NewsDominic Rodriguez

Atlanta to Host the Largest USA Judo Youth Nationals in History

by Nicole Jomantas

The 2023 Senior National Champion at 73 kg, Dominic Rodriguez (left) will compete at Youth Nationals in the 81 kg category for the chance to represent Team USA at his third Junior Pan Ams.

(Colorado Springs, CO) – With 675 registered competitors, this weekend’s USA Judo Youth National Championships is set to be the largest edition of the tournament in the event’s history, smashing the previous record of 588 set in Colorado Springs in 2019.

2024 Youth Nationals Live Stream and Results

Competition will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. – approximately 7 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse in College Park.

Saturday, March 23
Bantam, Intermediate and Cadet Categories

Sunday, March 24
Juvenile, IJF-Junior and All Novice Categories

Tickets are available at the door. Prices are as follows:

One-Day Tickets
General Admission: $15
Youth 9-12: $12
Children 8 and Under: Free

Two-Day Tickets
General Admission: $25
Youth 9-12: $18
Children 8 and Under: Free

Featuring the nation’s best judo athletes ranging from ages 5-20 years old, the tournament draws athletes from 107 clubs from 30 states. Nearly 40 athletes from throughout Georgia will be competing at Youth Nationals, representing six clubs: Atlanta Judo Midtown, Black Ice Judo, CMAC – Judo, Supermaster Kim Martial Arts Academy, Ippon Judo & Jujitsu and West Georgia Judo Club.

The Youth Nationals will serve as the Trials for the 2024 Junior and Cadet Pan American / Oceania Championships which will be held from April 22-24 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The winner of each of the IJF-Junior and Cadet competitions in Atlanta will earn direct qualification berths to the Championships.

Among this weekend’s competitors to watch are numerous past Senior, Junior and Cadet World Team members:

  • Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 81 kg), two-time Senior World Team member and 2022 Senior Pan American Champion
  • Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 63 kg), 2023 Cadet World Championships fifth-place finisher and Junior World No. 5
  • Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 60 kg), two-time Junior World Team member and Junior World No. 6
  • Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 63 kg), two-time Cadet Pan American Champion and Junior World No. 7 at 70 kg
  • Harlee Hiller (Evanston, IL / Cohen Brothers / 52 kg), 2023 Junior World Team member and two-time Junior Pan Am Championships silver medalist
  • Jasmine Macias (La Puente, CA / Guerreros Judo / 57 kg), 2023 Junior World Team member and 2023 Cadet Pan Am Championships bronze medalist
  • Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 73 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member and Cadet World No. 2
  • Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, NY / Colton Brown Training Center / +90 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member and Cadet World No. 3 at 90 kg
  • Kevin Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 60 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member and Cadet World No. 4 at 66 kg
  • Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo / 44 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member and Cadet World No. 7
  • Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 66 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member and Cadet World No. 8 at 60 kg
  • Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, CA / LA Judo Club / 60 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member and Cadet World No. 9 at 55 kg
  • Nicole Cancela (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 57 kg), two-time Cadet World Team member and 2021 Junior Pan American Champion
  • Ruslan Korotych (Katy, Texas / Revolution Dojo / 73 kg), 2023 Junior World Team member
  • Oleksandr Nyzhnyk (Los Gatos, CA / Nakano Judo Academy / 90 kg), 2023 Junior World Team member
  • Brinley Jackson (Midwest City, OK / USA Stars / 78 kg), 2023 Junior World Team member
  • Jayda Fulp (Fort Worth, TX / Chandler Judo Academy / 63 kg), two-time Cadet World Team member
  • Henry Parsadanian (North Hollywood, CA / 55 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member
  • Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, PA / Yawara Force / 81 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member
  • Chloe Williams (Stafford, VA / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts / 70 kg), 2023 Cadet World Team member