Welcome to
Emerald City Judo, Inc. was founded by Sensei Robert Wittauer in 1999 to give all groups of children (grown up or not) the chance to come together and make a difference in the level of Washington state Judo.
Visitors always welcome! Trial sign-ups available!
What's it like? Download waiver form
(Trial practice is FREE for first time visitors! All other non-ECJ members may join practice for a mat fee. Waiver forms - also available in the dojo - must be filled out by every non-ECJ member each time they come in for practice.)
Emerald City Judo is a 501-c3 Organization. All proceeds go towards the dojo maintenance and the sponsorship of talented Judo athletes.
Congratulations to all Competitors at the:
Emerald City Judo kids ROCKED the mats again, bringing home 5 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals!!
But remember: Everybody who competes becomes a winner the moment they step on the mat!
Judo is NOT about winning or losing, but about doing our best all the time... on and off the mat!
Judo means "the gentle way" - sometimes hard to remember when matches get real intense, and sometimes people get hurt in the process. There is nothing gentle about a hard throw, a kamishiho pin, a choke hold, let alone an arm bar. Matches are not unsimilar to other day to day struggles life is offering. We are often asked to compete, to be tough, to work through pain, to pick ourselves up after a loss, and to do our best even if the task ahead seems daunting. We can learn so much from Judo, about endurance, commitment, courage ... but also, and most importantly: about respect, humility, forgiveness. We bow to our opponents before we start the match, we bow to them again when it ends. This bow is so much more than a formality. It shows respect, humility, offers forgiveness if we got hurt, and asks for forgiveness, if we caused the pain. If we could stop for just a second and remember to take a mental bow to whoever we interact with in life, reminding ourselves of how Judo is requiring us to always show respect to our opponents and our teachers or students, maybe it will allow us to rethink our response to whomever just upset us. Like us, everybody else is a player on the tatami of life, trying to do their best, and sometimes it may feel that it will cause a loss to us... and yet, it may not be about us at all...
This is the end of the tournament season for all who are not competing in Judo Nationals! Have a wonderful summer ... see you in practice!
- Andrea Jessee (ECJ judoka, judo mom & webmaster :-) )
IMPORTANT: Be aware of the latest competition rule changes:
The updated 2010 rule booklet as been put together by the USA Judo Referee Commission
Don't forget to Record YOUR Tournament Participation!