~ Accompanying LA Olympic hopeful Malia on a 12-day training camp in Japan!! ~
As part of GKJN’s other major mission—developing elite athletes—we sent LA Olympic hopeful Malia Manibog to Japan for 12 days, from 4/3 (Fri) to 14 (Tue). We moved from Fukuoka → Kumamoto → Okayama → Kyoto → Tokyo, and she returned home having truly felt where she stands now and the world-class level she is aiming for.
I’d like to share a report with you on everything that happened. Our goal is: “To face Uta Abe in the final of the LA 2028 Olympics!!” Malia is still only 17—her dreams and potential are limitless!!
1. Mind, Technique, Body—This Year Is All About Building the Body, Thoroughly!!
At 17 her body is still developing, so a lack of strength was expected—but training with college athletes made it very real!!
There were many situations where “I can’t get a good grip position = I can’t execute my techniques,” and she often couldn’t do judo on her own terms.
Strong athletes have strong gripping power!! (Judo power) Mind, technique, and body are all important, but technique and mindset only come after you have the body. Up to now she has won in the junior world largely on technique alone—but that won’t work at the senior level. Over the next year, we will build her physical strength thoroughly so that her current techniques will work even against stronger opponents!! Our roadmap has become crystal clear!!
Arm curls, push-ups, and gi pull-ups. Based on her physical characteristics, we’ll start by strengthening the upper body!!
2. Still 17—12 Days That Made Me Feel Her Potential!!
This time, the main focus was training at top-level universities. Honestly, I was prepared for the huge gap in ability to break Maria’s spirit and confidence. But in intense practices (getting crushed), she fought desperately.
Even when she lost—again and again—she kept proactively seeking the next opponent. Seeing that, I truly thought: “She can transform. She can become strong!! I want to make her strong!!” She’s still only 17. When I was her age, I couldn’t even see the Kodokan Cup, let alone the Olympics.
All I had was the desire to get stronger.
For three years I pulled tires every morning—pure hungry spirit. I’m going to pass that mindset on to Malia and help her build mental toughness along with physical strength. Now, from here, the real start finally begins.
In Kumamoto, she experienced Japan’s training-camp style at my mentor’s dojo (Coach Takahama).
“And in August, you’re coming back again—this time for a whole month!!”
I can never thank Coach Horita and his wife enough for accepting me back then.
She even came all the way to see us. As a huge Uta fan, Malia was absolutely thrilled!!
Her kindness—she even said, “Let’s fight at the Olympics!!”—meant so much. I’m grateful to her, even as her senior.
3. And From Here…
To truly make Malia stronger, I believe I need to commit to her not as “someone else’s problem,” but as my own—standing by her seriously, and thinking ahead with everything I’ve got about what’s best for her.
Above all, I myself have to be hungry to keep learning.
For 25 years as an active competitor, I’ve walked a path focused only on my own matches. Being “serious for someone else” isn’t easy. I’m still inexperienced, but these 12 days made me genuinely want to do exactly that—and I made my own commitment, too. “Alright… let’s do this!!”
~ Road to LA: Upcoming Schedule ~
May 2026 :
Pre–U.S. Championships training camp in LA (sharing the key points for finishing matches with a win)
U.S. Championships (5/8–9: New Mexico) Moving up a weight class from 48 → 52 kg!!
→ This will be an important match—can she debut here as a U.S. Olympic team candidate?
Jun 2026 :
1-week training in LA
Jul 2026 :
Junior European Cup (7/4–5: Czech Republic)
Junior European Cup (7/11–12: Hungary)
→ Malia is currently the top-ranked junior in the U.S. These are matches where “a medal is expected.”
Aug 2026 :
1-month training camp in Japan (based at International Pacific University; traveling around Japan to develop mind, technique, and body)
Sep 2026 :
1-week training in LA
Oct 2026 :
World Junior Championships (10/22–24: Jordan)
→ She will be sent by USA Judo, and placing high here will mark her graduation from juniors!!
Pan-American (Pacific Rim) Championships (10/29: Florida)
Nov 2026 :
Pan-American (Pacific Rim) Championships (11/5: Canada)
→ From here she makes her debut in back-to-back senior events. Olympic selection begins in the second half of 2027, but senior ranking points are essential. These two competitions are the culmination of this year!!
Dec 2026 :
1-week training in LA
2027 :
Competing on the international circuit at Grand Prix and Grand Slam events around the world
2028 :
After the U.S. Championships in May, on to the LA Olympics in August (Just wait for me, Uta!!)
Stand on the tatami in Los Angeles in 2028!!
I’d be grateful if you would watch over and support Malia’s challenge—she’s even prepared to take a leave of absence from university (from September onward).
After returning from Japan to our home in San Francisco, I took one day off, then flew 6 hours to Virginia on the East Coast, where I taught for three days as the lead instructor!!
It’s a tough schedule, but I’m running through my sixth year of life in the U.S., feeling grateful that there are people waiting for my judo—spring on the West Coast!!
7 out of 10 hours were on my lap… I’m getting trained, too.
