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Masataka Hirayama

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 he did...

Brynn and Haley Buskerud – World Judo Champions

North Bend twins Brynn and Haley Buskerud have become judo world champions, setting history in the process. The Buskeruds won the gold medal in the U21 Ju-no-kata division in the Kato World Championships November 8-9 in Paris, France. In the process, they became the...

Passing of Sensei Dale Thompson – Florida Judo

Florida Judo Leader, Rokudan, Mentor, and Builder of Community,

Sam Hamai

Sam Hamai Inducted 1994 On January 27, 1994, the Judo community lost one of its leaders when Isamu (Sam) Hamai passed away at the age of 72 at his home in Palo Alto, California. Hamai Sensei was...

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Mits Kimura

Mits Kimura Inducted 1993 Mitsuho Kimura was born in San Francisco in 1916. He was oldest of 8 children. About 1931, the family moved to the San Gabriel valley, in Southern California, and a few...

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Vince Tamura

Vince Tamura Inducted 1994 Vince Tamura was born in Fife, Washington, one of eleven children. It was there in a Japanese-American community, that he first became interested in Judo. At the age of...

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James Bregman

James Bregman Inducted 1993 James Steven (“Jim”) Bregman (born November 17, 1941, in Arlington, Virginia) was a member of the first American team to compete in judo in the Summer Olympics. Jim...

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Joey Wanag

Joey Wanag Inducted 2010 As a 1992 Olympian, he won a Silver Medal at the 1991 World Champion and Gold Medals at the 1990 World University Games and the 1991 Pan-Am Games. Joseph Paul Wanag (born...

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Sanctioned Events

Sam Hamai

Sam Hamai Inducted 1994 On January 27, 1994, the Judo community lost one of its leaders when Isamu (Sam) Hamai passed away at the age of 72 at his home in Palo Alto, California. Hamai Sensei was survived his wife Emiko, son Harold and wife Laura, and his two...

Mits Kimura

Mits Kimura Inducted 1993 Mitsuho Kimura was born in San Francisco in 1916. He was oldest of 8 children. About 1931, the family moved to the San Gabriel valley, in Southern California, and a few years later, Kimura graduated from El Monte High School, where he...

Takahiko Ishikawa

Takahiko Ishikawa Inducted 1993 Memories of My Sensei Takahiko Ishikawa, 9th Dan by Harold (Hal) E. Sharp I would like to share some of my experiences with you about my Sensei and dear friend, Takahiko Ishikawa, 9th Dan, who passed away at the age of 91 in June, 2008....

Vince Tamura

Vince Tamura Inducted 1994 Vince Tamura was born in Fife, Washington, one of eleven children. It was there in a Japanese-American community, that he first became interested in Judo. At the age of five, Vince stepped on Judo mat for the first time. After residing...

James Bregman

James Bregman Inducted 1993 James Steven (“Jim”) Bregman (born November 17, 1941, in Arlington, Virginia) was a member of the first American team to compete in judo in the Summer Olympics. Jim Bregman started his judo career when only 12 but he quickly became very...

Joey Wanag

Joey Wanag Inducted 2010 As a 1992 Olympian, he won a Silver Medal at the 1991 World Champion and Gold Medals at the 1990 World University Games and the 1991 Pan-Am Games. Joseph Paul Wanag (born August 2, 1966) is an American judoka. He trained under Kiyoshi Shiina....

DateEventYudanshakaiContact
Mar 22, 2026Warriors Quest
Honolulu, HI
50th State✉ Dean Shiraki
Mar 29, 20262026 Nanka Spring Development Tournament
Westminster, CA
Nanka✉ Scott Momii
Apr 11, 2026Battle by the Lake Judo Tournament
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Northwest✉ Jennifer Badertscher
(470) 629-1220
Apr 19, 2026PSJA Spring 26 Novice Judo Tournament
Vista, CA
Pacific Southwest✉ Ryan Rubis
(760) 458-3129
Apr 25, 2026Shufu Yudanshaikai BOE, BOD meeting, & Promotional
Beltsville, MD
Shufu✉ Karen Whilden
(703) 622-6861
May 09, 20262026 Takemori Memorial Clinic featuring Katuhiko K
Arlington, VA
ShufuMiki Takemori
(617) 686-6406
May 16, 2026PSJA Judo no Kata & Kime no Kata Clinic
Vista, CA
Pacific Southwest✉ Bruce Knight
(619) 368-9812
Jun 29, 2026Budokan Summer Camp 2026
Seattle, WA
Northwest✉ Krista Steeele
Jul 13, 2026Fresno Judo Club Summer Camp 2026
Clovis, CA
San Joaquin✉ Krista Steele