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 Event With Coast-to-Coast Representation
Teams traveled from every corner of the country, but Southern California came in force, sending massive contingents that pushed the level higher than ever. The depth in every age group—Senior, Junior, and Cadet—was the strongest in event history.
Team Championship: A Three-Peat for CJ Judo
For the third consecutive year, CJ Judo (San Jose, CA) claimed the overall team championship, continuing a dominant run at their home event.
Right on their heels was an incredible showing from LA Judo (Los Angeles, CA), earning a well-deserved 2nd place with outstanding results across multiple divisions.
Champions Sports Complex (Hollywood, CA) rounded out the podium in 3rd, bringing a dynamic squad that made noise in several key categories.
Senior Division Highlights
The Senior divisions delivered some of the most competitive matches of the weekend, featuring elite athletes with national and international experience.
David Vinner (LA Judo) shined at 66 kg, showcasing sharp technique and composure on his way to gold in both IJF Junior and Senior Categories.
Aaron Jen (San Jose State) had one of the most impressive performances of the tournament, winning both Junior and Senior 73 kg categories—an exceptional display of stamina and skill.
At 81 kg, Pan American Champion Dominic Rodriguez (KiItsu Sai / NYAC) lived up to the hype, dominating the bracket and cementing his place as one of the top athletes to watch leading into the Olympic cycle.
On the women’s side:
Waverly Tamanaha (San Gabriel Judo) was unstoppable at 63 kg, taking gold after hard fought matches throughout the weekend with rival Kaya Johnston with a mix of poise and aggression that made her a crowd favorite. The youngster took silver in both Cadet & Junior but made up for it in the senior Category with Gold.
Rebeka Koszegi (San Jose State) had a great day with some hard fought battles with teammates Anne Suzuki and Melia Manning in an all SJSU podium at 48kg
Junior & Cadet Division – Future Stars Shine Bright
The Cadet categories were stacked with young talent, and several athletes put the rest of the country on notice.
Men’s Junior & Cadet Standouts
Taylor Do Carmo (Chief Pride Judo) – Dominant at 50 kg, crisp technique all day.
Haruto Takaoka (CJ Judo) – Controlled the 55 kg division with confidence beyond his years.
Daniel Lima (Ki Itsu Sai National Training Center) – A standout at 66 kg, blending power and strategy.
Hector Sanchez (Ki Itsu Sai National Training Center) – Sharp performance at 60 kg, one of the cleanest gold-medal runs of the day.
Octavio De Oliveira (Pedro Judo Center) – A serious athlete to watch at 81 kg, showing tremendous upside.
Women’s Junior & Cadet Standouts
The women’s Cadet and Junior brackets featured some of the most impressive double-gold performances of the entire event:
Kaya Johnston (Shogun Judo) – Brilliant at 63 kg, winning both Cadet and Junior divisions.
Claire Cho (LA Judo) – A model of consistency and grit, earning two golds in dominant fashion at Cadet & Junior Categories.
Paloma Rodriguez (Nakano Judo Academy) – A rising star whose pace and pressure set her apart all weekend, gold medal in both Cadet and Junior Categories.
A Grateful Thank You to Our Partners
Events of this scale are only possible with committed partners who share the vision of elevating judo in the United States.A huge thank-you to:
Dollamur Sports Surfaces – Official mat partner of the San Jose Open
The United States Army – Supporter of youth development and competitive excellence
Their support helps create a top-tier experience for athletes, coaches, families, and spectators from around the country.
Complete Results: https://judo-united.smoothcomp.com/en/event/25096/results
