The vision of USJF is to have JUDO in every American community and school and our mission is to serve and support its members in the American judo community while upholding the principles of mutual welfare and benefit.

The United States Judo Federation events as of December 2011:

Born May 9, 1990, Whitby Ontario

Judo victories:

• Silver, Sao Paolo, June 2011
• Bronze, Rio, June 2011
• Bronze, Pan Ams, April 2011
• Silver, Suwon, Korea, December 2010
• Gold, Pan Ams, April 2010
• Gold, Baku, Azerbaijan, January 2010

Kelita Zupancic is Canada’s rising star in the sport and competes in the under 70-kg class. She’s an athlete who will likely be at her peak when the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics roll around, but she is determined that youth will be served at 2012 summer’s London Games.

“I think my chances are actually good for a medal,” Kelita said. “If I’m on and I fight the way I can and I’m on a roll and I get the first win going, it’s going to be hard to stop me, I think.”

There aren’t a lot of Canadian success stories in judo (besides of Tsunami Club’s judokas) for a reason. The sport’s barely on the radar in Canada and particulary in Ontario and the physical and mental price you have to pay to be among the world’s best is far too exorbitant for most.

If you’re dreaming to participate in the next National or International competition and ready to work hard – call Tsunami Club today and you could be the next Canadian Judo star!

Federation International Amateur Sambo

I. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

II. INTERNATIONAL GAMES

III. OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WORLD CUPS

IV. CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

 Karate involves jabbing, hitting, and kicking at the most vulnerable parts of the opponent’s body. One of the most destructive of the martial arts, karate is usually practiced on tiles, boards, and other hard objects rather than on human opponents.

The word karate literally means “the art of empty hands.” It is the most widely practiced of all the martial arts. Karate is a sport and a means of self-defense that uses the body as a weapon in striking, kicking, and blocking.

In Japan, where it is called karate-do, it involves discipline of the mind as well as of the body. Unlike judo and aikido, it is not a grappling or throwing sport. There are hundreds of varieties of karate, stemming from the intense rivalry among teachers of the art. Two international organizations govern karate: the World Union of Karate-do Organizations and the International Amateur Karate Federation.

Karate originated in Okinawa many centuries ago, where it was based on combat techniques imported from China. It was not called karate until it was introduced into Japan early in the 20th century by Gichin Funakoshi. It was he who gave the art its present name in 1935 to differentiate it from Okinawan types that used weapons. Its worldwide popularity came about after World War II, when many United States servicemen stationed in Japan discovered it.

Karate has strict rules of etiquette. Students entering or leaving the training room, or dojo, execute a standing bow, and they perform a kneeling bow in front of the teacher. Students wear white uniforms made up of a jacket and pants. Beginners wear the white belt. Training is done according to grades, and each student must show proficiency in his grade before passing to the next rank.

There are two kinds of karate competition: individual and sparring between two opponents. Individuals are judged on their execution of movements. When the competition is between two individuals, they are of the same rank and weight. Matches are conducted by a referee, as in boxing, and judges sit at the side of the mat. Most bouts last for one round, but black-belt championships are longer. In professional matches the combatants wear boxing gloves and footwear.