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Edmonton Yudanshakai Judo Society
Originally founded in 1982 by Edmonton
judokas, Wally Litousky, Gil Hachey and Kathie Okamura. The Edmonton
Yudanshakai Judo Society (EYJS) as formed as a non-profit organization to
provide judo tournament opportunities in the Edmonton area, and train volunteers
as to time-keeping, draw sheets, and all the other tasks required to run a shiai (tournament).
The membership in EYJS is through the eight Judo clubs in the communities of
Edmonton,
Drayton Valley,
Ft. Saskatchewan,
Spruce Grove,
Vilna, and
St. Albert.
The society's major activity is the EYJS monthly tournaments, which are
primarily focused on children (16 years old and younger) and are limited to
lower ranks (yellow to green belts) and associated training camps to develop
and grow these individuals. In recent years EYJS has developed
the Edmonton International Judo Championship tournament, a major, full spectrum
tournament, including age groups from Cadets, through Masters, held at
West Edmonton Mall, Noth America’s largest shopping mall, held in spring of each
year. The Edmonton International, is a full four mat, two day event, and is held
in the centre of the mall in a 16,000 square foot skylight venue, and allows for
passive review of our sport by as many as 100,000 daily visitors to the mall.
This Edmonton International Judo Tournament now attracts several hundred competitors
from across Canada, Europe and the USA and is a Canadian Senior National Team points
tournament. The Edmonton International forms part of an important Canadian Judo
Tournament circuit which Includes the
Edmonton International,
Quebec Open (Montreal),
and the Hatashita Open (Toronto, Ontario).
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are taking your children there to participate in our monthly tournaments,
please consider volunteering. Your help will be very much appreciated! Just approach
one of the coaches or organizers and ask what you can do to help.
If you are a judoka, blue belt and above, you can help referee the matches.
Local volunteers are always needed for managing, organizing, setup
and teardown of the Edmonton International Judo Championships as well. As
this is a very large tournament run by the seven Edmonton Judo clubs, your
assistance would be appreciated there too. Contact your local club sensei
on how you can help..
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