Beltsville Judo Club wins Eastern US Title
- Press Release
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
Photos by Dr Charles Medani.
Hui-O-Judo Beltsville and College Park Judo, in cooperation with Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, hosted the 2025 United States Judo Federation Eastern US Kata Championships at the Lakeland College Park Community Center on Saturday August 16th. The event director was Diane Tamai Jackson. The event was sanctioned by the United States Judo Federation.
Judo, which means “gentle way,” was founded in 1882 in Tokyo Japan by Dr Jigoro Kano. It is a sport that combines the use of momentum and balance in the performance of the techniques. The use of flexibility, balance, control, leverage, skill and timing are used more than strength. Judo became an Olympic sport in 1964. Judoka work to improve themselves every day – physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Judo katas are pre-arranged patterns of attack and defense that help judoka develop their overall technique and understanding of Judo principles. Kata movements in judo consist of formalized patterns or techniques that are practiced in pairs (uke – the attacker and tori – the defender), emphasizing precision and control. For example: Uke initiates the attack, and Tori applies the defensive techniques. Kata are designed to teach the principles of Judo, such as balance (Kuzushi), timing, efficiency of movement, and the relationship between attack and defense. They focus on specific aspects of Judo, such as throwing techniques (Nage-waza), grappling techniques (Katame-waza), or self-defense. Kata are valuable at all stages of training and development. While they are often practiced by higher-level judoka, kata are valuable at all stages of training for cultivating a comprehensive understanding of Judo.
Forty-four teams competed in various levels of different katas. Competitors ranged in age from 7 to 67 years young with ranks from rokkyu (white belt) to godan (5th degree black belt). There were participants who were visually disabled. New categories were created to encourage younger judoka and beginning judoka to participate. Special category “create your own kata” was also encouraged for creativity. Kata teams were from across the eastern half of the US and Canada including: Taifu (Toronto Canada), Bushido Kai (New York), Okuri Judo (Texas), Battlefield (Pennsylvania), El Idrissi Academy (Pennsylvania), Kokushi Midwest Judo (Illinois). Toshi Budokai (Massachusetts), Shinzan (Massachusetts) University of New Hampshire (New Hampshire), Capital MMA (Maryland), Hui-O-Judo Beltsville (Maryland) and Budokan (Maryland).
Special guest was Kuniko Takeuchi, 9th dan. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in physical and health education from Nippon University of Physical Education in Tokyo, Kuniko Takeuchi began teaching judo and physical education in the early 1960s. Later, her career as a judo and P.E. instructor led her abroad, and eventually to the Okubo Judo Club in Sacramento, Calif., where she currently teaches a couple of times per week. She taught at the Sacramento Judo Club and the Kodokan West Judo Club. In the late 1960s, she taught P.E. at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Sacramento, Calif. until she retired from teaching P.E. in 1999. Having dedicated much of her life to judo, in 2020, Takeuchi received a kunsho from the Japanese government. She was inducted in 2019 into the United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame. She has served in many roles throughout her judo career. Now 85 years young, she has passed the PJC Kata Commissioner role on to Diane Tamai Jackson to continue to grow kata around the world.
Diane Tamai Jackson stated “We are honored to have so many high-level judges come from across the USA to support this event. Learning and performing the katas help to enhance the overall judo knowledge and experience.” Among the judges at the 2025 Eastern Kata Championships were Frances Glaze (OH), Karen Whilden (VA/DC), Karen Nagai (WA), Barb Shimizu (WA), Eric Spears (MD), Stephen Berliner (VA), Karl Tamai (VA/MD), Theodore Schwalm (TX), Diane Jackson (MD) and Carla Martin (TX).
A special award for demonstrating kata performance excellence and kata competency was presented to the Goshin Jutsu Team of Kristen El Idrissi and Christine Levine (El Idrisssi Academy). They are from the Philadelphia area and are members of the USA Judo Kata world team.
Hui-O-Judo Beltsville, (Beltsville Judo club) was the top honoree. They had participants on many different levels. Hui-O-Judo has been located at the Beltsville Community Center for 45 years. They have continuously supported the Beltsville community introducing judo and Japanese culture to hundreds of our neighbors.
Kevin Tamai, the Chairman of the Board for Shufu Yudanshakai and for the United States Judo Federation, stated “It is always a good and positive step to get judoka together from around the country to not just compete, but to learn and receive positive feedback on their performances. Judo is a global community. Everyone involved is there to help each individual improve themselves. We are honored to host an event like this in the DC area.”
Josh Kindelberger, Vice President of the United States Judo Federation, stated “The United States Judo Federation is happy to have events that help to support the judo community. The USJF mission is to continually build our judo community thru the values of judo – friendship, honor, courage, self-control, humility, respect, and perseverance. We support competition and development on all levels. This was a very well organized and well-run event.”
Miki Takemori, President of the Shufu Judo Yudanshakai, stated “My family continues a long tradition of judo in the Washington area. Shufu, and all of its member dojos, are proud to support this event. Bringing the judo community together is key to our continued growth. Thank you to Diane Jackson for organizing this event and making it successful.”
For more information about Judo – visit the Beltsville Community Center or visit huiojudo.com
Results from the Eastern Kata Championships
Youth 12 and under – exhibition kata
1. H.Fineran and A.Katuria (Hui-O-Judo)
Youth - Under 15 y.o. - Ju No Kata Advanced
1. D. Pugh and Z.Chen (Kokushi Midwest)
Youth 17 and under exhibition kata
1. Z. Tehan Pacheco and C. Tehan Pacheco (Hui-O-Judo)
Youth - Under 22y.o. Nage no Kata Advanced
1. S.Shin and I.Palij (Bushido Kai)
2. D. Hammer and N.Mesa (Oburi Judo)
3. D. Oudovikine and K.Oudovikine (Taifu Toronto Canada)
Youth under 22 y.o. Ju No Kata Advanced
1. E.Legg and A. Chafin (Budokan MD)
Senior Nage No Kata Novice
1. A.Schwarzkopf and T. Schmidt (Hui-O-Judo)
2. B.Knowlton and G. Tehan (Hui-O-Judo)
Senior – Nage no Kata Intermediate
1. J.Kivel and L.Graham (Bushido Kai)
2. S.Shin and I.Palij (Bushido Kai)
3. D.Metcalf and B. Li (Bushido Kai)
Senior - Nage no kata Advanced
1. J.Kivel and L.Graham (Bushido Kai)
2. B.Finneran and L. Fisher (Hui-O-Judo)
Senior - Katame no kata Intermediate
1. W.Vicerra and D.Barrett (Battlefield)
2. A. Winiarski and B. Finneran (Hui-O-Judo)
3. M.Pugh and G. Talusan (Kokushi Midwest)
Senior - Katame no kata advanced.
1. H.Gentile and W. Pietroniro (Shinzan)
2. G.Hossler and M. Sauter (Bushido Kai)
3. D. Oudovikine and A.Oudovikine (Taifu Toronto Canada)
Senior - Ju No kata – Intermediate
1. B.Fineran and M.Pugh (Kokusho Midwest)
2. S.Harris and M.Woods (Budokan- MD)
3. P.Fleury and A.Perry (Shinzan)
Senior – Ju No Kata Advanced
1. L.Latimer and C.Levine – (El Idrissi Acad.)
2. G.Hossler and M. Sauter – (Bushido Kai)
3. B.Fineran and M.Kettl (Hui-O-Judo)
Senior – Kime No Kata – Advanced
1. W.Pietroniro and H.Gentile (Shinzan Judo)
Senior Goshin Jutsu – Intermediate
1. J.Phillips and H.Nagai (DC Judo)
2. J.Berl and N. Phelps (Bushido Kai)
3. P.Ross and N. Phelps (Bushido Kai)
Senior Goshin Jutsu – Advanced
1. K. El Idrissi and C. Levine (El Idrisssi Academy)
2. J.Berl and N. Phelps (Bushido Kai)
3. P.Ross and N. Phelps (Bushido Kai)
Itsutsu no kata.
1. B. Finneran and M.Kettl (Hui-O-Judo)
2. H.Wiley and T.Buchingham (Bushido Kai)