About Us

Michigan Judo Development Association, Incorporated was established in 1988 by Noboru Saito, George Balch, James Cornforth and Leslie Stewart as a Not for Profit Corporation in Michigan and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.  The Current Members of the Board of Directors are as follows:

  • Noboru Saito, Chair
  • James Conforth
  • Gerald Wee
  • Peter Catlos
  • Don Flagg
  • Timothy Jordan
  • Neil Simon, Executive Director


MAIN OFFICE: 
                              139 Roth Blvd.                        
                        Clawson, MI 48017-02411                        
                        (248) 585-7982

PURPOSE: The Corporation is organized and shall be operated for the following purposes:
  1. To foster local, state, regional, national and international amateur competition in the sport of judo,
  2. To provide assistance in the training and development of judo students and amateur competitors in the sport of judo;
  3. To provide financial assistance to deserving judo players for training and attending, state, national and international amateur competition;
  4. To make grants and distributions to organizations which foster national and international amateur competition in the sport of judo and that qualify as exempt organizations;
  5. To promote public support for Olympic sport judo; and

Fund Raising Programs
  1. Seeking Public Donations
  2. Great Lakes Open
  3. Judo Golf Outing
Programs:
  1. Judo Clincs - Competitors (basics and advanced skills), coach, referee, kata.
  2. Great Lakes open - provide safe and competitive competition to assist development of judo skills.
  3. Administer the Elizabeth Spaeth Women Grant.
  4. Equipment Grant and Fund Raising.
  5. Grant opportunities to judo students for attending judo events and training.
Major Accomplishments:

1)   Grant to purchase Score Board (1990), $1,500.

2)   Help establish USJF George Balch Scholarship Program (2002).

3)   Awarded a Grant to publish "judo in the U.S." Book.

4)   Helped establish USJF Noboru Saito Judo Grant Program (2008).

5)   Made contribution to USA Judo U 23 program as well as USA judo Endowment Fund.

6)   Awarded grants totaling $13,000 through Elizabeth Spaeth Women Grant (May 2008) to: 

·      Ewelina Szewczuk
·      Kayla Hall
·      Autam Bates
·      Nicki Schultheis
·      Katie Sell
·      Kayla Harrison
·      Summer Truong
·      Jade Vanaman
·      Ana Hapihe
·      Sabrina Skorey
·      Angela Creutzberger
·      Hannah martin
·      Natalie LaFon
·      Kimberly Carpenter
·      Danielle Clinton
·      Frances Glaze
·      Eiko Shepherd
·      Claudia Smith
·      Babriela Gomez
·      Daniela Gomez
·      Sarah Black
·      Laquinta Allen
·      Allison Clifford
·      Veronical Prado
·      Angela Creutzberger
·      Jessica Irons
·      Pauline Macias
·      Jamie Blake

7)   Award $4,000 equipment grant to Shojin Judo Club to establish judo program within City of Detroit

8)   Provide Judo mats to Tsutomuru Judo Club in Jackson, Michigan.

9)   Grants to Sanix Junior High School Team Championship participant from Michigan, $2,800 for years 2007-2010.

10)  Grants to Korean High School Team Championship Participants from Michigan, $2,523.

11)  Many grants to Michigan Junior judo players