Report of the 2014 USA Nationals &
US Open Judo Championships
US Open Judo Championships
The officers and
members of USA Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ)
thank everyone who participated in the 2014 USA-TKJ National Championships and
US OPEN International TKJ
Championships on Saturday and Sunday 12 –
13 June in Elma, New York, USA. In addition, the 2014 United States Ju-Jitsu National & US Open Championships was
also conducted at this venue.
The National Judo Championships was sanctioned by USA-TKJ and
the International Judo Championships was sanctioned by International
Traditional Kodokan Judo (ITKJ), the Martial Arts international Federation
(MAIF) and the World Judo Federation (WJF). Both the US National and US Open
International Championships were conducted using the Judo Competition Rules of
the International Traditional Kodokan Judo (ITKJ) Program of the MAIF.
The Weekend began on Saturday with check-in including weighing,
uniform inspections and final registrations. Later in the evening, match
brackets were prepared, a competition rules orientation was provided and
lastly, meetings for the officials. The competition and award presentations
were conducted on Sunday.
All of the competitors embraced the traditional rules which
utilize only the Ippon and Wazari scores. Unlike the Olympic form of judo
competition, in the ITKJ competition rules, the Ippon score earns “two points”
and the Wazari score earns “one point”. The winner of the match is determined
by the highest score at the end of the match.
Competitors & officials from across the USA and several
other countries from as far away as Sweden travelled to these Championships to
participate. Approximately 175 entrants and hundreds of spectators attended
the event at the Bill Adams Martial Arts & Fitness Center.
The Championships were hosted by US Ju-Jitsu of New York with Dr. Ernest G. McPeek, President of
USJJ of NY, as the Event Host, and Mr. Bruce Bethers, President of USA-TKJ as
the Tournament Director.
VIP Officials included Mr. Jaime Casanova, (Dominican Republic)
President of WJF, and Dr. Paul Hoglund, (Sweden) President of MAIF & Senior
Vice President of WJF. Dr Hoglund gave a speech on the Importance
of the World Movement of Sports For All, and in particular – Judo for All..!! The WJF is an
International Member of The Association of International Sport for All (TAFISA)
and USA Traditional Kodokan Judo is a National Member of TAFISA. USA
Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ) is the National Governing Body for Judo with
the Pan American Judo Union (PJU) and the World Judo Federation (WJF).
We believe the Championships were an exceptional success and
were very well received by all. Everyone who participated commented that they
felt the warmth and friendly atmosphere within the tournament. And several
sensei stated they would be back with “twice as many competitors next
time”..!! The next USA-TKJ
Championships will be the NORTH AMERICAN OPEN TRADITIONAL KODOKAN JUDO
CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Pinnacle Sports
Center in Twinsburg, Ohio USA on 15
– 16 November 2014.
Traditions and event formalities as required by USA-TKJ, MAIF
and WJF were upheld by the competitors and the spectators. This was positively
noted by all attendees.
USA-TKJ looks forward to continuing to promote Traditional
Kodokan Judo thru the global campaign of “Judo For All”, working with all
judoka who are focused on the principles of its Founder – Dr. Jigoro
Kano:
精力善用 Seiryoku-Zenyo: maximum
efficient use of energy
自他共栄 Jita-kyoei: mutual prosperity
for self and others
Moving Forward Yet Embracing the Past – Congratulations To
All..!!
