USA Judo and the U.S. Judo Federation Agree to Reciprocal Membership for Events. What Judo Clubs Gain

For decades, a judo family in the United States has faced a question most other martial arts don’t: which national body do we join? USA Judo, the Olympic governing body, and the United States Judo Federation, the older grassroots organization, have run parallel memberships, rank systems and tournament calendars. On June 10, 2026, they announced a partnership giving members of either organization reciprocal membership for judo events. For club owners, that can mean one membership fee instead of two for students who want to compete.

What was agreed?

The only term both organizations have published is reciprocal membership for judo events: a member of either body can compete in the other’s events. USA Judo’s announcement says the American Traditional Jujutsu Association is also part of the arrangement; the USJF’s announcement does not mention it.

“The reciprocal membership for judo events is an important step forward in reducing barriers for judokas,” USJF President Mitchell Palacio wrote, describing the goal as “expanding opportunities, reducing barriers to participation, and fostering greater unity within our judo community.” USA Judo President Dr. Ronald Tripp called it “a working partnership equally benefiting both organizations.” USA Judo CEO Corinne Shigemoto and USJF Executive Director Robert Fukuda were credited with completing it. Talks began earlier in the year, with a first meeting reported in Irving, Texas, in January.

What does it leave open?

Neither announcement addresses rank recognition between the two systems, insurance coverage for a member competing at the other body’s event, the agreement’s length, or a specific start date. Those are the questions that decide whether a club can actually drop a second membership:

• Insurance: event coverage usually follows the sanctioning body’s policy and the athlete’s membership. Ask the event organizer which policy covers a reciprocal competitor.
• Rank: eligibility for rank-restricted divisions depends on how each body reads the other’s grades.
• Safeguarding: USA Judo, as an Olympic governing body, sits within the SafeSport system. Coaches who work at USA Judo events must meet its requirements regardless of their home federation. See our SafeSport report.

For the history behind American judo’s parallel organizations, see Judo Teachers and Scholars: In Memoriam.

Frequently asked questions

What did USA Judo and the USJF agree?

Reciprocal membership for judo events, announced June 10, 2026, so members of either can compete in the other’s events.

Is the American Traditional Jujutsu Association included?

According to USA Judo’s announcement, yes. The USJF’s announcement does not mention it.

Do the organizations now recognize each other’s ranks?

Neither announcement says so.