Being the oldest Judo organization in the USA, the USJF was originally called the Judo Black Belt Federation (JBBF). It was organized around regional/local Yudanshakai (black belt associations) that their members deal with. Many of these Yudanshakai had been operating individually for many years and have a rich legacy. The purpose of a Yudanshakai was to promote judo in its own area and run local events while the USJF focuses on the coordination and organization of grass root Judo at the national level.
The USJF as an organization has a system similar to the Electoral College. Each Yudanshakai elects its delegates who represent their interests at the national meeting.
Today, the purpose of the yudanshakai is much the same. The Yudanshakai represents its clubs and members to the national organization and promotes judo with its own members. The structure of the yudanshakai, however, is more operational and less geographical than it used to be. There are some parts of the country where two or more yudanshakai operate in the same area and some Yudanshakai have clubs and members that are located far from their geographic location.
Charter clubs and individual members are generally members of a specific Yudanshakai.
Active Yudanshakai
50th State
Contact – Nathan Lee
Arizona
Contact – Steve Owen
Phone – (520) 465-0700
Central Coast
Contact – Max Rayner
Phone – (510) 440-9956
Chicago
Contact –
Chuka
Contact – Tom Jay
Phone – (559) 562-1134
Daiheigen
Contact – Conrad Hisaka
Florida
Contact – Hector Vega
Phone – (786) 236-2780
Florida State
Contact –
Phone – (305) 495-0518
Ganbaru
Contact –
Phone – (831) 212-9006
Hawaii
Contact – Rodney Nakayama
Phone – (808) 662-2765
Hawaii State
Contact – Nathan Hiraoka
Phone – (808) 285-4837
Hokka
Contact – Mac Takeda
Hudson
Contact –
Phone – (516) 242-7705
Intermountain
Contact – Jerry Mizuta
Phone – (541) 889-6922
Konan
Contact – James Murray
Phone – (616) 293-1568
Makoto
Contact – Roland Fernando
Phone – (619) 479-8954
Nanka
Contact – Keith Chu
Phone – (949) 232-3012
Niagara
Contact – Janet Y. Ashida Johnson
Phone – (585) 352-6162
Northwest
Contact – Jason Harai
Phone – (206) 364-0851
Pacific Southwest
Contact – Earnest Matsubara
Phone – (460) 434-2398
Rokushu
Contact – Dale Swett
Phone – (617) 491-0520
San Joaquin
Contact –
Phone – (559) 222-2163
Shinnanbu
Contact –
Phone – (504) 450-2353
Shufu
Contact –
Phone – (202) 332-9224
Southern Pacific
Contact – Allen Inouye
Phone – (310) 625-1407