The 2026 World Judo Championships concluded this past weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan and an American, Johnathan Yang from California, went farther than any other American since 1999. Johnathan, just 19, had an amazing full-point throw against the home-town favorite and world’s number one ranked Aghayev of Azerbaijan to make it to the quarter finals, eventually finishing in 7th place.
Another player, Yelyzaveta Lytrvynenko, now fighting for United Arab Emirates, Yurii Sensei has known since she was a girl growing up in Ukraine. She won her division and is now world champion.
Our Sana Sensei has worked out, and is friends with, the Japanese women’s team which took 4 gold, 1 bronze and who won the gold in mixed team event.
The Fresno Judo tournament will be on Sunday, October 18. The day before there will be a Clinic given by national and international champion Janine Nakao Cotti.
This past Saturday, October 10, City College of San Francisco hosted a judo clinic featuring international champion Anzu Yamamoto of Japan. Our Sana Sensei is a friend of Yamamoto Sensei. Both Sana and our Shuhan enjoyed the clinic and enjoyed being with the many judo women from around Northern California who attended.
I will be attending a three day clinic in November to earn the new Certification to train American USA Judo coaches. While I have been teaching these clinics for years USA Judo will be bringing in former world champion and Olympic medalist Neil Adams from Britain to roll out a new standardized curriculum. It will be fun to learn new skills and meet many of my old judo friends from around the country.
Feel free to contact us at: 510-604-6640 or info@hanabijudo.com.
Thanks for being part of our Big Hanabi Family!
Hanabi Judo, Head Sensei Dan Augustine
