2022 was a record-breaking year for Blackbelt promotions! Thank you to all of our Head Coaches and Certified Rank Examiners for your continued support to grow your club members and USJA. Let’s keep up the great work in 2023!
Congratulations to the following December 2022 Dan promotions:
| Lance Olson | Yodan | Samurai Judo Association |
| Ernesto Espinoza | Yodan | Kenshukai Judo Club |
| Michael Korniczky | Yodan | Tomodachi Judo Club |
| Herbert Rodriquez | Yodan | Tomodachi Judo Club |
| Robert J. Matrisciani | Yodan | Bushido Dojo of Staten Island |
| James Foster | Sandan | Tampa Florida Judo |
| Alexander Tudor Simion | Sandan | Greater Detroit Budojuku |
| Rebecca Hacke | Nidan | Santa Rosa Judo Club |
| Edward Chears | Nidan | Samurai Judo Association |
| Colin Carlisle | Shodan | Santa Rosa Judo Club |
| Patricia Yuki Moran | Shodan | Goltz Judo |
| Gerald Brown | Shodan | Samurai Judo Association |
| Patrick Ware | Shodan | Buckeye Thunderbird Judo |
| Zachary Ward | Shodan | Shinko Shin Judo |
| Madelynn Perry | Shodan | Jefferson City Judo |
| Christopher Hutchcraft | Shodan | EMU/WCC Judo Club |
| Joe Hibbitts | Shodan | Yuma Judo Club |
Congratulations to the following January 2023 Dan promotions:
| Edmund Fellmuth | Shichidan | Edgerton Judo Club |
| James Weidner | Rokudan | Stevens Point Judo Club |
| Philippe Morotti | Rokudan | Hollywood Judo |
| Hannah Martin | Yodan | Jason Morris Judo Team |
| James Law, Jr. | Yodan | Tuscarawas Judo Team |
| Shandra Stevenson | Sandan | Fox Valley Judo/Jujitsu Club WI |
| Joel Patchen | Sandan | Yuma Judo Club |
| Robert Malachwiejew | Sandan | Kata Chicago Judo Club |
| David Cainas | Sandan | Cainas Judo Academy |
| Jonathan Dyer | Nidan | Goltz Judo |
| Randy Haskins | Nidan | Taka Judo Club |
| Joseph Schultz | Nidan | SF Hapkido & Judo Club |
| Sylburn Peterkin | Nidan | Nassan County PAL Judo Club |
| Shariyf Qabid | Nidan | Andalucia Judo Club |
| Charles Leon | Nidan | Renshu Ryu Judo |
| Vincent Sha | Nidan | Trafford Judo Club LLC |
| Dr. Steven Levkoff | Nidan | Unidos Judo Club |
| Guy Shilts III | Nidan | Edgerton Judo Club |
| Christian Rubio | Shodan | Santa Clarita Valley Judo Club |
| Joel Pettit | Shodan | Keene YMCA Judo Club |
| Milad Bozorgi | Shodan | Tim Joe’s Judo School |
| Brogan Louis Endres | Shodan | Ohio Judan Judo Club |
| Tim Wright | Shodan | Stevens Point Judo Club |
| Tomasz Gustaw | Shodan | Kata Chicago Judo Club |
| Erdenesuren Munkhdavaa | Shodan | Konjo Dojo |
| Kanokwan Gee | Shodan | Milestone Martial Arts |
USJA Judo Rank Promotion System – DO YOU KNOW?
USJA implemented a one-page form, “Coach Recommendation” for all Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan promotions to be completed by the Head Coach and/or Certified Rank Examiner. It is important to understand, we are not reducing our requirements for these three Dan promotions but instead, streamlining the process for the Head Coach and/or Certified Rank Examiner.
The responsibility for tracking an individual judokas’ Personal Judo Promotion Record (Worksheet) and verification of those records for Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan, are being moved to the Head Coach and individual Judoka.
Both forms can be downloaded from USJA.net found under the “Printable forms” link, Black Belt 1D-3D Promotion Package.
Feel free to contact your Regional Coordinator, a Certified Rank Examiner or a member of the Promotion Board as they can guide you through each step of the process.
Quarterly Promotion Call
The 2023 Q2 USJA Judo Rank & Certification call will take place in April 2023. All paperwork must be submitted to the National Office no later than March 1, 2023.
Certified Rank Examiner Program
For ranks above Sandan, if you are not currently a Certified Rank Examiner, go to the USJA.net site, download and complete the CRE Application & a mock Promotion Packet, forward to the National Office and someone from the CRE Committee will follow up with you on next steps. For additional information, logon to: USJA.net, Dashboard, Committees, CRE.