Shufu Judo Yudanshakai

presents the

Spring 2026 Shufu Judo Yudanshakai

Junior and Senior Promotional Examination

Saturday, April 25, 2026

at

Beltsville Community Center

3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705

United States Judo Federation Sanction # 26-04-03

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, USJA, or USA Judo . (USJF members are eligible to be promoted at this event.  USJA and USA Judo 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

Promotion Requirements being used  

The Shufu Board of Examiners has implemented the changeover to the USJF promotional requirements.  The 2026 Shufu Spring Promotional will follow the “2021 Final Handbook Revision with Added Techniques”, 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

February 25, 2026 – First date to accept applications.

March 25, 2026 – Deadline for initial submission of Dan paperwork (Form 20)

April 11, 2026 – Second deadline for ALL FULLY COMPLETED paperwork due (juniors, senior kyu, dan)

April 25, 2026 – Promotion day, BOE meeting, BOD meeting

Event Schedule

9:00 AM  –  Check in and testing begins

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM Promotional candidates’ written test and practical evaluation

11:30 AM – 1:15 PM Shufu Board of Examiners meeting – (All Board of Examiners members are requested and encouraged to attend in person.)

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM:      Awarding of Promotions

1:30 PM – 3:00 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 Deadlines  See above

2.     All registration is online – no onsite registration

• • Registration Fee (all examinees): $50

  • 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 USJF Promotional Fees will be provided after the promotional) ]

  • Waiver (forthcoming online) 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.

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

1. Documentation first accepted on February 25, 2026 (electronic submission only)

2. Documentation Due by March 25, 2026

• • 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. Saturday, April 11, 2026.

    • If a Form 20 has not been submitted by March 25, 2026, the Shufu Board of Examiners (BOE) will table the promotion request until the next promotional.

3. Documentation Due by April 11, 2026

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, April 11, 2026 to facilitate the smooth running of the event.  Submit to Kevin Tamai, Chair of the Board of Examiners – 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, April 11, 2026

   

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

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

    • Membership card

    • Competition results

    • Kata Scores (as required to 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 (see COVID Guidelines below).

      • 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 Rank Documentation Submission 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. 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

    • 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)

    • If the Form 20 has not been updated to cure all identified problems, and resubmitted by Saturday, April 11, 2026, the Shufu Board of Examiners will table the promotion request until the next promotional.

No documentation will be accepted after Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Covid Guidelines-1