COVID-19 Pandemic 2020

(March 14, 2020)

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.

Here is a pdf for distribution

Continue reading “Recommendations from the USJF Medical Committee about COVID-19”

The Athlete Scholar of the Year (ASOY) award provided several opportunities for me. I was fortunate enough to receive the award six times. Two important opportunities the award provided are: (1) Allowing me to focus more time on academic and athletic goals during college and (2) Completing my Bachelors and Masters degrees with minimal student debt.

The funds from the ASOY award allowed me to focus more time on academic and athletic goals during college instead of spending additional time working to pay for school. While attending college at Boise State University, I had an academic goal to graduate with Honors. I was able to achieve this goal for both my Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters in Business Administration. Remaining focused on this academic goal allowed me to maintain a high GPA and receive additional scholarships. An athletic goal was qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in Judo. While attending school, I was training and competing at international judo events. Both training and competing require large amounts of time and money. Receiving scholarships like ASOY allowed additional time and money to be put toward my athletic goals. I was able to achieve my goal when I qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games at 73kg.

The ASOY award helped me to complete both of my degrees with minimal student debt. Many graduates from college finish with a large amount of student debt, which can make it difficult financially after college is complete. The money received from ASOY reduced my overall college expense and as discussed earlier, allowed me to maintain a high GPA, which led to receiving additional scholarships. Finishing my college career with minimal student debt created an easy transition to my professional and personal life.

I believe the athlete scholar of the year award is appropriately named since it awards prior athletic and academic accomplishments and allows recipients to pursue future goals in both areas. The award allowed me to pursue my goals, which shaped me into the person I am today. I would like to thank the United States Judo Federation (USJF) for awarding scholarships. I have great appreciation for USJF’s continued support of their members through activities like the ASOY award.

San Jose Buddhist Judo Club web site

The San Jose Buddhist Judo Club was established in 1947. The club has two locations in San Jose, CA. The club is a member of Central Coast Judo Association. Currently approximately 185 members with 22 instructors. Instructors are SafeSport, CDC Heads Up and CPR/First Aid certified. Yearly events include: annual “Sensei Memorial” tournament, camps, clinics, beach party, movie nights, awards dinner, promotional ceremonies, and support of community events such as Obon Festival and Nikkei Matsuri.

Attention All Athlete Scholars

The applications are due to the National Office no later than March 29, 2020.

If you have Spring Break in March, we need to see your excellence on paper prior to your Break!

USJF has a great success story by Chanin Sugimoto: the ASOY scholarship helped me create the best possible life for myself and for my family.

You now have 6 weeks remaining to:

• Request your electronic transcript from 2018-2019
• Request a letter of support from your Instructor
• Reflect on what your judo studies have done for you

Be a Champion and get this started today!