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Five Star Dojo Program

five stars logo

USJF is proud to announce the “5 Star Dojo Certification Program.” The program is to recognize those dojos that demonstrate excellence in Judo by having within their membership the following certifications:

  1. USJF Teacher or Assistant Teacher certification.
  2. USJF National Coach, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Master or Elite National Coach certification.
  3. USJF or USA Judo Referee certification at local, regional, national or international level.
  4. USJF Kata certification A, B, or C in nage no kata, katame no kata, ju no kata, kime no kata, goshin jutsu, itsutsu no kata or koshiki no kata.
  5. Special activities including clinics, judo camps or tournaments.

five star banner

Your club must have a minimum of one member for each area: teacher, coach, referee, kata and at least one special activity. Clubs meeting the 5 Star Dojo criteria will receive a banner recognizing them as a USJF 5 Star Dojo. Clubs meeting 4 of the 5 criteria will receive a 4 Star Dojo certificate.

The 5 Star Dojo committee members are:

  • Dr. Larry M. Tsutsui, Program Chair
  • Mitchell Palacio, Founder of the Program
  • Julia Tsutsui, Program Manager

Learn more

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Winter Nationals

SATURDAY DEC 7th 2019 at AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

Dear Friends,

We are only 2 weeks away from the 2019 Judo WinterNationals. The deadline for early registration is Nov 29th. Take advantage of the discounted price and receive a free tournament T-Shirt. Registrations are growing daily and we are expecting a great turnout. Don’t miss out on being part of one of the best tournaments in the country.

Online registration is open. Visit to download a registration packet and for additional information.

Important Reminders

We have a Coach Clinic and Referee Clinic on Friday 12/6 at the Alexander Hughes Community Center (home of Goltz Judo) in Claremont.

To make it easier on our competitors, we have a list of satellite weigh-in sites. Click here to see it. It is not too late to add your club as a satellite weigh-ins site.

We are publishing a list of competitors daily. Please check it for accuracy, if any information is incorrect contact me immediately for rectification.

Registration will be closed on Thursday 12/5 at 6:00PM. No registrations will be accepted after that.

All weights must be reported by Thursday 12/5 at 8:00PM.

There will be 3 sessions and 6 mats. All brackets and matches will be posted on Friday 12/7 around 3:00 PM, Remember to review the info and request corrections by Friday 6:00 PM. There will absolutely be no corrections or changes done the day of the tournament.

We will start the competition with the 5-12 Years old, after that we will intermix the remaining Juniors, Seniors and Masters. Each session will have an estimated start time, you will then be able to see what session you are competing in and your first match number, so you can estimate what time to be there. Please plan on being early.

To help coaches plan and coordinate their coaching duties and communicate with their players and parents, we will publish a list of players and their session and 1st match numbers by club. This will allow coaches to have a summary sheet for all their players.

To speed up the start of the tournament, we will ask players competing in matches 1-10 for session 1 to be at their assigned mats 10-15 minutes before opening ceremony. Since these are usually young kids, we are asking coaches and parents to make sure they check their kids in at the designated doors around 8:45 AM

All information can be found here: http://JudoWinterNationals.com.

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the tournament and our thanks for your continued support!

Regards,

Goltz Judo

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George C. Balch Committee Report

George C. Balch Committee Report
To the USJF Board of Directors and Membership
November 9, 2019

Thank you to Messrs. Robert Balch, Robert Brink, James Cornforth and Noboru Saito for guiding the efforts of the George C. Balch Scholarship Committee. As friends and family of George Balch, these members have been instrumental in keeping his spirit alive through the work of the Committee.

Continue reading “George C. Balch Committee Report”

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Life Membership Year End Report 2018 – 2019

We received 56 new Regular Life Members. So we had a 45% decrease in regular memberships. As for the President Life Memberships, we received 7 upgrades also had a 305% increase in the President Club Life Member.

As a result, the income to the USJF Endowment Fund after the expense of paying for plaques, engraving, cards, lapel pins, patches and postage was $22,873.76.

2018-2019 Life Membership awards go to

Yudanshakai

  1. Shufu
  2. 50 State
  3. Hawaii

Club

  1. Hui-O-Judo Beltsville – Shufu
  2. Sanshi Judo Club – Pacific Southwest
    Clovis Judo Clu – Chuka
  3. Manoa Judo Club – 50th State
    Tohkan Judo Acadmey – Chicago
    Tohoku Judo Club – Rokushu
    Saito Dojo – Konan
    Hongwanji Pearl City – 50th State
    Orlando Judo inc. – Florida
    Hawaii Boys& Girl Club – Hawaii

Respectfully submitted
Tom Sheehan

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Jack Hatton

image of Jack HAtton from the USAJudo siteimage of Jack HAtton from the USAJudo site

An item from the USA JUDO COACH of September 28, 2019

We’ve lost someone. I started to say we’ve lost an athlete, because he was, and a very good one at that. But the reality is, we’ve lost a human. A young man in his prime who could have done anything.

At one point or another, Jack Hatton was a student of more great coaches than many athletes. From New York, Texas, Phoenix, Colorado and Massachusetts and beyond, Jack sought out some of America’s best coaches and teams to train with. He dedicated his life to preparing for greatness.

On behalf of all USA Judo Coaches, we extend our deepest condolences to Jack’s family, his friends and all of his coaches, both previous and current.

As Coaches, it is important to tell our athletes that while it is noble to strive for greatness in one thing, it is imperative that they understand that opportunity and options are nearly limitless. And above all things, they are loved.

On Sunday, September 29th, 2019, a wake for Jack Hatton was held at the Keefe Funeral Home – Arlington, MA. A reception followed to share memories at Common Grounds in Arlington.

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A letter of appreciation from Joon Chi to Mark Muranaka

Hello, Mr. President,

I hope all is well for you and your family and all USJF Members.

As always everyone appreciated your extra support and efforts to judo and our USJF High School Special Training camp in Korea Youth Program.

The host high school principal has sent you an Appreciation Plaque and should be with you shortly. Along with me they want to recognize your contribution and goodwill gesture.

This group picture shows our 2019 team members with some of the host students.

Again, our heartfelt thanks.

Respectfully yours,
Joon Chi

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USJF Athlete Scholar of the Year invitation to apply

Please save the date September 11th to review your application for USJF Athlete Scholar of the Year!

The application for this college scholarship will be available on that date.

We will never forget 9/11

On the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy, remember and reflect with these powerful words.

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”

President Obama in a 2011 radio address

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Gold Patch Award

At the Senior Nationals, these referees received a prestigious award, recognizing their accomplishments in refereeing some of which are dedicated USJF members.

From left to right: Boris Munoz, Marcos Batan, Jacob “Jake” Freedman, Anthony Roscoe, Nicole Ward, Scott Morifuji, Joaquin Gonzalez, Stephen Friedman and Gerardo Tello

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Advanced Judo Clinic with Sensei Neil Adams

Neil Adams

CLINIC TIME/DATE: 3:00-6:00, Saturday August 17, 2019

SITE: Boys & Girls Club Judo, 1704 Waiola Street, Honolulu, HI 96826

ELIGIBILITY: Current USJF/USJI/USJA/ATJA/AJJF Membership. Participant must present
membership card at the clinic. Target audience are judoka with interest and
experience in advanced competition and coaching, approximately ages 13 and
up.

COST: $20

LIABILITY WAIVERS: Please bring with you

REGISTRATION FORM: E-mail to ghchow@yahoo.com by August 15, 2019

CONTACT: Gregory Chow, 372-6447

sponsors

Full pdf including registration forms here