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. 

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Contents:

Editorial – MUSINGS OF THE YEAR END

LOCAL NEWS

USA JUDO NEWS

Serving Our Country
Something to Think About – Weird Facts
Upcoming Events
USA Judo Life Members

Editorial – Musings of the Year End

First, Happy New Year and best wishes for a lot of first places in 2007…  Did I say that?  What I really meant was for a lot of wins in 2007.  Nahhhh.  Not that either.  What I really meant was for all you to have is a great 2007 in LIFE and in JUDO, to have a lot of wins and 1st places but to also learn about how to win and lose, to learn about Judo, its techniques and variations, its philosophies and principles, its teachers and coaches, its rules and interpretation.  Learn about life’s lessons through Judo and it will go a long way to learning life’s lessons. 

Here is what I have learned.  I have learned that there are great joys and bitter disappointments in Judo.  I have been honored to have gone to many great competitions and Championships, to referee some of the best players in the world, but I have been disappointed in not attending other Championships.  For whatever reason, it just was not in the cards.    What is there to learn – that it is not the end of the world, that life goes on and that continued hard work is required to achieve more.  Am I disappointed?  A bit.  Am I bitter, NO.  For in Judo as in Life, nothing is guaranteed. 

I have learned the goodness of people.  A simple hello from a stranger in a foreign country goes a long way to allay the fears of traveling to a strange land.  To be invited to dinner or to socialize after a particularly hard day at refereeing is the ultimate compliment of a guest in a foreign land.  Which is why I try to reciprocate to travelers visiting the United States for any reason – Judo or otherwise. 

I have learned that there are many excellent teachers out there who dedicate their lives to the teaching of Judo, in technique as well as philosophy.  Be they the club instructor who does this as an avocation or for a living, they both bring value to your overall training.  One should take away one good point each time you go to a dojo or practice.  And then remember it.  Make sure it is firmly implanted in your memory bank.  What makes greatness is the ability to not make the same mistake twice.  In other words, to practice, to remember, to live by a principle each and every day.   To do it right and do it right the first time.  To never take short cuts in practice or in work. 

I have learned that running a club takes a lot of work, in fact the collective work of each of its members.  There may be a head instructor, the sempai.  BUT without the students, the kohai’s, there would be no club or instructor or dojo.  So one should never consider that this is MY club, in fact, it is OUR club.  I may have more life experiences than you, but you have life experiences that I have never had and I can learn equally from you as I hope you will learn from me. 

I have learned that respect is the cornerstone of HONOR.  Each member of a club should treat their club and instructors with respect and admiration.  Each member should represent their club with honor and dignity both on and off the mat.  Each member should represent their club honorably within their club, at other clubs, at shiai’s, at school, at work, at play.  As a judoka, you represent not only yourself, but your family, your instructor, your dojo.  Never bring dishonor to any of them.  Your reputation is the only thing that you have.  Do not abuse this privilege and it will not abuse you. 

I have learned that the people from Illinois and the Midwest are both dependable and loyal.  When faced with overwhelming obstacles, they can overcome this with teamwork and effort and discipline.  Take for example the Middle School, High School and Collegiate National Championships.   With little more than 2 ½ months to get it all together, WE did it.  The collective efforts of just about every dojo in the state contributed to its success.  To add to this burden, a Japanese High School team also visited during this time and were taken care of in a manner and style that befits Chicago hospitality.  Collectively, this was considered a very successful event by players, spectators, referees and administrators on a National level.  Financially, perhaps not, but in terms of camaraderie and teamwork, it was a huge success and perhaps this was a better building block of learning any amount of dollars could have earned.  So pat yourselves on the back Illinois Judo, CJBBA, Illinois Clubs – you have earned great respect. 

Lastly, I have learned that change is not bad for an organization.  It brings in new thoughts, new enthusiasm, new energy and most importantly new people to the table.  It forces people to become leaders, thus creating leadership.  It allows people to take a chance, to be a star.  It gives energy and excitement to programs.  Illinois Judo and USA Judo are both undergoing significant changes in the way they do business.  With a new President, Tim Schultheis and his board of directors, we have seen significant efforts that could change the opinion of judokas in Illinois as well as nationally.  Monthly junior practices(representing 5 – 6 separate clubs and more on the way), a new IJI website (www.illinoisjudo.org), regular board of directors meetings, 501(c)(3) non-profit status, increase participation in IJI activities, increase in membership, increase in club membership, increase in workout participation, IJI patches, IJI referee polo shirt uniforms to name a few AND many more things in the offing.  YOUR IJI board is working for you.  It will be up to you to make this work, not the board or President.  It will be up to you to step up and volunteer, to participate, to be a part of OUR Judo future that will make Illinois Judo one of the strongest State Governing Board (SGB) within USA Judo.  Make it happen or you have no one to blame but yourself. 

Of course, USA Judo is also changing.  A new 12-person Board of Directors (including 2 independent non-judo related board members), new Committee Directorships, new responsibilities and accountabilities for these committees, a new emphasis on giving services to its members, more professionalism in event planning, more loyalty and dedication to those who support USA Judo, more support for grassroots club programs, emphasis on promotion at all levels – from junior to elite player, new training centers in Florida and Texas, increase in awareness of coach, teaching and referee certification programs.  As with state programs, new folks from across the country will be stepping up their commitment to volunteer.  Of course there will be some “old-timers” but it is incumbent upon them to teach and train, to mentor and guide these new folks.  With these changes will come a new paradigm for success. 

In both cases, the proof will be in seeing results of their efforts.  If nothing changes, then the change was not good.  However, if we get good value, then change will revolutionize the way both these organizations operate and their vision for Judo in the future.  We will see champions who see a future in Judo as they develop.  There will be hope for financial assistance, better training methodologies, more opportunities to travel, to be educated while training, but also more expectations and accountability from these same athletes. 

The future does look bright for American Judo and I hope that what I have learned and my vision becomes a reality that we can all be proud of.  To have a strong National Governing Body to lead us to the 2008 and 2012 and beyond Olympic Games, to have a vibrant and working State Governing Board, to have Clubs and Instructors re-vitalized to teach and train young minds and bodies to their maximum potential.  This vision is only as strong as YOUR vision – keep your focus, work hard and we will all benefit and be successful. 

Josh O’Neil Clinic: 

Welcome Mat Judo and Wisconsin Judo invites all to learn cutting edge techniques from one of the top competitors from the Midwest.  Josh O’Neil who is one of the top U-23 competitors in the United States at 66kg.  Josh has trained in Wisconsin under Tim Feest and Jim Peterson, Illinois under Irwin Cohen and is presently training at the OTC under Ed Liddie.  Josh is a 10-time Junior National Champion, a 3 time Junior Open Champion and member of the 2004 U.S. Junior World Team.  Josh represents the one of our rising stars from the Midwest. 

Please try to support this clinic on Saturday, January 6 in at the Welcome Mat Judo Club in Fond du Lac, WI.

For more information, please contact Brett Wood-Taylor welcomemat@charter.net or 920-251-0456.

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 Deadline TODAY

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 TODAY, Jan. 3.  All athletes must provide payment for the full entry fee at the time of registration. 

European Tour Selections Updated

The updated European Tour selections are available at http://www.usjudo.org/seniors_compopportunities.asp. 

Athletes who were ranked #4 on the USA Judo Senior Elite National Roster, dated Dec. 4 are reminded that their selection for the 2007 European Tour are due Jan. 4.

All submissions must be made to Mary Ann Relich, along with completed forms and payment, at maryann.relich@usajudo.us.

2007 Pan American Junior Championships

The 2007 Pan American Junior and Juvenile Championships will be held April 13-14 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Selection criteria for this event will be released soon at www.usjudo.org. 

Liberty Bell Classic Entry Packets

Entry packets for the Liberty Bell Classic, a USA Judo Senior E Level Tournament being held April 1 in Philadelphia, Pa., are available at http://www.usjudo.org/documents/2007LibertyBellEntryPacket.pdf.  Senior divisions will be contested on April 1 with Junior divisions fought on March 31.

Puerto Rico Open Dates Set

The Puerto Rico Open, a USA Judo Senior D-Level Point Tournament, will be held April 6-8 in Salinas, Puerto Rico.  More information will be released as it is made available. 

Benito Juarez Dates Set

The Benito Juarez Championships, a USA Judo Senior D-Level Point Tournament, will be held Nov. 1-3 in Merida Yucatan, Mexico.  More information will be released as it is made available.

USA Judo Announces Start of New Membership Program

As the 2007 New Year arrives, USA Judo is pleased to announce a new membership program. Beginning January 1, USA Judo will no longer offer secondary membership as the two-tiered structure is replaced with a single level of membership.

All USA Judo members who have registered by midnight, December 31, 2006 will be referred to as of January 1, 2007 as "USA Judo member" regardless of whether they registered as a "primary" or "secondary" member.  Memberships previously known as "secondary" will be honored as "USA Judo members" through their individual expiration dates in 2007.  
 
"Over the last year or so we at the USA Judo National Office have been studying how to improve the membership services. We have introduced as part of these membership improvements a family membership plan in order to encourage and save money for our members," said USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez.  "We have also introduced a youth membership program which is now being implemented with our new Police Athletic League, and Boys Scouts/Girl Scouts programs. We will soon make this eight-week youth membership program available to all USA Judo member clubs to encourage more young people to try out judo. The secondary membership program we used to offer hinged on the fact that we were sharing insurance policies with U.S. Judo Federation; however once that changed this year it was a matter of business decision to discontinue the secondary membership."
 
Rodriguez continued: "We have been discussing this change in our membership structure with the USJF leadership since last October and at the meeting we had in Dallas a few weeks ago we created a working committee where we will begin to look at the possibility of a mutually beneficial membership program that would include USA Judo, USJA and USJF". 
 
USA Judo would like to encourage as many of our members as possible to please use our ONLINE membership registration by going to www.usjudo.org. When you register online you will get your membership card and number on the spot.

This will save USA Judo members a tremendous amount of time. Further, if you happen to lose our card, you can go back and reprint it completely free of charge. As part of USA Judo's new online systems, our members will be able to register for all of our events online later this year which also will save you both money and time.  
 
Very soon, USA Judo members will be able to complete coaching background screens online as well as apply for ranks and promotions.  All of this is part of USA Judo's continued effort to provide our members with quick and timely services.
 
"We want to assure all of our members who have signed up as secondary members by Dec. 31 that you will lose no benefits and your membership to USA Judo is valid through the expiration date of your membership," added USA Judo President Dr. Ron Tripp.  "We are striving to find better ways to serve our members and we do hope that more of them look into registering online - it is the way of the future for our sport!"
 
All State Organizations already have received the new USA Judo membership forms and clubs will be receiving them soon.  The online registration program at www.usjudo.org already has the new membership structure and the family membership information.   

Ring in the New Year with an Adopted Athlete
A Letter from USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez 
  
It was Christmas Eve and I had just turned up the TV volume up so I could hear listen to CNN while I was in the kitchen attempting to cook some Cuban food for dinner (it's hard to get a good Cuban Christmas Eve dinner in Colorado!) when a news item caught my attention.  It seemed that the stock market and traders in Wall Street had done so well this year that many of them were getting end of year bonus of millions of dollars! The piece then went on to discuss how these folks would be spending their million dollars bonuses.
  
As I went back to the kitchen, I began to think about how many folks within the USA Judo family out there may have gained as well from investments for which they will need to do some deduction when they sit with their respective CPAs and file their taxes.
 
As we come down to the last few days of the year, I would like to ask those of you that may have been blessed during the fast-closing year with financial success to please  consider making a last-minute donation to our "Adopt an Athlete" program.  Your contribution will help our athletes prepare for the Pan American Games and World Championships in 2007 as well as the rapidly approaching 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games!
 
We have such a talented group of athletes preparing themselves to wear our Red, White and Blue and see to it that our flag is carried onto the medal podium, but they need the funds to properly train and compete internationally.  

Little by little we at USA Judo have been addressing the issues of coaching, training sites and overall athlete performance.  We now have some of the best coaches in the United States  working together to ensure our athletes are well-prepared for the coming year's tournaments. 

But the athletes need your help to reach the medal stand!
 
Already, we have had supporters who have  joined our "Adopt An Athlete"  program and have donated in some cases more than $15,000 directly to one athlete to help with  the training and competition expenses of a judo player personally selected by this generous donor.  This supporter has requested to remain anonymous which also has been the case with other donors.

Imagine if we had a few more of you out there who would participate in this program... what a difference it would make in providing our athletes the necessary support to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games.

When talking with many of you I've often heard about the excllent programs in countries like Brazil and France and, indeed these countries have some of the best judo in the world.  However, most of the time we do not follow that statement with the fact that they also have a lot of funding with which to train their athletes, and bring in other athletes to train and compete in their country.  
 
This call goes to those within the American Judo Family who may have been so blessed this year that they have funds to support one or two of our athletes. If you are not sure who may be available to adopt, please visit our Web site (www.usjudo.org/adoptanathlete.asp). There you will find a list of some of our top Senior and Junior Elite athletes.  Please, do not put it off any longer, 2007 will be a very important year to our athletes preparing for Beijing as well as those in our junior development and U-23 programs that are now preparing Team USA for the  2012 Olympic Games in London.
 
If you are already supporting athletes in your region or in your dojo, I congratulate you and hope that you continue. If you are able to support our members of our USA Judo Elite team and you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me or drop me an email at Jose.H.Rodriguez@usajudo.us, you will get an answer back within a few hours I guarantee you!
 
To all of you... May God Bless you and may 2007 be a very  healthy and happy one for each of you!!
 
Yours in Judo,
 
Jose H. Rodriguez
USA Judo CEO

Pedro’s Challenge and Morris Cup Named USA Judo E Level Events

USA Judo is pleased to announce that two events have been named as E Level Senior Point Tournaments for the 2007 season.

The Pedro’s Challenge Judo Tournament will be the second E-Level event of the year, held Feb. 17 in Wakefield, Mass.  The Morris Cup, April 14 in Burnt Hills, N.Y., will be the final opportunity for athletes to earn senior elite points leading up to the 2007 USA Judo Senior National Championships.

“This is the fourth year we’ve held this event and we’re expecting that our new status as a point tournament will draw even more athletes to Boston,” said Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.), the Tournament Director and a two-time Olympic medalist.  “Last year there were divisions were we had almost all of the top athletes come out and it’s always been a big event on the East Coast, but this should help it expand even more.”

Following the tournament, athletes are invited to participate in a one-day clinic on Feb. 18 with Pedro.

Pedro’s Challenge also will feature $250 cash prizes awarded to the winners of each of the senior elite divisions, provided by Zebra Mats. 

“We’re also going to be a National Referee Certification Testing event which we’re very excited about,” Pedro said. “Having that status means that you have some of the top referees in the country coming in which will help make it a quality event.

The Morris Cup, in its sixth year, has consistently drawn more than 400 players annually.  Last year’s event included several #1s as well as a sizeable contingent from Canada… more>

U23 Team Program Shines in Initial Year

In February, USA Judo created the Elite U-23 Team Program which identifies and develops America’s talented young athletes with the goal of preparing them for success at the international level sooner.  In doing so, USA Judo hopes to create a stronger and more experienced pipeline of athletes for its National Team.  In less than one year, the U23 Program, which is made up of 19 athletes, has had tremendous success.   

Athletes in the U-23 program receive coaching and funding for participation in selected tournaments and camps as well as recommended development plans and assistance with strength and conditioning programs.  The U-23 Team is directed by Jimmy Pedro, a two-time Olympic medalist and 1999 World Champion and overseen by Eddie Liddie, USA Judo Director of Athlete Performance.

Less than a week after U-23 members Katie Mocco (70kg) and Jeremy Liggett (60kg) won medals at the Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the U-23 Team took off to Italy for its first competition as a team at the Tre-Torri International.

Marti Malloy earned her first B-Level senior European medal, and the team’s best finish, placing second in the 57kg division while Pan Am Team member Garry St. Leger also reached the podium with a bronze medal at 90kg.  Fifteen-year-old Jeanette Rodriguez (48kg)… more>

2007 Pan American Games Revised Selection Criteria

The 2007 Pan American Games will be held July 19-22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The selection criteria have been revised and the 2007 USA Judo Senior National Championships, April 20-21 in Miami, Fla., will serve as the Trials for the event.  The revised selection criteria are available at www.usjudo.org/seniors_compopportunities.asp.

This USA Judo Senior B Level Tournament is the third in a series of qualifying tournaments for the 2008 Olympic Games.  PLEASE NOTE: All selection criteria are pending final approval by the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors.

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 – 
Weird Trivia - Some old, some new

         In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker      than his thumb. Hence we have "the rule  of thumb"  

         Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented.  It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English  language.  

         The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV  were  Fred  and Wilma Flintstone.

         Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S.Treasury.

         Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear  better.    

         Coca-Cola was originally green.    

         It is impossible to lick your elbow.   

         The  State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:  Alaska    

         The  cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:  $6,400    

         The  average number of people airborne over the  U.S. in any given hour:  61,000    

         Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.    

         The first novel ever written on a typewriter:  Tom Sawyer.    

         The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.    

         Each  king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from  history:  

Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs - Alexander, the Great  
Diamonds - Julius Caesar  

         111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321    

         If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural  causes.    

         Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles  Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't  added until 5 years later.  

         Q.  Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?    A.  Their birthplace  

         Q.  Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name  requested?         A.  Obsession  

         Q.  If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would  find the letter "A"?   A.  One thousand  

         Q.  What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers  all have in common?   A.  All were invented by women.  

         Q.  What is the only food that doesn't spoil?      A.  Honey  

         Q.  Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?     A.  Father's Day  

         In  Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you  pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on.  Hence the phrase......... "goodnight, sleep tight."   

         It  was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a  month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with  all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar  was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today  as the honeymoon.  

        In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the  bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."  It's  where we get the phrase "mind your P's and  Q's"  

         Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the  phrase inspired by this practice.   

~~~~~~~~~~~AND  FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~    

         At  least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their  elbow!    

UPCOMING EVENTS - 2007

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.

Jan. 6                                       Josh O’Neil Clinic                   Fond du Lac, WI           NEW!!!
Contact Brett Wood-Taylor at welcomemat@charter.net or 920.251.0456

Jan. 20 Junior Development Clinic – Open Workout  Tohkon Judo Academy, Chicago, Ill.
Contact: Brett Wolf, azumah4@yahoo.com

Jan. 27     WJI Hall of Fame Dinner honoring Neal Rosenberg and Ron Hanson    Wauwatosa, WI                   NEW!!!
Contact: Jim Peterson, 414.444.0272

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

Jan. 28     Wahadachi Judo Tournament           Milwaukee, WI     NEW!!!
Contact Jim Peterson           1-414-444-0272      website:  www.wahadachijudo.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 21-22                                  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.