2007 US Ju-Jitsu National Championships
November 3-4, 2007 in Niagara Falls, New York

The 2007 US JU-JITSU National Championships were again a Great Success!

This year's event of held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Niagara Falls New York. The location and facility were excellent and Niagara Falls was as Awesome and Awesome as ever!! This year, 13 states were represented in the Championships with over 100 participants. While this was an "off year" from the WORLD JU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIPS (held every two years), the National Championships were still very well organized with excellent matches in all the divisions of competition.

The exciting weekend began with the regularly conducted Referee Refresher Course on the JJIF Rules and the Competitor Check-In / Weigh-in activities. On the day of competition, the Championship Director and National Coach also provided guidance to the competitors. Each year, as the National Governing Body for Ju-Jitsu in the United States of America, the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) conducts the US Ju-Jitsu National Championships. Every two years, the USJJF selects, manages and sends the USA JU-JITSU TEAM to the official WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS conducted by the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF). The JJIF is the World Governing Body for Ju-Jitsu as recognized by the International World Games Association (IWGA), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The USJJF hosted a special guest at this year's event, Dr. Ivica Zdravkovic. He is the President of the Serbian Budo Council. After visiting friends in Delaware and Washington D.C., Dr. Zdravkovic traveled to Niagara Falls with USJJF President Bruce Bethers and assisted in the USA National Championships as a Referee in the competition. Each year at the USJJF Awards Banquet, "Exceptional Ju-Jitsuka" - Technicians, Competitors, Officials, Instructors and other Ju-Jitsu Leaders are recognized. And, 2007 was no exception.

The following persons and club were recognized and awarded for 2007 as follows:

• Outstanding Achievement - Ms. Julie Petroff and Mr. Brian Ditz

• Outstanding Junior Technician - Ms. Tessa Dillenbeck

• Outstanding Senior Technician - Mr. Edward Shultz

• Outstanding Junior Sportsman - Mr. Reed Jones

• Outstanding Senior Sportsman - Mr. Josh Thomas

• Outstanding Referees - Mr. James Caldwell and Ms. Maribel Torres

• Outstanding Coach - Mr. Edward Kuras

• Outstanding International Referee - Dr. Ivica Zdravkovic

• Outstanding Team Participation - David Castaldo's School of Martial Arts

• Outstanding Championships Administrators - Ms. Mary Dipasquale, Ms. Lynn Heim and Dr. Ernest McPeek

• Recognized as USJJF's Certified World Class Referees by the JJIF - Michael Piaser and Joseph Santocildes

• Outstanding Ju-Jitsu Instructor - Dr. Ernest McPeek

• Outstanding Participation Club Award - Karate John's Martial Arts Center

An important Note: 2008's US JU-JITSU National Championships will be held in Ohio in the springtime.
Also, The official "USA Ju-Jitsu Team" will be competing in the World Championships in Sweden (November 2008)!

Looking forward to another Great Year in 2008!

Best Personal Regards,
Bruce R. Bethers, USJJF President
www.usjjf.org and www.ustkj.org

Competition Results

Photos
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Competition Photos

Referee "Refresher Training"	Referees preparing to judge DUO, Free Form Self-Defense & Kobudo Competition	Women's DUO Competition	Medal Presentation	Preparing for Youth Competition
Women's Fighting Competition	Grappling Action	Women's Fighting Competition	Referees	Men's DUO Competition
Medal Presentations	Men's Fighting Action	Men's Grappling Action	Men's Fighting Action	Men's Fighting Action
Medal Presentations	Officials & Athletes

Seeing the sites around Niagara Falls w/President Ivica Zdravkovic of the Serbian Budo Council

Award Banquet Photos
 

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