Dear KJA Members and Parents,

Just a reminder that the deadline to register for our Sunday, December 11 Shiai is by midnight on Friday, December 9. The easiest way to register is online through the "Member's Portal" on the Member's Page of the Kokushikai website. Paper applications can also still be dropped off at the dojo. (If I am not at the dojo, applications can be dropped through the mail slot to the right of the glass doors.)

https://kokushikai.com/memberspage.html

Thank-you in advance to all those who have volunteered to help with our upcoming Shiai. Everyone's contribution helps make the day go smoothly and makes a positive experience for our participating members. Most volunteers should arrive by 9:45 am unless other time arrangements have been made.

We hope many of our players try the new "Newaza" divisions that are offered for players to gain more ground experience. We think this is also a good option for adults who would like to compete without the standing aspect of judo. Players will be grouped according to age, weight and ability; the same as the regular Shiai divisions.  (If any registered player would like to add a division, just send me an e-mail.)

Another e-mail will follow late on Saturday (once I have all the final registrants) with more accurate scheduling for each session. I will also confirm with parents who have a child/children in two or three divisions as to which is their final session(s) assignment.

The schedule will be very close to the estimated times for each Shiai Session below:
(Please note: Players should be in their gi and on the mat at the start of the indicated time frame for their age.)

Tiny Tiger/Pee Wee Judo Shiai (4-6 yrs): 10:00am - 11:30am
Children Judo Shiai and Jr. Newaza Shiai (7-9yrs): 11:15 am - 1:30 pm
Youth Judo Shiai and Jr. Newaza Shiai (10-12yrs): 2:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Teen Judo Shiai and Sr. Newaza Shiai (13-16yrs): 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Adult Judo Shiai and Sr. Newaza Shiai (17 yrs+): 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Pizza Party (Everyone welcome): 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

IMPORTANT: I have been weighing players at the dojo but if you or your child have not been weighed at the dojo, please send to me ASAP as I can only estimate for player match-ups without the actual accurate weights.

Also KJA Competitor Fund Raffle Baskets are now on display at the dojo so members/parents can begin early purchase of raffle tickets. The dojo will be open Friday after 6:30pm and most of Saturday for the Shiai set-up if anyone wants to get early tickets. (Special thanks to Tamara Hemingway for putting the baskets together.) Final drawing will be at 7pm during the Pizza Party at the conclusion of the Shiai.

Please note that 100% of raffle ticket proceeds go toward the KJA Competitors Fund which provides support to KJA players who compete nationally and/or internationally. Each year many of our members qualify for support through their performance. Please help to grow this fund to provide the needed support to our KJA players as they reach higher levels of competition each year.

We are also accepting donations to the KJA Competitior's Fund. Donations can be made directly to the fund which are distributed to athletes based on annual performance or earmarked for a specific player. (Please note that contributions are not tax-deductable.) Please see Celita if you would like to make any type of donation. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated in support of our members.

Thank-you,
Celita


Celita Schutz
3x US Olympian, Judo
Kokushikai Judo Academy
24-28 Fair Lawn Ave.
Fair Lawn, NJ
201-797-8988