Athlete Scholar of the Year announcement
Scholarship recipients of $1,000, $750, and $500 awards for 2021 will be selected by the Athlete Scholar of the Year Committee on behalf of the USJF Board of Directors by April 2021. Applications are due to the United State Judo Federation no later than March 29, 2021. Forms for applying are available on-line or from your USJF Representative.
Karen DuPage
The Intermountain Kata Clinic
5th Annual CENCO Kata Clinic
Sponsored by Central Coast Judo Yudanshakai, Inc.
September 28 – September 29, 2019
Clinician: Sensei Eiko Shepherd – 8th Dan
Changes to Background Screening Procedures
Years ago, USJF adopted the US Center for SafeSport’s programs and standards for education and training to protect athletes and participants from abuse. SafeSport has begun to require more rigorous background screens. Thus, our background screening has been updated to meet these new standards. Our screening vendor continues to be National Center for Security Initiatives (NCSI).
The major changes are that background screening is now required to be completed annually and there are more data sources available to conduct a wider, more thorough background screening. The screening fee has been REDUCED to $30.00. The new screening program is compliant with the newer, stricter SafeSport standards and includes two (2) annual background screens/checks.
Thank you to Mr. Keith Bryant, CEO, at USA Judo for helping to obtain NGB pricing for USJF as a Group A member.
Preparing for the Future
Calvin Terada, Chair USJF Referee Development and Certification Subcommittee
Calvin Terada writes:
Without dojos being open for practice and tournaments being held in our community, I am sure that many of us feel a strange sense of uneasiness since judo has been a part of our entire lives for so long.
While there is uncertainty and challenges all around us, one silver lining is that I have been utilizing the extra time to work on updating policies and develop strategic planning for the USA Judo Referee Commission (RC). Each of you will see some of the work being produced by the RC very soon. I have been also doing a lot of thinking and planning for us (USJF RDCS), especially on next steps for judo referee development, but also on succession planning for the RDCS which has come to fruition.
CJBBA Kata Clinic Report
The Chicago Judo Black Belt Association has been a proud sponsor of the Tohkon Judo Academy’s Kata Clinic, held each year over President’s Day Weekend. USJF Hall of Fame Inductee, Sensei Eiko Shepherd and Tohkon Judo Academy’s founder, Douglas Tono, who also competes at the highest levels of international kata competition, are the head clinicians for the weekend, as they lead a 3-day weekend of intense kata study.
Continue reading “CJBBA Kata Clinic Report”
Reports on two Kata Clinics
The Pacific Southwest Yudanshakai has reported on the USJF Kata Clinic in San Diego. Here is the report.
The Chuka Yudanshakai has sent a report on their USJF Kata Clinic in Fresno.
Here is the report. Continue reading “Reports on two Kata Clinics”
New Officers
Elections for our officers for the term 2020-2022 were held on 6 December and the results are:
President: Mr. Mitchell Palacio / Central Coast
1st Vice-President: Mr. Edward Hanashiro / 50th State
2nd Vice-President: Mr. Boris Munoz / Hudson
Secretary: Ms. Krista Tsutsui-Steele / San Joaquin
Treasurer: Mr. Ken Teshima / Nanka
Board of Examiners Chairperson: Mr. Matsuo Takeda / Hokka
Please offer your congratulations and appreciation to our new and re-elected officers.
Please offer your thank yous and congratulations to our outgoing officers as we officially close the 2018-2020 term:
President: Mr. Mark Muranaka / Hawaii
1st Vice-President: Mr. Edward Hanashiro / 50th State
2nd Vice-President: Ms. Sandra Hauptmann / Chicago
Secretary: Ms. Diane Tamai Jackson / Shufu
Treasurer: Mr. Peter Catlos / Konan
Board of Examiners Chairperson: Mr. Matsuo Takeda / Hokka
Elections for the four (4) open seats on the Promotion Committee were held and filled by following individuals:
- Mr. Joshua Kindelberger / Intermountain
- Mr. Thomas Sheehan / Konan
- Mr. Matsuo Takeda / Hokka
- Ms. J. Miki Takemori / Shufu
Please offer your congratulations and appreciation for the service of these individuals.
Elections were held for trustees of the Endowment Trust. Terms for three (3) of the trustees expire in 2020. The new terms run for four (4) years, 2020-2024.
The three (3) expiring trustees were re-elected for a new 4-year term for 2020-2024. They are:
- Mr. Bert Mackey / Northwest
- Mr. Bryan Matsuoka / Daiheigen
- Mr. Thomas Sheehan / Konan
We thank them for their service through 2020 and thank them in advance for their continued service through 2024.
Thank you very much to everyone for their service to judo and USJF. Especially during these times of COVID.