Kids
Youth Judo
Confidence, discipline, and safe falling — taught through games and technique in a structured, respectful dojo.
| Tue – Thu | 6:00 – 7:00 PM |
|---|
Matthews, North Carolina · Est. tradition, modern dojo
Judo for every body
in the Carolinas.
Physical exercise, mental training, and life skills that last — for kids and adults. We educate, inspire, and connect judoka throughout the Carolinas.
- 150+active members
- 1957the year our head coach first stepped on the mat
- 1stsession always free — gi provided
Programs & schedule
Two paths onto the mat
Walk in during any class — your first session is free and we'll lend you a uniform.
Adults
Adult Judo
From first breakfall to shiai competition — recreational and competitive training for every level, five days a week.
| Mon – Thu | 7:00 – 8:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 12:00 – 1:30 PM |
Free study tool
Learn the 47 throws — anywhere
Our free flashcards app covers the full Gokyo no Waza and the preserved Habukareta Waza: animated demonstrations, quizzes, spaced repetition, and a typed-answer mode that forgives your spelling. It works offline and installs to your phone like a native app.
- All 47 Kodokan throws, animated
- Smart drills that target your weakest techniques
- Works offline — study at camp, on the road, anywhere
Mat-side arcade · 一本
Ippon Toss — throw for the crowd
A silly little judo game to pass the time between classes. Hold to break uke's balance, release in the glowing zone, and see how far you can send them flying. Earn your belt one ippon at a time — no ukemi required.
Best with sound on · plays great on your phone, too
Dojo etiquette · 礼儀
How we carry ourselves
Judo begins and ends with respect. New to the dojo? These five habits cover almost everything.
Bow — and mean it
Bow when entering or leaving the dojo, stepping on or off the tatami, and before and after every partner drill or randori. A standing bow (ritsurei) is a straight-backed 30°, held briefly — never rushed.
Respect the gi
Keep your judogi clean and free of rips, and tie your belt properly. A cared-for uniform shows consideration for every partner who grips it.
Arrive clean
Nails trimmed short, long hair tied back, all jewelry off — rings, necklaces, earrings, watches. Your partners' safety depends on it.
Honor the mat
No shoes, food, or drinks on the tatami. Sit in seiza or cross-legged when not training — no sprawling or leaning on walls. Running late? Bow at the mat's edge and wait for the instructor's welcome.
Sensei & Senpai
Address the instructor as Sensei and senior students with courtesy. Watch how the senior grades conduct themselves — that's the fastest way to learn the culture.
It's a path, not a rulebook
Kanō Jigorō taught judo as a dō — a path of physical, intellectual, and moral growth. Pick one etiquette habit each session, practice it deliberately, and carry it beyond the dojo.
Belt ranks · 段級位
The road from white to red
Judo progresses through the kyu (student) grades, then ten dan (black-belt) grades. Every belt on this wall is earned on the mat — the last two are earned over a lifetime.
Kyu 級 · student grades
- WhiteRokkyu · 6th kyu
- YellowGokyu · 5th kyu
- OrangeYonkyu · 4th kyu
- GreenSankyu · 3rd kyu
- BrownIkkyu · 1st kyu
Dan 段 · black-belt grades
- BlackShodan – Sandan · 1st – 3rd dan
- Black & RedYondan – Godan · 4th – 5th dan
- Red & WhiteRokudan – Hachidan · 6th – 8th dan
- RedKudan – Judan · 9th – 10th dan
Senior progression shown — junior programs add in-between belts along the way.
Your teachers
Instructors
A deep bench of dan-grade coaches — from first-lesson fundamentals to national-level refereeing and kata.
Community spotlight
Congratulations, Joey Tamburello!
−73kg M2 Champion at the 2026 USA Judo Senior Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 🥇
Patrick Szrejter
8th Dan · Head Coach
On the mat since 1957, with competitive years across the U.S. and three in Europe. National Referee and Kata Instructor, leading CAJA's 150-plus members.
Dana Rucker
6th Dan
Brian Dillmann
4th Dan
Jason Tacker
4th Dan
Joey Tamburello
5th Dan
Javier Guédez
4th Dan
Allan Hernandez
5th Dan
Sami Samiezadeh
2nd Dan
Richard Troy
4th Dan
Mike Casper
1st Dan
Arthur Minasyan
1st Dan
Venancio Pedrosa
1st Dan
Joe Ragan
5th Dan
Andy Cudahy
4th Dan
Edward Shirey
8th Dan
Jonathan Welton
1st Dan
Eric Ly
Ikkyu
Andrew Greenburg
Ikkyu
Dustin Kirkley
Sankyu
Dalton Farriss
Yonkyu
Full bios coming for everyone as we build out the new site.
About CAJA
A club built on maximum efficiency, mutual welfare
Carolina's American Judo Association sits in Matthews, North Carolina — between the two Carolinas we serve. Our mission is simple: educate, inspire, and connect judoka throughout the Carolinas, whether they step on the mat to compete, to get fit, or to find a second family.
“Maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Mutual welfare and benefit.” — Kanō Jigorō, founder of Kodokan Judo · 精力善用 · 自他共栄
- All ages and experience levels welcome
- Recreational and competitive tracks
- Belt testing, kata instruction, and referee development in-house
Hosted here in Matthews, NC
The Greatest Camp on Earth
Three days. 20+ hours of training across judo, jujitsu, aikido, and karate — headlined by two-time Olympian Javier Guédez. Families train together: adults on the mats, kids ages 4–12 in a dedicated Kids' Zone with pool parties, movies, and themed nights. Catered meals and a camp t-shirt included. All organizations welcome.
Beyond this dojo
Our Wider Judo Family
CAJA trains alongside sister clubs across the Carolinas — plus the calendar that keeps it all straight.
Come train with us
Your first session is free
No experience needed, no gear needed — we provide a temporary uniform. Just show up a few minutes early and say hello.