The 2026 Golden State Open delivered one of the most exciting weekends in American judo this year, welcoming nearly 1,400 entries from athletes ranging from 5-year-old beginners to elite Senior and Veteran competitors at the Los Angeles Convention Center, future home of judo during the LA28 Olympic Games. Among the many standout performances, two young athletes rose above the rest. Rose Ortiz of Guerreros Judo Club in La Puente, California, and Thor Guerrero of Hawaii Judo Ac

Zoltan Bathory & Joe Marchal to attend Golden State Open!

Judo United Congratulates Griffin Judo Club on the Grand Opening of their new facility in Berkley California! The Judo community continues to grow, and Judo United would like to extend its congratulations and best wishes to Griffin Judo Club as they begin an exciting new chapter. Founded by passionate judoka and longtime contributors to the sport, Griffin Judo Club represents the type of leadership and commitment that helps strengthen and expand our judo community. Foun

Judo United and IJF Announce “Baku Experience” Athlete Awards at the Golden State Open. Judo United is proud to announce that the Local Organizing Committee for the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, will award two special “Baku Experience” packages at the upcoming Golden State Open. The awards will be presented to one male and one female athlete competing in the IJF Junior divisions, creating an extraordinary intern

Judo United is proud to announce the beginning of a new collaboration with the International Judo Federation (IJF) aimed at strengthening and expanding the growth of judo in the United States.

The 2026 Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador showcased the rising level of talent across the Americas, and the United States delivered one of its strongest performances in recent years. At the Cadet Pan American Championships, Team USA captured 12 total medals, including two golds, improving on last year’s impressive 10-medal performance. The result highlights the continued growth of the American development pipeline and the depth of young talent

A Weekend of Learning, Energy, and World-Class Judo The 2026 San Jose Training Camp, hosted by Judo United, once again brought the California judo community together for an unforgettable weekend at The Plex in San Jose. With more than 250 athletes, coaches, and families attending from clubs across the state, the event delivered exactly what it promised—high-level instruction, great energy on the mats, and a powerful sense of community. World-Class Instruction The teen and adu

California Athletes Qualify for Cadet & Junior Pan American Championships Four standout athletes with strong ties to the California judo community have earned the opportunity to represent the United States at the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships , taking place April 27–29 in Guayaquil, Ecuador . Sascha Leviano (Griffin Judo), Liam Kesler (CJ Judo), Jonathan Yang (NYAC), and Iya Sadanchikova (San Jose State University) all secured their spots on the U.S. team afte

2025 San Jose Open – Event Review A Record-Setting Third Edition for One of America’s Premier Judo Events The third annual San Jose Open delivered another unforgettable weekend of world-class judo, bringing nearly 1,100 competitors and more than 120 teams from across the United States to Northern California. The energy inside The Plex was electric from start to finish, fueled by powerhouse clubs, rising stars, and veteran champions who showed up ready to battle. A National

Thank You, Judo Community – The San Jose Open is Almost Here As we prepare to welcome athletes, coaches, referees, and families from...

Behind the Scenes with Tatami : Judo United Hosts Exclusive Webinar for the Film’s LA Premiere Judo United was proud to host a special...

Packed with top talent and big energy, the weekend brought together over 200 athletes and coaches for an intensive schedule featuring 16 hours of Judo across two exciting days.

On April 6th, 2024, Judo United , in partnership with Nanka Judo and Judo Canada , proudly welcomed 2024 Olympic Champion Christa...

Judo United Welcomes Olympic Judo Champion Christa Deguchi to San Jose

2025 Champions Cup Review: A Milestone Event for Judo United The 2025 Champions Cup marked another exciting year of growth and excellence...

Champions Cup Referee Training Review – March 16, 2025 The 2025 Champions Cup kicked off with a tremendous show of commitment and...

Thank you for 2024!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE2024 San Jose Open Judo Championships to Honor the Late Yoshihiro Uchida, a Pioneer of Judo in the U.S. San Jose, CA...

Judo United Partners with International Judo Federation (IJF) to Offer Exclusive Benefits at the 2024 San Jose Open San Jose, CA -...

The inaugural Northern California "Champions Cup" was a resounding success, taking place on March 10th, 2024, at Foothill College in Los...