A Special Message from Kevin Tamai, Chairman of the Shufu Board of Examiners, on the Occasion of the Shufu Fall Promotional

August 14, 2022

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Sensei Kevin Tamai

 

Today was a big Shufu Judo day. We had rank promotions, our Board of Directors meeting, our Board of Examiners meeting and a wonderful tribute to celebrate the life of our past president and friend, Sensei John Morrisson.

 

I would like to thank everyone who attend the promotions today, whether live at the dojo or on our virtual links thru zoom.

 

A big shout out to Kurt Tamai, R Bobby Donaldson, Robert Dirt Winston and John Floyd for stepping up and away from our Shufu Yudanshakai Board of Directors meeting to be Senior examiners for our judoka testing for their dan rank promotions

 

Congratulations to the following judoka:

 

Shaun Eddy from Hui-O-Judo in Beltsville for his promotion from Shodan to Nidan

 

Guilio Agnetti from Movement Lab in Baltimore for his promotion for Shodan to Nidan. That was a long 19 years time in grade between ranks.

 

Michael DeGaetano from Hui-O-Judo in Beltsville for his promotion from Shodan to Nidan. That was a long 17 years time in grade between ranks

 

Robert Hunt from Budokan in Chesapeake Beach for his promotion for Nidan to Sandan.

 

Congratulations to all on your promotions.

 

Thank you to Sensei Karen Whilden and her team for all of their time, energy and hard work to get these and many other candidates’ paperwork ready to submit for promotion.

 

Thank you to all of our dan ranking judoka who attended the Board of Directors meeting today, some in person and some on virtual links

 

Thank you to the Shufu Yudanshakai Board of Examiners, who each traveled in from as far as Boston, or joined us remotely via virtual links, for their personal time away from family to focus on the Shufu judo community at large. We met today to discuss not just the above promotions, but many other concerns and topics for the judo community.

 

Thank you to the members of Hui-O-Judo and the Beltsville Community Center for hosting this event. Special thanks to Mr James ‘Ed” Nabors and Margie Tamai Kettl

 

Judo is about jita kyoei and about improving ourselves each day. Those who help to lead Shufu Judo give a lot of their own personal time throughout the year to help keep judo, not just continuing but to regrow and continually evolve. We share our love of judo with so many others.

 

Thank you to all of those who also stayed to celebrate the life of sensei John Morrisson. It was a wonderful time for fellowship and a great tribute to our friend and mentor. May he rest in eternal peace and happiness, united together with Betty.

 

Finally thank you to everyone reading this post for being a part of the Shufu Judo Yudanshakai community. Please continue to do what you to help grow judo and share your love of this sport.

Respectfully

 

Kevin Tamai

Chairman, Board of Examiners

Shufu Judo Yudanshakai

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. Juniors, Seniors, Masters/Veterans, and Kata competitors
can all apply to the Shufu Athlete Funding Program. If you have been a member of Shufu for at least 2 years and have participated in any of the events listed below, then you should consider applying for Shufu’s Athlete Funding Program!
 2025 USA Judo Youth National Championships
 2025 USA Junior Olympic National Championships
 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships
 2025 USA Judo President’s Cup
 2025 US Open
 2025 USJF/USJA Nationals
 2025 Pan American Cups or 2025 Pan American Championships
 2025 IJF Point Events (Grand Prix, Grand Slams, or Championships)
Please note that these are not the only tournaments which will be considered for funding.
Please go to the Funding Support for Athletes link for the complete details.

Shufu Shinbun is BACK !