News

As reported in my previous article, I had visited Oklahoma alone for a Judo Clinic requested by USA Judo. Being excited to visit a place where I have never been before, but was anxious at the same time for my First Solo Judo Clinic in the US.  2 days, 3 sessions – here’s my experience. 〜Day1〜 Friday, March 25th 8:50AM, I was on a 2 hour 15 minute flight from Chicago to Oklahoma City. I had the kids class until 8:30PM the previous night which put me to sleep in flight which made it feel very short. At the arrival gate, Girls from host organization USA STARS welcomed me. I […]

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!!

Today I would like to report about the Wahadachi Tournament held in Milwaukee WI on Sunday March 6th. With the Omicron Variant showing a trend to its end, many locations have lifted the mask mandates, where this tournament took place with almost no restrictions.  However, since it’s been a while from the previous tournament, 280 excited athletes gathered from all around the Midwest including 30 (26 kids, 3 adults) from Tohkon Judo Academy. There are about 30 to 50 local tournaments per year in the United States, but with the land being so huge, a “local” tournament is a once-a-year chance.  Even though it’s a local tournament, it’s a big

To be a school teacher obtaining a license is mandatory. Do coaches for sports (Judo) need a license? What do instructors need to know? What’s the difference between Japan and the US? I would like to share the contents and the difference between the US Safe Sport Training that I obtained as the Youth Development coach and the certificate I acquired in Japan as a Judo instructor. (1)Japan puts priority in content, US places the same in child safety. I believe this would be the same or similar for other sports, but you must obtain a license to educate Judo and they are ranked, A, B and C grades where

On Saturday, January 29th, promotion test at the Tohkon Judo Academy took place.  I participated as a judge. I believe you all know “black belt” but I would like to explain a bit about the road to black which includes the grades and the promotion test. What is a promotion test? In Japan, the Grades and the color of belts are defined as the chart on the left. Grade School children can only achieve up to 2nd Grade (Purple Belt), and you must be 14 years old to earn a black belt (In the US it’s 15) Having age restrictions is the same in the US and Japan, however, in

～From my calendar of Feb and March～ Time flies!! Yes, it’s already February.  Both Chicago and Japan are in the cold season and still fighting with the Omicron Variant.  In the midst of this, I had a zoom meeting with the Chair of USA Judo regarding my schedules going forward.  For anyone involved in Judo would know, the Kodokan Cup (the event I participated 13 times) for this year has been cancelled.  I can only feel for the athletes that worked hard including  to losing their weight, but if you consider Japanese mindset, this could be inevitable.  With these different mindsets, I’d like to share my activities through March. Meeting

A big wow for me.  Yu Darvish, a major league pitcher of the San Diego Padres sent myself and GKJN a greeting letter!!  As many of you may know, Yu played for the Chicago Cubs during the 2018 to 2020 season and really knows Chicago. I met Yu when I was still in competition.  I had a contracted gym – Dome Athlete House in Ariake, Tokyo – which is a gym that many professional athletes come.  He also came during the off season.  I really didn’t “meet” him but more close to “saw” him.  I recognized him, but I doubted that he’d know me. The location that reconnected me to

Happy New Year!!! Last year, mainly due to everyone’s heartful support, I was able to acquire my athlete VISA, start my activities in the US including the position as the Youth Development Coach for USA Judo – a remarkable 1st year for our organization. I really want to thank all members supporting this activity.  In June of this year, there will be the first large scale event GKJN Cup – Chicago Youth Judo Competition – is planned.  Although we’re still a small organization and I still have a lot to learn, I vow to put my best efforts in teaching the children in the United States, the spirit of Judo

Training Camp…I do not believe that there is any Judoka in Japan that likes this word.  Of course, I didn’t like it either. December 16th ~ 19th, when the whole country becomes spectacular celebrating Christmas and the New Year’s, all 100 enthusiastic next generation JUDOKAs around the US has gathered in Dallas. This event was the first for me as the Youth Development Coach for USA JUDO.  The title “Training Camp for the 2028 LA Olympics” is an honor for me participating as a coach, but there was a huge anxiety with my broken English.  A totally different type of mental stress compared to when I was competing. “Be Audible,

Friday, December 3rd, via web we connected Chicago, Japan and Canada for the Employee and Board Meeting for the Global Kids Judo Network During the beginning of the COVID pandemic, we established GKJN as a company on October 1st, 2020.  Without my VISA, there was a lot of things that worried me at the start.  However, with support from a lot of people, I was able to get the alliance with Tohkon Judo Academy as well as USA Judo and acquire my O-1 VISA, donations from various sources  which all of them was way more than what I was expecting. I am very grateful for this. Our employee meeting (headcount