Dear USJA Members,

Recently Mark Tamulonis, our Treasurer resigned due to greater demands in his personal career and then within the same week but unrelated, Paul (Bob) Rush unexpectedly resigned as USJA President due to personal obligations. Within days, I was nominated and voted unanimously by the Board of Directors to move from the seat of Vice-President to President for the remaining term. It has been a whirlwind to get situated, review the open projects, identify new ones that can help our Organization and formally greet our membership as the newly appointed President of USJA.

First and foremost, I would like to thank our Lifetime Members, our Annual Members and our Coaches who have supported our Organization throughout this pandemic year of COVID lockdowns across the county. Our members deserve recognition and deserve to be heard. The USJA has always been a membership-based Organization and it is my honor to now serve as President to help our Organization grow. I know first-hand the struggles that many of us have experienced in personal and professional lives to stay afloat, keep dojos open and stay connected with our families and students throughout this year. Please know that we are in this together and I will do my best with your support, to help the USJA become stronger and more efficient for everyone!

I would also like to express sincere thanks to our outgoing President, Paul (Bob) Rush, for his time and contributions to the USJA along with the other Board Members who have worked overtime serving and protecting our Organization during this difficult time. Thank you to those of you who have reached out to our main office and have spoken with our Board Members. We hear you and want to hear from your more!

I will keep my greeting short but look forward to updating you often as we develop and proceed with these projects listed below that are in the works and on the horizon:

• Revive the USJA newsletter with current events and highlights of our members and dojos.
• Membership communication to help coaches and athletes navigate COVID-related issues pertaining to judo.
• Updates on USJA committees and accomplishments.
• Differentiated resource support for members running for-profit dojos and non-profit dojos.
• Establish and communicate our annual budget. Grow our endowment fund and athlete development fund.
• Upgrades to our member experience on our website and member portal.
• Lifetime membership specials.
• In the planning stages: virtual coach’s clinic and a virtual referee clinic – date and time TBA.
• USJA will not miss a year! We will be hosting the 2021 USJA/USJF Summer Nationalsin Florida–date and time TBA.

I also encourage our members to check out these events already on our calendar:

• Kosen Tournament, hosted by Shoshikan Martial Arts, May 1, 2021 in Las Vegas Nevada.
• The Greatest Camp on Earth 2021 hosted by the Carolinas American Judo Association, June 24-26, 2021 in Mathhew, NC.

The USJA has gone through some recent changes but I want you to know I am here to listen to your ideas and concerns, and I am willing to do all I can to ensure our Organization continues to work hard for you and for the great art and sport of Judo. Greatness awaits!

With humble resolve,
Celita Schutz
3x USA Judo Olympian
USJA President

Fellow USJA members,

As we are going into the New Year, we are hoping for an end of the Pandemic. Americans all over the country are suffering financially. Memberships in all three Judo organizations have fallen due to a lack of renewals and very few new members.

This letter is to ask you to consider sponsoring a member to renew at $60.00.

This would help both the member and the organization. You can also make a smaller or larger donation that we will bundle with others to renew a member or multiple members.

Together we will survive this pandemic and come out stronger.

Even if you can only help with $20, it would be greatly appreciated.

To donate, please either call the office at (516) 366-3311 or

Click here http://www.usja.net/donate to help via credit card or PayPal.

God bless you and your family,

The USJA Board of Directors

Donations to the United States Judo Association are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. The United States Judo Association is recognized by the IRS as a, not for profit 501c3 charitable organization.

The Board of Directors of the United States Judo Association is pleased to announce that Donna Turk has been installed as the Chair of the Promotion Board. Donna has a distinguished history of service and accomplishment as a member of the United States Judo Association. Having received her shodan in 1980, Donna has availed herself over the last 40 years to a substantial degree of competition and service at both the national and international levels.

Donna has also been closely associated with the editing and promotion of the USJA Promotion Manual. Donna’s service in this capacity, coupled with her extensive background in the USJA, make her an ideal fit for the USJA Promotion Board.

We look forward to working with Donna Turk as we all strive together for the sake of American Judo!

For Judo,

Bob Rush
President, USJA &
The Board of Directors of the United States Judo Association

NOTICE OF USJA BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTION – 2021                                       

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that an election is to be held for the United States Judo Association Board of Directors.  The election shall be for five (5) Directors.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, To be eligible to be on the ballot for election as a Director, or to be appointed as a Director to fill a vacancy, or to serve as a Director, an individual must, throughout his or her term of office: (i) be a current, primary, USJA Active Annual or Active Sustaining Life Member in good standing, (ii) have been an USJA Active Annual or Active Sustaining Life Member of the Corporation for not less than five (5) consecutive years prior to election or appointment to the Board of Directors, (iii) be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, (iv) be a citizen of the United States, (v) complete a successful background screening, (vi) not be an employee of USJA, and, (vii) if a previous Director, not have been removed from the Board of Directors for cause within the previous ten (10) years.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that eligible individuals may have their names placed on the ballot for election to the Board of Directors by submitting to the National Office a petition signed by at least one hundred (100) current Senior Annual Members and/or Senior Life Members of the Corporation. All such petitions must be received at the USJA National Office no later than July 31st of the election year for which they are intended. No employee of the Corporation is eligible to submit a petition to the Board of Directors to seek election as a Director of the Corporation. The petition requesting placement on the ballot must include or be accompanied by a statement signed by the prospective Board Member stating that he or she desires to become a Board member and that he or she will attend meetings of the Board of Directors as required in these Bylaws. All such petitions shall be examined by the USJA National Office for verification of the validity of the required signatures, names, and membership status. 

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that all original petitions for nomination must be received by the USJA by July 31, 2021.  All ballots must be postmarked by September 30, 2021 and sent to:

USJA Elections
2059 Merrick Road #313
Merrick, NY 11566

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the New Directors are to take office by October 15, 2021.

NOTICE IF FURTHER GIVEN, that sample form petitions, elections procedures, and notices will be available on the official USJA website.

Dated:  July 26, 2020

United States Board of Directors