2026 Yonezuka Cup Memorial Championships
Organized by All Things Judo
Judoka gather in Princeton, New Jersey on November 15, 2026 for the 2026 Yonezuka Cup Memorial Championships. All Things Judo runs divisions for all ages and ranks at this memorial event on the New Jersey judo calendar.
Event Description
The Yonezuka Cup Memorial Championships honor Yoshisada Yonezuka, the founder of the Cranford Judo Karate Center and a US Olympic judo head coach for the 1988 and 1992 Games, whose influence still shapes the New Jersey judo community decades later. Run through the All Things Judo tournament platform, the event draws competitors from clubs across the state and region for a full day of judo competition organized by age and rank. This edition takes place Sunday, November 15, 2026 in Princeton, NJ. It is open to judoka of all ages and belt ranks, from young beginners to seasoned competitors, and is a fixture on the New Jersey judo calendar. Registration is handled through the All Things Judo Smoothcomp event page linked from this listing.
About All Things Judo
All Things Judo is a shared event page run by Sensei Ramon Hernandez, a 5th-dan judo black belt and head instructor of North Jersey Judo, to support fellow regional tournament directors. It hosts USA Judo-sanctioned point events like the New Jersey Judo Open and North American Judo Championships.
Rules
Judo matches are decided by ippon — a full-point score that ends the match instantly. Ippon is awarded for a throw that lands the opponent largely on their back with speed and control, for a 20-second pin (osaekomi), or for a submission by strangle or armlock in the senior divisions. Lesser throws and shorter pins score waza-ari, and two waza-ari combine to make ippon.
Modern judo rules (based on the International Judo Federation rulebook) prohibit grabbing the legs in standing exchanges, and passivity or rule infractions draw shido penalties — accumulate three and the match is lost by hansoku-make. Armlocks and chokes are age-restricted, so junior divisions are typically throws-and-pins only.
Judo tournaments in the United States are generally sanctioned by USA Judo, USJA, or USJF, all of which follow IJF-based competition rules with local modifications for youth and novice divisions. Check the event's sanctioning body and division rules before registering.
Always confirm the official rulebook before you compete — organizations update rules between seasons. See the official event page for current rules.
Community results
No results logged yet. Results show up here once competitors log them after the event.
Frequently asked questions
- When and where is this event?
- Sunday, November 15, 2026 in Princeton, NJ.
- Who was Yonezuka?
- Yoshisada Yonezuka, founder of the Cranford Judo Karate Center and US Olympic judo head coach in 1988 and 1992.
- What divisions are offered?
- Age and rank-based judo divisions for all levels.
- Who organizes this event?
- The All Things Judo tournament platform, part of the New Jersey judo community.
- How do I register?
- Through the All Things Judo Smoothcomp event page linked from this listing.
BJJ gyms near Princeton, NJ
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