Shufu Judo Yudanshakai

presents the

Fall 2026 Shufu Judo Yudanshakai

Junior and Senior Promotional Examination

 Saturday, October 31, 2026 

Beltsville Community Center

3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705

United States Judo Federation Sanction # 26-10-xx

 

This event is Preregistration Only. There is no onsite registration.

 

Eligibility to register for promotion

All judoka must be a current member of the USJF (USA Judo or USJA)

For Shodan – current year plus one year prior membership in USJF

For Nidan and above – current year plus three years prior membership in USJF

 

Promotion Requirements

The Shufu Board of Examiners has implemented the changeover to the USJF promotional requirements.  The 2026 Shufu Fall Promotional will follow the “2021 USJF Senior Rank Requirements”, available on the Shufu website under Promotions. All ranks within Shufu’s promotion authority are required to do the physical testing, i.e. all ranks through and including Godan.  Rokudan and above are not required to do physical testing; Kata requirements still apply as required for rank sought.

 

Key Deadlines –  These are HARD deadlines  – no exceptions

August 31 – First date to accept applications.

September 30 – First deadline for Dan paperwork (initial submission of Form 20)

October 17 – Second deadline for ALL FULLY COMPLETED paperwork due (juniors, senior kyu, dan)

October 31 – Promotion day, BOE meeting, BOD meeting

 

Event Schedule for Saturday, October 31st

9:00 AM Check-in and testing begins

9:30 – 11:30 AM promotional candidates’ written tests and practical evaluations

11:30AM-12:15 PM Shufu Board of Examiners meeting – (All Board of Examiners members are requested and encouraged to attend in person.)

12:15 -12:30 PM Awarding of promotions

12:30-2:00 PM     Shufu Board of Directors Meeting (All registered Yudansha [Black Belts] are encouraged to attend but a Zoom connection will be supplied.  Contact:  Shufu President Miki Takemori at shufupresident.miki@gmail.com)

 

Please Note: There will be NO COMPETITION at this promotional event.

 

Registration and Fees

1.     Registration Deadline (These are HARD deadlines.)

• • October 17, 2026:  All promotion candidates (juniors, senior kyu, and dan ranks)

2.   All registration is online – no onsite registration

• • Registration Fee (all examinees): $25 for junior and senior kyu ranks; $50 for all dan ranks

  • Additional Fees for Black Belt Ranks only:

  • Shufu Promotion Fee: $15 (paid online with registration fee)

  •  Note: After the promotion: USJF Promotional Fees: $125 for Shodan, $180 for Nidan, $230 for Sandan, $250 for Yodan, $280 for Godan, $300 for Rokudan, $350 for Shichidan and $400 for Hachidan; Life Members: $0.

    (Instructions for how to pay to USJF Promotional Fees will be provided after the promotional.)

• Waiver (online; pending) must be electronically signed or scanned and sent to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners at shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com. Waivers will also be available on site.  For minor judoka unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, please have the parent or legal guardian download, print, and sign Waiver to bring to this event.

 

All Registration is ONLINE HERE.

 

Accommodations

If you require an accommodation for visual or hearing impairment or other reason, please let us know on the registration form.

 

Documentation to submit by senseis and candidates

August 31

Documentation first accepted (electronic submission only)

September 30

Black Belts only: Editable Form 20 (electronic submission only):

• • • Submit to Karen Whilden, Rank Registration Chair, at shufurankreg@gmail.com.

    • The Rank Registration Team will work with candidate to identify and cure any problems with the Form 20, with that process to be completed at least 14 days before the promotional, i.e. October 17

    • If a Form 20 has not been submitted by September 30, the Shufu Board of Examiners (BOE) will table the promotion request until the next promotional.

October 17

Senseis – Recommending Students for Promotion

Examinees MUST be recommended for promotion by their instructor.  Examinees should be listed on the JUDOKA RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION form that is submitted by the head instructor from each club by Saturday, October 17th to facilitate the smooth running of the event.  Submit to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners, at shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com

 

All Black Belt Rank candidates must have an additional, written recommendation from their instructor submitted by email to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners.  shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com by Saturday, October 17th, 2026

 

• • Junior and Senior Kyu Documentation (electronic submission only):

• • • • Submit scans of documents below to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners, at shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com

      • Membership card

      • Competition results

      • Kata Scores (as required for the rank sought)

        • Contact Rank Registration Chair, Karen Whilden, at shufurankreg@gmail.com for accommodations to kata demonstration due to issues of space and safety.  Shufu will follow USJF Medical Committee and local/state guidelines regarding the COVID at the time of the Promotional.

        • Kata must be judged by a member of the BOE, or a National level or higher certified kata judge or kata instructor in the kata to be tested.

      • Certificates (as required for the rank sought)

• • Black Belt Documentation Requirements (electronic submission only):
    

    (See Shufu website under Promotions for how to submit each document.)

• • • • Submit all documentation to Karen Whilden, Rank Registration Chair, at shufurankreg@gmail.com

      • Form 20 – in final, complete, and editable format

      • Membership card

      • Indicate status of a USJF background check (for judoka 18 years of age and older)

1. 1. 1. 1. Hold a current USJF background check or have recently applied for one.

• • • • Promotion certificate for current rank

      • Kata Scores (as required for the rank sought)

        • Contact Rank Registration Chair, Karen Whilden, at shufurankreg@gmail.com for accommodations to kata demonstration due to issues of space and safety.  Shufu will follow USJF Medical Committee and local/state guidelines regarding the COVID at the time of the Promotional.

        • Kata must be judged by a national level or higher certified kata judge or kata instructor in the kata to be tested.

      • Safe Sport certificate (for judoka 18 years of age and older)

      • CDC Heads Up certificate or NFHS (National Federation of High School – National Federation of State High School Association) Concussion Training

        (Note: For dan candidates who need to also satisfy USA Judo – CDC Heads Up is accepted but not NFHS.)

      • For Nidan and above: CPR and First Aid certificate(s)

      • Other certificates (as required to decrease Time-in-Grade for the rank sought for non-competitors)

      • If the Form 20 has not been updated to cure all identified problems, and resubmitted by Saturday, October 17, 2026, the Shufu Board of Examiners will table the promotion request until the next promotional.

 

No documentation will be accepted after Saturday, October 17, 2026.

 

Shufu Yudanshakai Board of Directors Please submit agenda items for the Shufu Board of Directors meeting by October 17, 2026  to Shufu Secretary Margie Kettl, at mkettl3@verizon.net. The Shufu Judo Yudanshakai Board of Directors meeting will begin at 12:30 PM.  This meeting is for registered members of Shufu Judo Yudanshakai who hold the current rank of Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) or higher.    Please try to be on time for the start of the meeting. A zoom connection will be supplied by contacting:  shufupresident.miki@gmail.com

 

Topic: Shufu Yudanshakai Board of Directors (ALL registered black belts)

Time: Saturday October 31 at 12:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647273911?pwd=VFBPRzM4b0pyWUZxeXV3WGphZlJSQT09

Meeting ID: 846 4727 3911

Passcode: ShufuBOD

One tap mobile

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Join instructions

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Topic: Shufu Judo Yudanshakai Board of Examiners Meeting

Time: Saturday October 24 at 1130am

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83980208150?pwd=Smd6aGhCNExMajVrL0t5cG13aitrUT09

Meeting ID: 839 8020 8150

Passcode: ShufuBOE

One tap mobile

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Shufu Judo Yudanshakai

presents the 

Shufu North 

Junior and Senior Promotional  

Examination 

Sunday, November 8, 2026  

Blue Dragon @ Tritac Training Center 

14 Alcap Ridge, Cromwell, CT 

United States Judo Federation Sanction # 26-11-xx

 

This event is Preregistration Only. There is no onsite registration.

 

Eligibility to register for promotion 

1. All judoka must be a current member of the USJF (USA Judo or USJA)

2. For Shodan – current year plus one year prior membership in USJF

3. For Nidan and above – current year plus three years prior membership in USJF

 

Promotion Requirements

The Shufu Board of Examiners has implemented the changeover to the USJF promotional  requirements. The 2026 Shufu Fall Promotional will follow the “2021 USJF Senior Rank  Requirements”, available on the Shufu website under Promotions. USJF Junior Rank Recommendations are listed in Matrix form.  All ranks within Shufu’s  promotion authority are required to do the physical testing, i.e. all ranks through and including Godan. Rokudan and above are not required to do physical testing; Kata requirements  still apply as required for rank sought.

 

Important Note:

“Registration” refers only to the process of completing the Registration (Application) Form and paying the fee for examination.

“Paperwork” refers to the documentation required for a particular rank.

 

Key Deadlines – These are HARD deadlines – no exceptions 

Tuesday, September 8th– First date to accept applications.

Sunday, October 11th – First deadline for Dan paperwork (initial submission of Form 20)

Sunday, October 25th – FINAL DEADLINE for all judoka ((Juniors, Seniors, Kyu, Dan) to be registered, with FULLY COMPLETED paperwork due, including an Editable Form 20 for Dan ranks, submitted to Miki Takemori at Mtakemori@aol.com, to Shufu Board of Examiners Chair Kevin Tamai at ShufuBOEChairman.Kevin@gmail.com, and (for Dan ranks only) to Shufu Rank Registration Chair Karen Whilden at Shufurankreg@gmail.com

Sunday, November 8th – Promotion day, BOE meeting

 

Event Schedule

10:00 AM – Check-in for Juniors and Seniors.

10:30–Noon –  Promotional candidates’ written tests and practical evaluations.

Zoom observation will be available to Shufu BOE.  See link below.

Noon – Shufu Board of Examiners meeting – In person and via zoom

12:20 -12:30 PM Awarding of promotions

 

Please Note: There will be NO COMPETITION at this promotional event. 

 

Registration and Fees 

1. 1. 1. Registration Deadline See above

• • • Registration Fee: Juniors: $20, Senior Kyu rank: $25, Dan rank: $65

    • Additional Fees for Black Belt Ranks only:

Note: After the promotion: USJF Promotional Fees: $125 for Shodan, $180 for Nidan,  $230 for Sandan, $250 for Yodan, $280 for Godan, $300 for Rokudan, $350 for  Shichidan and $400 for Hachidan; Life Members: $0.

(Instructions for how to pay USJF Promotional Fees will be provided after the  promotional.)

Waiver (online, pending) must be electronically signed or scanned and sent to Kevin Tamai, Chair  of the Board of Examiners at shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com and to Miki Takemori (Event coordinator) at Mtakemori@aol.com.

Waivers will also be available onsite.

All judoka must have a properly signed waiver before they can participate in this event.  For minor judoka unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian, please have the parent or legal guardian download, print, and sign the waiver to bring to this event.

 

All Registration is ONLINE.  

To Register and Pay online, click HERE

or:

https://shufujudo.org/2026-shufu-north-fall-promotional-registration-page-usjf-sanction-26-xx-xx/

 

Accommodations

If you require accommodation for visual or hearing impairment or any other reasons (i.e. injury),  please let us know on the registration form or contact Miki Takemori at Mtakemori@aol.com.

 

Documentation to submit by senseis and candidates 

1. 1. Tuesday, September 8th – Documentation first accepted (electronic submission only) 

   2. By Sunday, October 11th– 

• • Black Belts only: Editable Form 20 (electronic submission only):  

Submit to Karen Whilden, Rank Registration Chair, at shufurankreg@gmail.com.

The Rank Registration Team will work with the candidate to identify and cure any  problems with the Form 20, with that process to be completed at least 14 days  before the promotional, i.e. Sunday, October 25.

If a Form 20 has not been submitted by Sunday, October 11, the Shufu Board of Examiners (BOE) will table the promotion request until the next Promotional.

1. 3. By Sunday, October 25 

• • Senseis – Recommending Students for Promotion 

Examinees MUST be recommended for promotion by their instructor. Examinees should be listed on the JUDOKA RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION form that is submitted by the head instructor from each club to facilitate the smooth running of the  event. Submit to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners, at

shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com and Miki Takemori (event coordinator) at  Mtakemori@aol.com.

 

All Black Belt Rank candidates must have an additional, written recommendation from their instructor submitted by email to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners at shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com, Miki takemori at Mtakemori@aol.com, AND Karen Whilden at shufurankreg@gmail.com.

 

• Junior and Senior Kyu Documentation (electronic submission only): 

Submit scans of documents below to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners, at shufuboechairman.kevin@gmail.com and Miki Takemori (Event Coordinator) at  Mtakemori@aol.com.

Membership card

Competition results

Kata Scores (as required for the rank sought)

❖ Contact Rank Registration Chair, Karen Whilden, at shufurankreg@gmail.com for accommodations to kata demonstration due to issues of space and safety.  Shufu will follow USJF Medical Committee and local/state guidelines regarding  the COVID at the time of the Promotional.

❖ Kata must be judged by a member of the BOE, or a National level or higher certified kata judge or kata instructor in the kata to be tested.

Certificates (as required by the rank sought)

• Black Belt Documentation Requirements (electronic submission only): (See Shufu website under Promotions for how to submit each document.)

     Submit all documentation to Karen Whilden, Rank Registration Chair, at  shufurankreg@gmail.com

• Form 20 – in final, complete, and editable format. If the Form 20 has not been updated to cure all identified problems, and  resubmitted by Sunday, October 11, 2026, the Shufu Board of Examiners will table  the promotion request until the next promotional.

• Membership card

• Indicate status of a USJF background check (for judoka 18 years of age and older):  Hold a current USJF background check or have recently applied for one.

• Promotion certificate for current rank

• Kata Scores (as required for the rank sought)

❖ Contact Rank Registration Chair, Karen Whilden, at shufurankreg@gmail.com for accommodations to kata demonstration due to issues of space and safety.  Shufu will follow USJF Medical Committee and local/state guidelines regarding COVID at the time of the Promotional.

❖ Kata must be judged by a national level or higher certified kata judge or kata  instructor in the kata to be tested.

• Safe Sport certificate (for judoka 18 years of age and older)

• CDC Heads Up certificate or NFHS(National Federation of High School–National  Federation of State High School Association) Concussion Training

  • (Note: For dan candidates that need to also satisfy USA Judo – CDC Heads Up is accepted but not NFHS.)

• For Nidan and above: CPR and First Aid certificate(s)

• Other certificates as required to decrease Time-in-Grade by the rank sought for  non-competitors

No documentation will be accepted after Saturday, October 25, 2026.

 

Notice to all judoka registering for Dan rank promotions – It is up to each judoka to submit an EDITABLE Form 20 by the first deadline.  The form should be complete.  The packet should be complete with all documentation attached.  The judoka’s sensei should review their individual packet to make certain it is complete with all required documentation (see above list).  The rank registration person (or a member of her team) will review the packets and let you know if anything is missing.  Do not miss the deadlines.  You have until the second deadline to have all paperwork completed or you will be removed from consideration.

 

BOE Members

Join Zoom Meeting for observation of examinations and BOE meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84880553960?pwd=bkt0oaTMCB5OOOsQfjvU21bN1iOsEh.1 Meeting ID: 848 8055 3960

Passcode: Shufu*

Local hotel accommodation Super 8 by Wyndham, 1 Industrial Park Road, Cromwell, CT 06416 For additional hotels/motels nearby, check Google Maps HERE.