Member News

ILLINOIS JUDO NEWSLETTER – IPPON!!!

President: Tim Schultheis

VP: Chuck Clark

Secretary: Mary Gail Ford

Treasurer: Frank Oliveri

Editor: Kei Narimatsu

THIS NEWSLETTER MAY BE PASSED ON TO ANYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK WHO MIGHT NOT GET THIS DIRECTLY FROM THE EDITOR. I DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESSES BUT CLUB INSTRUCTORS, STATE PRESIDENTS AND OTHERS MAY WANT TO LET THEIR MEMBERS HAVE THIS AS WELL. PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS YOU WISH. IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WISH TO GET THIS EMAIL FIRST HAND, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT knarimatsu@microlamps.com with subject: Add to Illinois Judo Newsletter.

Illinois Judo Newsletter – IPPON!! is the voice of Illinois Judo, sent whenever convenient to members of Illinois Judo and other interested parties. All articles and content are the opinion of the editor unless otherwise noted and do not reflect the opinion of Illinois Judo, its officers or members. Information is gathered from various sources expressly sent for distribution. Contents may contain inaccurate information. If anyone can correct any inaccuracies, they will be published as soon as possible. Information presented will be of a general nature only and will not promote any national organization except USJI/USA Judo or any of its state governing bodies. Tournament and clinic notifications will be made for all organizations and will be guaranteed posted if sent to the editor in electronic format ONLY and in a timely manner. 

Illinois Judo will make every effort to respect your privacy and never sell, trade, or otherwise abuse the privilege of serving you via this e-mail newsletter. 

Cancellation: We're committed to Permission Distribution, so if you prefer not to receive the IPPON!!, simply send a blank e-mail to knarimatsu@microlamps.com or hit reply with unsubscribe-IPPON in the subject line. You will be omitted from my list FOREVER.

Contents:

Editorial – The Importance of Credibility

From the President – Mr Tim Schultheis

LOCAL NEWS
USA JUDO NEWS

Serving Our Country
Something to Think About – The Leica Freedom Train

Upcoming Events
USA Judo Life Members

Editorial – The Importance of Credibility

It is not often that one gets to talk, really talk, with one of the giants in American Judo.  I had the privilege of talking to one of these individuals this past weekend, Mr Patrick Burris, current chairman of USA Judo Coaches Commission, former two time Olympian, 6 time National Champion, PJU Gold medalist and 7 times Inspiration Award recipient.  I have spoken to Sensei Burris on a number of occasions in the past and have had interesting conversations with him both on and off the mat in official and unofficial capacities.  But in all of those times, one rarely gets to know an individual like you can sitting down and breaking bread with that person.  Such was the situation when he came in to give a coaches certification this past weekend at Tohkon Judo Academy and teach at my dojo. 

He tells the story of a time long ago when I was first coming onto the National scene as a referee.  “Pat” would always refer to me as Sensei.  I said, please call me Kei.  “OK, Sensei” was his usual and immediate response.  Finally I told him that the reason he called me Sensei is because he didn’t know my name.  “Not so, Kei” was his immediate response.  And he even pronounced it correctly.  It is a funny story not because of the dialogue but because of his genuineness and that smile that went along with his optimistic manner.  From that time on, I always considered Sensei a true sensei, of the type that I grew up with and taught me.  You see, regardless of age, true sensei’s command respect regardless of age.  It is attitude, it is outlook, it is presence and most importantly, it is CREDIBILITY. 

Sensei Burris is a true SENSEI.  He commands respect as well as gives it, regardless of rank.  He expects his students to give him the respect and reverence he deserves because of his abilities, his knowledge, his age, his personality.  Likewise, he returns that respect by giving of himself totally to his students, teaching them everything he knows and demanding excellence in all who are privileged to come in contact with him.

I believe we have lost this sense of respect in our dojos today.  Hi Kei, Yo Jim, Hey Mary is so common today that it goes without saying that familiarity breeds complacency and complacency breeds disrespect and disrespect breeds contempt.  Why else do we see judoka’s (players and coaches) walking inside a dojo with a cap on (backwards)? Why else do we see judoka’s walking on the mat with their shoes?  Why has there been a loss of respect for bowing, a tradition that truly sets us apart from ALL other sports?  Why do we see coaches as friends and not as teachers?  Why have we lost that credibility that comes with wisdom and age and knowledge?  Have we become so lazy that we cannot greet our Sensei’s with Mr, Mrs, Ms, or Sensei when we come into the dojo or shiai-jo?  Sometimes we do not even acknowledge their presence!  Has our sense of equality been so distorted that we can not walk across the room to say hello to our Sensei? 

In our discussions, we talked about the rightness and wrongness of our judo community.  We talked about what it took to run a dojo, how to make money, how to discipline, how to teach, how to be a champion.  We dialogued about how to treat and react to the different Judo personalities that we come across from our youngest to our oldest as well as the parents that are necessarily a part of the family unit.  In all of those discussions, credibility and integrity stood out as the cornerstone, the defining philosophy of Sensei Burris’ methods in Judo. 

“I am the teacher, you are the student.  I am not your friend; I am your coach and teacher.” 

“You will refer to me as Sensei at all times and in all ways.  You will treat me and all of the other Sensei’s in this dojo with respect and decorum at all times.” 

“In return, I will teach you everything you need to know to become a champion.  I will expect excellence and hard work and if you are not willing to give of yourself that effort, maybe judo training under me is not for you.”

For me, what I heard was a reaffirmation of what I had learned as a Judoka growing up.  For me, listening to Sensei Burris was textbook philosophy of Sempai – Kohai.  CREDIBILITY and INTEGRITY.  That is what I believe Sensei Burris stands for and what he teaches his students, his parents and old Sensei’s like me.  Thank you, Sensei Burris.

From the IJI President:

We had a productive judo day last Saturday, December 9th.  After conducting a short IJI Board meeting, where we discussed our financial, membership, training and tournament plans, we held a coach's clinic, featuring Pat Burris, USA Judo Coach Development Chair.  Dr. Kei Narimatsu, Jim Colgan, Jim Peterson, and Brett Wood-Taylor contributed to the instruction.  Chief Barry Henby, Gurnee Fire Department, offered CPR certification and First Aid training.  Doug Tono and the Tohkon Judo Academy provided the facility and logistics.  We certified 40 coaches. Then, Pat Burris joined the regularly scheduled junior and senior practices at Tohkon and worked with athletes, as well as, demonstrated techniques.  Pat showed us why he is often referred to as one of the toughest guys to ever wear a gi.  But more importantly, he did a super job training the trainers.  Great work by all involved and thanks to everyone who participated.

Our next IJI Open Workout will be from 10:00 AM - Noon, Saturday, 30 December at the Gurnee Judo Club.  Carrie Chandler, current 52K U.S. national champion will be participating in our training.

We have appointed Ashlie Martini as our IJI Senior Development Chair. Ashlie has been ranked in the top 5 in her division by USA Judo for ~6+ years.  Her first initiative is to compliment the on-going IJI Open Workout, managed by our Junior Development Chair, Brett Wolf.  She will offer a clinic designed to facilitate the transition from junior to senior elite judo competition.  The focus of this clinic will be on the introduction of arm bar techniques that are currently in use by many top level senior elite athletes.  Her Junior-Senior Judo Transition Clinic will immediately follow the January 2007 Illinois Judo Open Workout, scheduled from noon to 2:00 PM, 21 January at the Tohkon Judo Academy.  We anticipate the arm bar clinic will last approximately 1 hour.  Participants at the Open Workout are welcome to stay for the clinic for no additional fee.  If you have questions regarding the proposed clinic, please feel free to contact Ashlie Martini at 773-398-0421.

Thanks,

Tim Schultheis

USA Judo News
Complete coverage of these articles available at the USA Judo website.  Click on the link http://www.usjudo.org/  and click on the What's New page to see all the recent news items.  The items listed below may or may not be linked already.  To get further information on any of these stories, it is better to go to the USA Judo website.

British Open

The 2007 British Open, a USA Judo Senior B Level Point Tournament, will be held Jan. 27-28 in London (athletes are advised to fly into London Gatwick).  Athletes interested in competing must contact Mary Ann Relich at maryann.relich@usajudo.us.  Deadline for entry is Jan. 3.  All athletes must provide payment for the full entry fee at the time of registration. 

Belgium Open and Belgium Ladies Open

The Belgium Open, a USA Judo Senior B Level Point Tournament, will be held Feb. 3-4 for Men in Vise while the Belgium Ladies Open will be held Feb. 3-4 in Arlon.  The Belgium Ladies Open will feature both senior and junior (Born 1986 or later) divisions with the seniors contested on Sunday and the juniors contested on Saturday.  The men’s event features senior competition only.

A camp will follow both tournaments in Spa from Feb. 5-7 with departure on Feb. 8.

Athletes interested in competing must contact Mary Ann Relich at maryann.relich@usajudo.us.  Deadline for entry is Jan. 5.  All athletes must provide payment for the full entry fee at the time of registration. 

Lake Placid Training Camp Update

France, Canada and Japan all have committed to send teams to the USA Judo Training Camp at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center, Jan. 8-14.

Coaches leading the camp include:

• Jason Morris, 2008 Olympic Head Coach nominee and 1992 Olympic silver medalist
• Jimmy Pedro, USA Judo U-23 Elite Team Director, 1999 World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist
• Israel Hernandez, Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site Head Coach and two-time Olympic medalist
• Eddie Liddie, USA Judo Director of Athlete Performance and 1984 Olympic medalist
• German Velazco, North Miami USA Judo National Training Site Coach,  2006 Junior World Team Coach and 2000 Olympian
• Jhonny Prado, North Miami USA Judo National Training Site and 2006 Junior World Team Coach

Nicolas Gill, two-time Olympic and three-time World medalist, will be in attendance as a coach with the Canadian team.  Orlando Fuentes, 1996 Olympian, also will be coaching at the camp.

A limited number of slots are still available for the camp.  Contact Eddie Liddie, USA Judo Director of Athlete Performance, for more information at eddie.liddie@usajudo.us.

European Tour First-Round Picks Posted

The selections made by the #1-ranked senior athletes are now available at http://www.usjudo.org/seniors_compopportunities.asp.  Athletes who are ranked #2 on the Senior Elite National Roster, dated Dec. 4, are advised that the deadline for their maximum of two selections is Dec. 18.  All selections, and corresponding paperwork, must be submitted to Mary Ann Relich at maryann.relich@usajudo.us.  

Rotterdam Event Clarification

Athletes competing on the European Tour are advised that the event in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sept. 29-30, is a Super World Cup and worth A+ USA Judo Senior Elite Level points.

Sofia and Tblissi Event Clarifications

The Sofia (BUL – Women) and Tblissi (GEO – Men) World Cups will be held Jan. 27-28, 2007.

International Event Deposits

For the 2007 European Tour and all 2007 International events a $300 non-refundable charge will be made to your credit card in order to secure your position. Thirty days prior to the event the balance of the lodging, entry fees, etc. will be charged to your credit card. This is done so that USA Judo may wire the funds as requested by the international federation.

Please be reminded that registration for the European Tour and any international event a COMPLETED form must be attached for each event. Your application for a position is not complete without all of the information.

2007 San Jose Buddhist Sensei Memorial Tournament

Mark your calendars…  The San Jose Buddhist Sensei Memorial Tournament, a USA Judo Senior E Level Point Tournament, will be held Feb. 11 at the San Jose State University Events Center with weigh-ins on Feb. 10. 

16th Annual Lone Star Classic Judo Tournament

The Lone Star Classic will be held Feb. 3 at the HurstRecreationCenter in Hurst, Texas.  The Classic will include junior, senior, masters, novice and kata divisions.  For more information, contact Kim Mesa at kjmesa@hotmail.com.  

2007 Dutch Open Espoir Reminder

The 2007 Dutch Open Espoir will be held Jan. 13-14 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.  This tournament is a point tournament for Juvenile B and IJF Junior athletes worth 10 points for a first place finish, 6 for second, 4 for third and 2 for fifth.  Contact Mary Ann Relich at maryann.relich@usajudo.us as soon as possible to enter the event. 

2007 Belgian Ladies Open – Arlon, Belgium

NOTE: You MUST contact Jim Hrbek - JrJudoTrip@aol.com for this event. Mr. Hrbek will provide a comprehensive list to the National Office.

DEADLINE: December 21, 2006

This is a Junior AND Senior event. Check in is Friday February 2. Junior competition will be held on Saturday, February 3, and Senior competition will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2006. Approximate travel dates should be:

Depart USA on January 30 or 31 (arrival in Europe Jan 31 or Feb 1) with departure from Europe on February 5.

The competition will be held at the Center Sportif ADEPS " the HYDRION " Street of Hydrion, 118 in B-6700 Arlon, Belgium.

Eligibility for the Junior segment of the event is limited to athletes born in 1988 or later.

Funding: 

The funding will be in the form of a reimbursement of incurred travel and hotel expenses for a total not greater than $1,000.

The funding will be awarded to as many as SEVEN applicants (only one per weight division will be selected) who meet the following criteria:

1. You may not have received funding from any other USA Judo source for this event. (Senior funds, U23 funds, etc)

2. Born in 1988 or later

3. MUST be listed in one of the Olympic weight divisions on the December 4, 2006 IJF Junior roster at not lower than the #3 position.

4. MUST compete in the Junior and Senior segments of the 2007 Arlon Ladies’ Open to be eligible for the funding.

Participants should anticipate spending approximately 35 to 40 Euros per day for accommodation at the Hydrion facility, including breakfast.

It will be necessary to purchase an EJU membership card in order to compete in this event. Cost approximately $40.

YOU NEED TO KNOW:
For those who are able to stay, there will be a Training Camp for Women and Men that will be held in Spa, Belgium from February 5 – 8. The organizers will provide transportation from Arlon to Spa. The costs associated with the camp will be:

Transportation (one way only) 10 Euros

Camp-Chalet lodging-Meals – 270 Euros

Camp-Hotel lodging-Meals – 320 Euros

IMPORTANT: You must add the fees for the European Union of Judo to this price, i.e.: 

1. European Country: 50 € / person. 

2.  Country out of Europe: 100 € / person.

Additionally, at the end of the camp, it will be necessary to make your own way to your departure airport (Brussels or Luxembourg) OR they will bus you to Paris for 50 Euros.

NOTE: You MUST contact Jim Hrbek - JrJudoTrip@aol.com for this event. Mr. Hrbek will provide a comprehensive list to the National Office.

DEADLINE: December 21, 2006

USA Judo, USJA and USJF Presidents Meet in Dallas

On Saturday, Dec. 9, the presidents of USA Judo (Dr. Ron Tripp), USJA (Jim Webb) and USJF (Neil Simon) met in Dallas, Texas to continue discussions on how the three organizations can continue the growth and success of Judo in the United States and working closer together to achieve these goals. Also present in the meeting were Robert Fukuda, USJF Executive Director and Jose H. Rodriguez, USA Judo CEO.

November Promotions

Congratulations to USA Judo members who received junior and dan rank promotions in November... more>

Changes to the WADA Prohibited List… Effective January 1, 2007

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2007 Prohibited List.  Below is a summary of updates from the 2006 List to the 2007 List.  For a full copy of the 2007 Prohibited List visit WADA’s Web Site at www.wada-ama.org.  The Prohibited List will go into effect Jan. 1, 2007. 

The Classes of Prohibited Substances have not changed from the 2006 List.

However, in order to make the language clearer, the explanatory paragraphs for the following four classes of substances in the 2007 List have been reworded:

• Anabolic Agents
• Diuretics
• Chemical and physical manipulation
• Stimulants

Other updates to the 2007 List:

Beta-2 agonists

Salbutamol used by inhalation, even with an Abbreviated Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), is not a specified substance** at urinary levels greater than 1000 ng/mL.

Glucocorticosteroids

Glucocorticosteroids use by iontophoresis / phonophoresis are permitted and do not require an Abbreviated TUE.

Other routes of administration (intraarticular, periaarticular, peritendinous, epidural, intradermal injections and inhalation) require an Abbreviated TUE.

Stimulants

Imidazole derivatives used as topical preparations are permitted.  (Imidazole derivatives are typically found in anti-fungal creams.)

**Specified substances are those substances that are particularly susceptible to unintentional anti-doping rule violations due to their general availability in medicinal products and because they are less likely to be successfully abused as doping agents.   

Brian Olson Winter Classic

The Brian Olson Winter Classic, cancelled last weekend due to inclimate weather, has been rescheduled for Jan. 13 at the AngevineMiddle School, 1150 West South Boulder Rd. in Lafayette, Colo.  Entry forms are available at http://www.usjudo.org/documents/2007brianolsonwinterclassicentryform.pdf. 

EJU Training Camp

The European Judo Union will be playing host to a training camp for both men and women in Mittersill, Austria, Jan. 14-20. 

Athletes interested in attending should contact Mary Ann Relich at MaryAnn.Relich@usajudo.us.

New York Open Accommodations

Don’t forget to make your room reservations early for the New York Open, March 10 in New York City. 

For athletes on a budget:  The West Side YMCA offers room for 2 at $97 per night in New York City.  Book your rooms early since hotel rates are much higher elsewhere.  Call917.441.8800 and ask for the West Side YMCA reservations.  You can cancel three days prior to your arrival without penalty and there is no cost to hold your rooms.  Call today because these rooms will sell quickly.

West Side YMCA

5 West 63rd St., New York, NY 10023
For reservations call 917.441.8800, a room for 2 (bunk beds with a shared bath) at $97 per night.

Phone: 212.875.4273

Fax: 212.875.1334

See http://www.ymcanyc.org for information about the branches of the YMCA offering accommodation in the New York metropolitan area.

or

Pickwick Arms Hotel
230 East 51 St.
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212.355.0300
Fax: 212.755.5029
Toll free (US): 1.800.742.5945
Canada: 1.800.874.0074
Email: info@pickwickarms.com
Web Site: www.pickwickarms.com

Be sure to ask for David Bernstein and ask for New York Open Judo special rates.

Midwestern Championships

The Midwestern Championships, a USA Judo Senior E Level Point Tournament, will be held March 3-4 in Waukegan, Ill. Senior divisions will be contested on Saturday (afternoon prelims and evening finals) and junior divisions will be contested on Sunday.

Entry packets are now available at http://www.usjudo.org/documents/2007MidwesternChampionships.pdf. 

SERVING OUR COUNTRY                                                                          
PVT Luke Jacobsen – Milwaukee, WI                                             
LTJG Donny Newsome, Gurnee, IL                                                  
LT Nick Oldfield, Navy, Virginia – home base                               
Mike Preditus, IL                                                                                 
SGT Dennis Pruitt, IRAQ                                                                   
Dan Smith, Dickson, TN                                                                 

   
Please let me know other Judo families who have loved ones serving in our military:  rank, branch of service and where they are serving.  Thanks.

Something to Think About – 
Fairly long read but well worth it. 

The Leica Freedom Train

I carry my Leica camera a bit more proudly these days.  The reason? A story I had never heard before - a tale of courage, integrity and humility that is only now coming to light, some 70 years after the fact. The Leica is the pioneer 35mm camera. From a nitpicking point of view, it wasn't the very first still camera to use 35mm movie film, but it was the first to be widely publicized and successfully marketed. It created the "candid camera" boom of the 1930s. It is a German product - precise, minimalist, utterly efficient. Behind its worldwide acceptance as a creative tool was a family-owned, socially oriented firm that, during the Nazi era, acted with uncommon grace, generosity and modesty. E. Leitz Inc., designer and manufacturer of Germany's most famous photographic product, saved its Jews. And Ernst Leitz II, the steely eyed Protestant patriarch who headed the closely held firm as the Holocaust loomed across Europe, acted in such a way as to earn the title, "the photography industry's Schindler." As George Gilbert, a veteran writer on topics photographic, told the story at last week's convention of the Leica Historical Society of America in Portland, Ore., Leitz Inc., founded in Wetzlar in 1869, had a tradition of enlightened   behavior toward its workers. Pensions, sick leave, health insurance - all were instituted early on at Leitz, which depended for its work force upon generations of skilled employees - many of whom were Jewish.

The 'Leica Freedom Train'

As soon as Adolph Hitler was named chancellor of Germany in 1933, Ernst Leitz II began receiving frantic calls from Jewish associates, asking for his help in getting them and their families out of the country. As Christians, Leitz and his family were immune to Nazi Germany's Nuremberg laws, which restricted the movement of Jews and limited their professional activities. To help his Jewish workers and colleagues, Leitz quietly established what has become known among historians of the Holocaust as "the Leica Freedom Train," a covert means of allowing Jews to leave Germany in the guise of Leitz employees being assigned overseas. Employees, retailers, family members, even friends of family members were "assigned" to Leitz sales offices in France, Britain, Hong Kong and the United States. Leitz's activities intensified after the Kristallnacht of November 1938, during which synagogues and Jewish shops were burned across Germany. Before long, German "employees" were disembarking from the ocean liner Bremen at a New York pier and making their way to the Manhattan office of Leitz Inc., where executives quickly found them jobs in the photographic industry. Each new arrival had around his or her neck the symbol of freedom - a new Leica. The refugees were paid a stipend until they could find work. Out of this migration came designers, repair technicians, salespeople, marketers and writers for the photographic press.

Keeping the story quiet

The "Leica Freedom Train" was at its height in 1938 and early 1939, delivering groups of refugees to New York every few weeks.  Then, with the invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, Germany closed its borders. By that time, hundreds of endangered Jews had escaped to America, thanks to the Leitzes' efforts. How did Ernst Leitz II and his staff get away with it? Leitz Inc. was an internationally recognized brand that reflected credit on the newly resurgent Reich. The company produced range-finders and other optical systems for the German military. Also, the Nazi government desperately needed hard currency from abroad, and Leitz's single biggest market for optical goods was the United States. Even so, members of the Leitz family and firm suffered for their good works. A top executive, Alfred Turk, was jailed for working to help Jews and freed only after the payment of a large bribe. Leitz's daughter, Elsie Kuhn-Leitz, was imprisoned by the Gestapo after she was caught at the border, helping Jewish women cross into Switzerland. She eventually was freed but endured rough treatment in the course of questioning. She also fell under suspicion when she attempted to improve the living conditions of 700 to 800 Ukrainian slave laborers, all of them women, who had been assigned to work in the plant during the 1940s.  (After the war, Kuhn-Leitz received numerous honors for her humanitarian efforts, among them the Officier d'honneur des Palms Academic from France in 1965 and the Aristide Briand Medal from the European Academy in the 1970s.) Why has no one told this story until now? According to the late Norman Lipton, a freelance writer and editor, the Leitz family wanted no publicity for its heroic efforts. Only after the last member of the Leitz family was dead did the "Leica Freedom Train" finally come to light. It is now the subject of a book, "The Greatest Invention of the Leitz Family: The Leica Freedom Train," by Frank Dabba Smith, a California- born rabbi currently living in England.

I was certain that one and all would be interested in this historic item that was little known and should certainly be brought to light.  Thank you for reading the above, and if you feel inclined as I did, to pass it on to others, please do so.  It only takes a few minutes.

UPCOMING EVENTS - 2006

Please note the following events on the horizon for Illinois and the Midwest. Communication and download information can be gotten directly through this email by attachments or by going to www.judofdl.com (Brett Wood Taylors Welcome Mat Judo). OR www.judocalendar.com (Jim Carmer). Either site is a wealth of information on Judo events. Both have more events listed than I have, so visit their sites often. Thanks.

Dec. 26 – 30    Gurnee Judo Holiday Camp featuring Carrie Chandler            Gurnee, Ill.
Contact: Tim Schultheis, tschulth@warpnet.net  for more information or www.gurneejudoclub.com

Dec. 30           Junior Development Clinic – Open Workout  Gurnee Judo Club Gurnee, Ill.
Contact: Brett Wolf, azumah4@yahoo.com

2007 dates

Jan. TBD Junior Development Clinic – Open Workout  Tohkon Judo Academy, Chicago, Ill.
Contact: Brett Wolf, azumah4@yahoo.com

Jan. 27          The Fourth Twin City Winter Classic State Tournament          St Paul Minn.
Contact: Dan Hoffman, 651.208.5650 or Ken Otto, 651.774.4041 or k-d-otto@msn.com

Feb. 10                          Konjo Dojo St Louis Judo Winter Championships        Fenton, Mo.
Contact: Randy Pierce, 636.464.6427 or Blackbelt6thdan@aol.com

Feb. 11                      Kids Snow Throw, Southside Dojo LTD                Kalamazoo, Mich.
Contact: Ron Blake, RonBlake@chartermi.net for more information www.SouthsideDojo.com

Feb. 11                                       Sensei Memorial                                   San Jose, Calif.

                                        Referee Examination Site

Feb. 17                  4th Annual Pedro's Challenge Judo Tournament       Wakefield, Mass.
USA Judo E-Level Senior Event and Referee Examination Site

Contact: Jimmy Pedro at jimmypedro@zebramats.com or 978.973.6238

Information Packet:  http://www.usjudo.org/documents/2007PedrosChallengeInformationandEntryPacket.pdf

Feb. 18                        Illinois State Open Judo Championships                         Yorkville Ill.
Contact: Chuck Clark, 630.553.5741, clarkmail@sbcglobal.net or Tim Schultheis, 847.244.7847

Mar. 2-4                                Midwestern Championships                            Chicago, Ill.

Referee Examination Site

information Packet:  http://www.usjudo.org/documents/2007MidwesternChampionships.pdf

Mar. 10                                     New York Open                              New York City, N.Y.

Mar. 17                              The Midwest Regional Judo Tournament             St Paul Minn.
Contact: Dan Hoffman, 651.208.5650 or Ken Otto, 651.774.4041 or k-d-otto@msn.com

Mar. 24-26                    MS/HS/Collegiate National Championships               Miami, Fla.

Apr. 1-2                                        Liberty Bell                                    Philadelphia, Pa. Referee Examination Site

Contact: Lou Moyerman, lmoyerman@aol.com

Apr. 7-8                                       Northglenn                                          Denver, Colo.

Apr. 20-21                                Senior Nationals                                          Miami, Fla.

Contact: Sherrie Phillips, sportsconsult@aol.com

May 24-27                         Pan-American Championships                    Montreal, Canada

May 29-30                                 Am-Can Challenge                                   Buffalo, N.Y.

Contact: Mel Ginter, 716.692.6865 or ming3@adelphia.net

Jul 7-8                                           USJA Junior Nationals                         Indianapolis, Ind.
Preliminary Flyer: http://www.judocalendar.com/judo/20070708USJAintialflyer.pdf  

July 14-15                                USJF Junior Nationals                            Ypsilanti, Mich.

July 7 – 8                                   Junior Olympics                                           San Antonio, Texas

Aug. 4-5                                  USA Judo Junior Open                    Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Sept. TBD                               Ladder and Fall Classic

Sept. / Oct. TBD                       USA Judo Senior Open

Nov. 2007                                   Continental Crown                                Seattle, Wash. Referee Examination Site

Nov. 2007                                   Dallas Invitational                                  Dallas, Texas

Referee Examination Site

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS INFORMATION – USA JUDO
For more information on Life Membership in USA Judo, please contact USA Judo and click on “LIFE MEMBERSHIP”  
Nat’l       Order     Name
030          1             Henry Okamura(deceased)
041          2             Kei Narimatsu
065          3             James Colgan
122          4             Richard Fukuyama(deceased)
125          5             Joanne Barthold(deceased)
139          6             George Stanich
148          7             Mary Gail Ford
161          8             Kevin Narimatsu
162          9             Scott Narimatsu (CA)
164          10           Byung Chul Cho
167          11           Yung Kim
177          12           Kyu Yoon
181          13           John Bek
189          14           Quentin Thompson
201          15           Michiyuki Sasa
216          16           George Weers
271          17           Susan McConnell
289          18           William Jaconetti
291          19           Jean S Narimatsu
292          20           Susan Narimatsu
324          21           Timothy Tremaine
342          22           Stephen Bergren
349          23           Timothy Canty
355          24           Tim Schultheis
358          25           Bradford Lee (NV)
363          26           Frank Oliveri
364          27           Michael Ogata (FL)
370          28           Jeanette J Narimatsu
371          29           Julie K Narimatsu
374          30           Joe Kajita (CA)
378          31           Eiko Shepherd
381          32           Bill Dunning(deceased)
382          33           Yasko Odagiri
383          34           Wren Odagiri
385          35           Cary Yamanaka (MN)               
387          36           Don Bordeau  

There are currently only 36 Life Members in Illinois.  You can start a membership for $75 minimum start payment and $25 per payment thereafter until completed.  You can pay by cash, check or credit card.  For more information, please contact www.usjudo.org  and select “LIFE MEMBERSHIP” Let’s do our share in Illinois.   Thanks.