Shufu Judo Yudanshakai, in cooperation with Hui-O-Judo Beltsville and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, presents the Fall 2024 Shufu Judo Yudanshakai Junior and Senior Promotional Examination Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Beltsville Community Center 3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705 United States Judo Federation Sanction # 24-11-02 This event is Preregistration Only. There is no onsite registration. Key Deadlines – These are HARD deadlines – no exceptions Monday, September 2 – Earliest date to accept applications. Thursday, October 3 – Deadline for initial submission of Dan paperwork (Form 20) Saturday, October 19 – Second deadline for ALL FULLY COMPLETED paperwork due (juniors, senior kyu, dan) Saturday, November 2 – Promotion day, BOE meeting, BOD meeting Eligibility to register for promotion All judoka must be a current member of the USJF or USJA . (USJF members are eligible to be promoted at this event. USJA members may request to be examined and have their results forwarded to the appropriate organization.) For Shodan – current year plus one year prior membership in USJF For Nidan and above – current year plus three years prior membership in USJF Recommending Students for Promotion Examinees MUST be[...]
Saturday May 18th 2013 – Female competitors from up and down the East Coast gathered in the Nation’s Capital for a day of Judo, Jujitsu and camaraderie. DC Judo hosted its first Shiai, the Capital Grapple, downtown at the RH Terrell Recreation Center. Women judoka aged 8 to 63 competed in Shiai, Kata, and a special Newaza-Only category. They were joined by women jujitsuka who competed in white and blue belt BJJ divisions on a separate mat.
The event was a partnership between hosts DC Judo, DC’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) which provided the tournament venue, and Team Moxie who provided…well…the moxie to undertake an all women’s tournament. The unusual format represented a response to women competitor’s wish for more matches and an environment supporting the development of female athletes.
Competitors hailed from as far away as Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina to compete. They joined athletes from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. A quarter of the Judo competitors ventured out on the mat for their first competition and nearly half of the BJJ competitors were trying their hand for the first time.
The District of Columbia and Maryland tied for overall medals (12-12) with Massachusetts finishing close behind with 10 medal finishes. Virginia pulled in 8 medals and Pennsylvania 7. New Jersey managed to win 2 medals with only a single competitor entered! Maryland broke the tie with a slight edge on weighted medals points beating out the District 30-29. Massachusetts followed with 28, Virginia 21, and Pennsylvania 16 medal points.
The Capital Grapple broke with the traditional shiai format adding Newaza competition as a separate category in addition to IJF Shiai and Kata competition. In the Newaza category, players competed under modified IJF rules that required them to remain in groundwork. Matches started in a one-knee up position with normal kumikata grips. Players were penalized for intentionally rising to tachi waza. Newaza matches did not use the Golden Score and matches were allowed to end in Hikiwake (draw.) Only one match ended in a draw as the competitors strove to finish with pin or submission within the permitted time frame.
The biggest change in format came from including Brazilian Jujitsu competition as a rules category at the event. USA Judo sanctioned the Judo-BJJ event at one venue and Jujitsu schools responded by sending their women competitors. Competitors could participate in multiple categories (like Judo & Newaza, Newaza & BJJ, Judo & BJJ, or even all three) with pools by rank and weight in each category. Most competed in more than one category. A team of BJJ referees officiated their matches under the IBJJF rules.
The side by side format gave both Judoka and Jujitsuka a chance to see and learn from each other. Many BJJ competitors commented on the high level of tachi waza even among the junior competitors. Judoka were exposed to the excellent ground work skills developed under BJJ teaching methods. The event opened an opportunity to discover something new for everyone.
The following schools participated:
Arlington Judo Club (VA)
Baltimore Judo (MD)
BETA Academy (DC)
Bushikai (MD)
Capitol Hill MAFA (DC)
College Park Judo (MD)
DC Judo (DC)
Frederick Fight Club (MD)
Gracie Barra New England (MA)
MMA Institute (VA)
Murty’s Judo (PA)
Navy Judo (MD)
Osagame Martial Arts and Fitness (PA)
Scranton MMA (PA)
Sport Judo/ Yamasaki Academy (VA)
Tech Judo Club (NJ)
Tohoku Judo (MA)
Washington Judo Club (DC)
Several Jujitsu clubs expressed interest in continuing the format and “crossing over” into Judo competition. DPR executive leadership attended the event and expressed a wish to expand Judo opportunities across the District. DC Boxing and Wrestling Commissioner Viraj Gandhi and his firm Paradyme Management contributed to the event to support the Capital Grapple medals which included a quote from Keiko Fukuda, 10th dan. Red Bull even made a corporate contribution to support the event!
The post-event online survey of participants and volunteers showed a high level of interest in both women only competition opportunities and the chance to compete in multiple categories at the same event.
DC Judo looks forward to hosting the Capital Grapple in 2014 and seeing more women competitors take the mat.
This newsletter is presented in memory of Malcolm Hodges who was a dedicated Shufu and Washington Judo Club member for many years and wrote and was the editor of the monthly Shufu Shinbun newsletter.
Did you know that Shufu has an Athlete Funding Program? Shufu’s Athlete Funding Program provides reimbursement ($150 to $300) for athletes competing in national and international level events. If you have been a member of Shufu for at least 2 years and have participated in national or international events, then you should consider applying for Shufu’s Athlete Funding Program. Juniors, Seniors, Masters/Veterans, and Kata competitors can all apply to the Shufu Athlete Funding Program. Please see the Funding Support for Athletes link below for the complete details on the Shufu Athlete Funding Program.
SafeSport Certification is now required for all USJF registered clubs. If you have already completed the course and submitted a copy of your certificate, you do not need to resubmit. For more information or to take the course, please visit https://athletesafety.org/
Heads Up concussion training, through the CDC’s website, is a requirement for all members of your USJF registered club who function as teachers at any time. Please advise all of your instructors and assistant instructors of this requirement. The training can be accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/
Hilaire Notewo Seeking Donations for Judo Programs in the Ivory Coast, Needs Gis and Equipment
Longtime Shufu Judo member Hilaire Notewo is planning to relocate to Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Africa in late November/December. He will be supporting judo programs, but equipment (esp. judo uniforms) are difficult to come by. Hilaire is looking for gently used judo gis and other equipment. Hilaire will also be visiting and donating goods to orphanages. Should you have gently used shoes, clothes for teenagers, youths, and toddlers, kindly make them available to Hilaire.
If you would like to donate to this effort, you can send your donation to the following address:
