by Mitchell Palacio | Apr 2, 2026 | News, Obituary
The United States Judo Federation and 50th State Judo Association mourns the passing of Ray Imada, a respected leader, mentor, and lifelong contributor to the art and community of judo in Hawaii. Ray devoted his life to the growth and promotion of judo, leaving a...
by Mitchell Palacio | Mar 17, 2026 | News, Obituary
Masataka Hirayama passed away quietly February 23, 2026 at 85 years old. He was a long time Judoka of Hawaiian Judo. He began Judo in the 1950s on the island of Hawai’i (Big Island) and paralleled the beginnings of what is now USJF. From the 1970s to the 1990s...
by Mitchell Palacio | Mar 2, 2026 | News, Obituary
Sensei Dale Thompson Florida Judo Leader, Rokudan, Mentor, and Builder of Community The Florida judo community mourns the passing of Dale Thompson, a lifelong judoka, respected teacher, and devoted leader whose influence shaped generations of athletes across the...
by Mitchell Palacio | Jan 23, 2026 | News, Obituary
Neil Simon Past President, United States Judo Federation & Konan Yudanshakai Neil Simon, past president of the United States Judo Federation (USJF) and Konan Yudanshakai, passed away on Friday, January 23, leaving behind a legacy of service, leadership, and deep...
by Stilman Davis | Nov 28, 2025 | News, Obituary
Tone Shimizu died peacefully in hospice care on November 4, 2025, after suffering a stroke. Tone was born to Kameki Shimizu and Sotera Fernandez in Negros Oriental, Philippines on March 30, 1938. Tone moved with his family to Japan after the war. He grew up in...
by Stilman Davis | Jan 19, 2024 | News, Obituary
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sensei Robert Harder, Hachidan, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024, surrounded by family at the age of 89 years, in Spokane, WA. We wish to express our deepest sympathy to Harder Sensei’s family. We have lost a...
