the form to apply.

Please reach out to us if there are any questions, comments, or concerns.

Sincerely,
Mark Muranaka, USJF

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Judo survey

Dear Athlete,

I am conducting a study on judo engagement and retention, sport specialization, and injuries and hope that you might participate.

I am conducting this research because of a paucity of published data on these topics within American judo and hope to identify ways to improve athlete engagement and success in the sport as well as promoting the health and well-being of the athlete. The study consists of a survey that will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous and no personally identifying information will be collected. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and confidential. In order to be eligible for the study you must be a current or former judo athlete and at least 18 years of age. For questions about the survey,

If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions about your rights as a research participant please contact the UCLA Office of the Human Research Protection Program (OHRPP):

  • by phone: (310) 206-0240
  • by mail
    Box 951406,
    Los Angeles, CA90095-1406

Thank you for your participation in this study!

Please click this link to begin the survey

Best,
Jeff Fujimoto, MD, MBA
Dena Florczyk, MD

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Letter from Koka Kids

Hi to the members of the USJF

Hello from Great Britain!

I’m Nik Fairbrother (World judo champion and Olympic silver medalist). I’m also the creator of Koka Kids, a program that helps junior judoka learn more about judo and supplies coaches with teaching resources.

Judo is facing one of its toughest challenges right now, but I’m confident the judo community is strong enough to pull through it. We are used to fighting, and if we stay united and work to help one another, we will overcome this battle.

I’ve been using lockdown to animate the entire Gokyo! And I’d like to share this page with you:

Judo Throws: The Ultimate Guide

Coaches, please feel free to link to this resource from your website, and use it for reference during your Zoom classes.

This Judo Throws page has every single technique of The Gokyo animated.

Here you can learn every judo technique there is in the judo syllabus.

Learn by watching an animation of each waza. Each judo technique has been animated to help you visualize the throw.

Just click on the name of a throw to go to a full tutorial.

Find out how to link the throws into combinations and discover the counters you need to watch out for!

Please enjoy the resource!

Judo Throws: The Ultimate Guide

Do remember, even if we can’t go back on the tatami, there is still a lot we can do to keep our fitness and judo skills ticking over.

Train on your own using Shadow Judo, or use resistance bands to do Uchikomi in your home or garden.

Why not try and complete the Uchikomi Challenge – we provide free certificates for coaches or judoka to download and print and use.

If you would like any more information please do get in touch.

All the best,
Nik Fairbrother (7th Dan)
Koka Kids Editor
1992 Olympic Silver Medalist
1993 World Champion

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Sam S. Imoto, Sensei

It is with great regret to inform you of the passing of our head instructor Sam S. Imoto Sensei, who established the Visalia Judo Club in 1965.

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Sam S. Imoto Sensei on April 29, 2020 after a lengthy illness. Imoto Sensei was born in June of 1927 in Lindsay, California to Yaohachi and Sami Imoto. He would have been 93 this coming June. He dedicated his life in giving back what he had learned in Judo and passed his knowledge to those who studied under him. Many of his former students were fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of his lifelong journey as a judoist.

Sam Imoto Continue reading “Sam S. Imoto, Sensei”

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Revised COVID-19 Guidance

A revised statement of practice has been issued. The full text is here and it includes the USOPC statement. The major addition to the document is below.

Return To Training Phases 1-5

The following is a very brief summary of the USOPC’s April 28, 2020, Return to Training Considerations Post-COVID-19 document. It is appended to the end of this guidance document.

Please be sure to read it in its entirety. Please be current and cognizant of the situation in your locale to ensure proper compliance with current rules and requirements.

Please keep in mind that the handling & treatments for the COVID-19 pandemic is a live, real-time experiment worldwide. It is impossible to impose a definitive timeline on the phased resumption of normal activity as the situation is very dynamic and fluid. Consequently, the return to activity phases depend on the situation and circumstance in your local jurisdiction. Your local public health authority’s assessments will determine the mandates/edicts they issue. It is vitally important that you are current and have a good understanding of these mandates/edicts. Please follow them closely to be compliant with public health standards. This will help you to protect the health and safety of your students, yourselves, and your community.

Regarding COVID-19 Testing:

There are now many different COVID-19 testing protocols and kits available. There are huge variations in pricing with little detailed information available regarding the accuracy and validity of these tests. Also, not all tests are available everywhere. This being so, though testing is important, it is difficult to recommend a particular protocol/test for people to take. Therefore, WE ARE NOT MAKING TESTING A REQUIREMENT.

Mandatory Temperature Checks:

Temperature checks are MANDATORY for everyone prior to entering the dojo/club/training facility once we reach Phase 3 & 4. The maximum acceptable temperature for entry is 100.4°F/38° C. Someone with a temperature that is higher than this is considered to have a fever.

Phase 1: Public health authorities require shelter in place, public training facilities are closed Dojos/clubs remain CLOSED. Individual home training & Virtual coaching ONLY.

Phase 2: Public health authorities lift shelter in place requirements, but continue to prohibit group activities and public training facilities remain closed Dojos/clubs remain CLOSED. Individual home training & Virtual coaching ONLY.

Phase 3: Public health authorities allow small group activities (< 10 people), but public training facilities remain closed Dojos/clubs remain CLOSED. Individual home training & Virtual coaching ONLY.

Phase 4: Public health authorities allow public training facilities to open, no limitations on group size.

Dojos/clubs may OPEN. Direct contact allowed to resume during this phase.

Phase 5: A vaccine or cure for COVID-19 is developed

Same as Phase 4. Continue infection prevention methods.

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Regarding Sensei Kinya Sakamoto

On April 10, 2020, Kinya Sakamoto, Sensei, 8th dan, passed away at the age of 96. Sensei retired as a successful landscaper. He is survived by two sons, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Kinya Sakamoto

Sensei Sakamoto started judo at the age of 13 at the Bakersfield Buddhist Church. Under the guidance of Senseis Abe and Tamanaha, he was promoted to the rank of Shodan at the age of 17. Along with Dr. Jerry Young, Sensei Sakamoto helped start the Bakersfield Judo Club in 1958 and joining the Chuka Yudanshakai the same year. He held the position of Chairman of the Board of Examiners in the yudanshakai organization for many years. He remained active with the Bakersfield Judo Club as Head Instructor and advisor for over 60 years, still attending practice as recently as last month.

Sensei Sakamoto left a lasting impression on all his students, not only for his judo knowledge but for his calm demeanor and clear instructions. He had a profound influence to promote the art of judo. Our organization has lost another of our founding members but mostly we will miss the leadership he provided us. One of his proudest achievements was the passing of his knowledge to his family, his two sons and four nephews all achieved the rank of black belt.

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Covid 19 Guidance updated

On March 14, Covid 19 Guidance was issued for United States Judo Federation. At that time an update was anticipated which has now appeared.

Thank you very much to Dr. Ricardo Joseph and Dr. Eric Chen of the USJF Medical Committee for their time and expertise in helping to put together this information along with recommendations for our community. This will be helpful for everyone as we all work through the trying & difficult times ahead.

This document provides recommendations from the USJF Medical Committee on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

  • We must all behave responsibly to protect own health, but also to protect everyone’s health by not contracting, carrying, and transmitting the COVID-19 virus to others.
  • These recommendations are based on the current and most up-to-date information and data available at the time of creation. This was accomplished by researching and reviewing guidelines published by various sports medicine organizations, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • We remind you that the COVID-19 pandemic is a rather fluid and sometimes chaotic environment with occasionally conflicting medical information.
  • Keep yourself informed with the latest information, developments, and situation by visiting the CDC’s COVID-19 page.
  • Also visit your state’s health department website, and keep up with your local news. Empowerment though knowledge and education is critical.
  • It is vitally important for everyone to be mindful that each individual’s health situation is unique and may require different strategies. Thus, we strongly recommend that people consult with their primary care physician/doctor/medical professional to ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures that are what is safest and most effective for their
    personal situation.
  • These are general recommendations. It is NOT our intent to circumvent or replace the advice or directives from your primary care physician/doctor/medical professional.
  • We encourage compliance with government recommendations, regulations,
    requirements, and laws.
  • Our intent is to help keep all of our members safe while still retaining some flexibility for our high-level elite athletes.

Everyone Must Be Responsible & Diligent

Everyone involved (including coaches, parents, and spectators) will have to closely monitor their health and truly strive to remain healthy. We all have to realize and accept the fact that if anyone in our group gets sick/infected, with the COVID-19 virus, we will have to assume that we are ALL INFECTED until proven otherwise.

Some of the changes in the document …

Stay At Home/Shelter In Place

The federal government is recommending that the general public stay at home. Many state and municipal governments are recommending/mandating that the general public stay at home and shelter in place. We encourage you to support these recommendations and mandates. Avoid exposure to COVID-19 and stay home as much as possible. Be mindful of “social distancing” and put distance between yourself and other people, six (6) feet or more whenever possible to avoid contact with respirator droplets when an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick and people who have been exposed to COVID-19. Studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people when they appear to be asymptomatic.

USJF Sanctioned Events

We are cancelling all previously USJF approved sanctions for events scheduled to occur on or before May 15, 2020. We will not accept sanction applications for any event to be scheduled to occur on or before May 15, 2020. We encourage event planners, organizers, and sponsors to wait until the current pandemic has subsided and the government restrictions and recommendations are lifted.

USJF National Office Update

In compliance with government recommendations and mandates, the USJF National Office will continue to operate with the staff generally working remotely from home as much as possible. We are observing social distancing by having only one (1) person in the office at any time. Much of our communication comes through the USPS mail. We will pick up and process our USPS mail as normal. As much as possible, work will be distributed and handled remotely. Though we will continue to answer the telephone, we strongly encourage you to communicate with us via email during these times.

Here is the pdf for distribution