As you all know, JUDO in the US is not as major of a sport as in Japan, but there are 3 major tournaments for Juniors in the US. The Youth National in the Spring, Junior Olympics in early summer and the Presidents Cup in November. The first of the 3, Youth National was held in Lansing Michigan on March 19th and 20th. Although “Youth” the age range is from 5 to 21 years old. The event also serves as a selection tournament for the 2022 Pan American Championship (Cadet & Junior) and due to the fact that COVID resrictions have been lifted, 600 athletes had participated in this event!!
The event site was only a 3.5 hour drive from Chicago which made possible for 13 entries from Tohkon Judo Academy.
As their second and to look for “Diamonds in the Rough” as the Youth Development Coach for USA Judo, I had participated in this event.
＊Cadet is originally French which means the youngest sibling, but in Judo this points to the age range of 15 to 17 years old. Since the Junior class is from 15 to 21 years old, they overlap. You can participate in both tournaments, but in order to focus on this specific age range, there is a dedicated World Cadet Championship held every other year.
Lansing Center – the event site
(1) Huge Scale and a cool system where you can challenge according to your level
The event with 600 participants ranging from 5 to 21 years old, there were a total of 135 classes!! Can you imagine this?
Day 1 is Cadet then Grade School Advanced, Intermediate kids being separated based on gender, age and weight into 56 classes.
Day 2 is for Grade School Entry Level all Entry Level and Juniors (15~20) into 79 classes.
In Japan, what class/category you can participate in is clearly defined, but in the US, you can select which level to participate in freely. So, you can see cases where a beginner battles with a Black Belt and loses in a split second.
However, the Cadet and Junior Classes are seeking to find Team USA Members so it’s really serious. Having these two different types of Tournaments in the same location is the “US Style” Me only participating in the “serious” stuff (Had no interest in the Open Events) this was very refreshing. I even envied the atmosphere of “United through Judo”
Match Lineup
All matches for Day 2
It’s hard to just to find yours
。
(2) Don’t know who won… lol
A large scale event has its goods and bads. There are six rings so once the event starts, you can even tell who’s competing where… Even the ceremony is held in a corner for the classes that finished when you don’t know it, so there’s no time to celebrate the winners!! Well, with 135 classes, this may be inevitable.
Even in the local event in Wisconsin, it was the same. Use time wisely, but I would hope that the medal ceremonies were held where everyone can see…
Big event site with 6 rings!!
〜Mia from Tohkon Judo Academy wins Gold!!〜
Mia won in Day 2 beginners’ class. She was doing Jujitsu prior to Judo.
She won capitalizing on the opportunity for the Hold Down. Great Job!!
(3) The Gold Medalist Advances – Open Opportunity for Everyone
As noted in the title, this event also served as the selection event for Pan American Cadet and Junior Championship – the gold medalist automatically becomes eligible to compete in this event.
In Japan there are cases that you do not get selected even if you win, but here it’s more simple. You win, you go. Transparency and Fairness. Everyone has the opportunity, which makes it easier to maintain motivation.
The winners and the Team USA Members of the Pan American Championship
Some may make it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics!!
Best Shots
Appealing to the referee “It’s good, right?”
While struggling to hold down the opponent
Observing the opponent before a WAZA
I maybe forcing it, but I wanna win!!
Good fight!!!
Great Hold Down coming from Jujistu.
First Gold Medal!! Congrats Mia!!!
Challenged in the Cadet Class where Team USA Members are selected
Great Win Mike!!(in White)
Good Job!!!
Trent also participated in the Cadet Class!!
Same pose as me, and a bit nervous (as me)
Met with Keith Bryant (USA Judo Chair) in 5 months. Discussed about the Judo Clinic as well as future activites.
Lastly
This event was a National Level event where our Tohkon kids struggled. It was a first for some of them and at least it was a great experience for them. The two individuals that took upon the Cadet Challenge both ended up 4th just shy of a medal. They will seek for a medal on the next tournament and vowed that they’ll train even harder.
While watching the Cadet and Junior classes, they were aggressive with strong physical power where I felt strong potentials towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (imaging how to train them) where my motif as the USA Judo coach has lifted to the next level.
There’s a lot to do but one at a time!!
Next week, I’ll be flying to Oklahoma for a Clinic at the highest level Dojo in the US. It’s my first trip alone where I am a bit anxious, but when I imagine the inifinite possibilities of Judo in the USA and the kids that support them, I know I can do this.
Your continued support is always welcomed.
