U.S. Special Needs Judo Championships
The Riverside Youth Judo Club has the largest group of Developmentally Disabled Judo students in the United States. Competition rules are a bit different for Special Needs Judo Players so it is important to make certain they have opportunities to compete as well.
In February 2015, the Riverside Youth Judo Club held the first official Special Needs Judo Tournament in the U.S. The event was sanctioned by the USJA and was called the “Yuuki no Shiai” (Contest of Courage). This first Special Needs Judo tournament included 25 Developmentally Disabled competitors and was held inside our Judo Club on two scrimmage mats.
In March 2016, we held the 2nd “Yuuki no Shiai” at the City of Riverside Orangecrest Recreation Center. This USJA sanctioned tournament included 40 Developmentally Disabled Judo competitors and was held on two 8 meter x 8 meter (IJF Standard) mats.
In February 2017, we held the first U.S. Special Needs Judo Championships at Ramona High School in Riverside, CA. This was a nationally sanctioned event with USJA – all IJF Special Needs Judo Rules were followed. This event included over 60 Special Needs judo competitors who competed on three 8 meter x 8 meter (IJF Standard) mats.
In February 2018, we held the 2nd U.S. Special Needs Judo Championships at Ramona High School. The event was nationally sanctioned by USJA and included 100 Special Needs judo competitors from all over California and Texas!
The 2019 U.S. Special Needs Judo Championships was held on March 3rd, 2019!!! Our numbers are increasing each year!!!
The 2022 U.S. Special Needs Judo Championships was held at Orange Terrace Park in Riverside. This was the 1st tournament after a two-year layoff for Covid. About 150 Adaptive athletes participated in the tournament.
We have received significant interests in the event from all over the Country – our goal is to host a Worlds Special Needs Judo Tournament here in the U.S.!!!
