Las Vegas World Judo Championships Veterans | The Shintaro Higashi Show
Why Veterans Matter
This week, I want to dive into an incredible event I had the privilege of watching — the Veterans World Judo Championships in Las Vegas. If you do not know, this tournament is for competitors aged 30 and above, grouped in 5-year increments (30-34, 35-39, etc.).
It used to be called the “Masters” tournament, but to avoid confusion with the IJF Masters and other world events, they changed the terminology to “Veterans.” For those wondering, yes, when I say “veterans,” I’m talking about athletes 30 years and older, not military veterans (even though many in the tournament do have military backgrounds too).
Let’s jump into my main takeaways.
Watch the full video here ↓
The 30-35 Division: Not As Wild As Expected
Honestly, the 30-35 age division wasn’t as intense as I thought it would be. A lot of top-level competitors in this age bracket are still active on the IJF circuit. What you get in this division is a lot of strong players who may not be currently competing internationally but still have serious skill.
“Tons of competitors showed up — it was the biggest division — but in terms of excitement? It started to heat up later.”
M2 Division (35-40): Where Things Got Real
The real fireworks began in the M2 division. Guys in the 35-40 bracket aren’t competing at the world tour level anymore, but they’re seasoned, dangerous, and have the medals to prove it.
Grand Slam medalists. Former Olympians. World Championship veterans. It was spectacular to watch. The technique level, the movement, and the throws were beautiful to see — and you also witnessed some massive mismatches because anyone can sign up.
I saw big, big throws. Real highlights for judo fans.
Injuries and Differences by Age
One surprising thing:
Less injuries in the younger (30-45) divisions than expected.
More injuries between 45-55 — which makes sense. Still strong and aggressive, but a bit less resilient to big falls.
Interestingly, the 60+ divisions had fewer injuries than the 45-55 group. Why? Those guys are incredibly skilled and smart about their movement.
Heavyweights: The Most Fun to Watch
Heavyweight matches stole the show. Especially in the 45-55 Super Heavy category.
“Their output at 20 is the same as at 45. But defensively, it’s not. Which meant spectacular makikomi throws and huge ippons.”
I loved it. You might think 50-something heavyweights would be slow and boring — but it was some of the best judo of the entire event.
The Heart of the Event: USA Judo Veterans Association
I got to meet guys like Rey Marquez and Hector Negron who run the USA Judo Veterans Association, a nonprofit dedicated to growing and supporting judo for athletes over 30.
They organize tournaments, seminars, and events to keep the love of the sport alive for the older generation. It made me proud — and a little sad too.
“It would have been beautiful to see every veteran competing wearing matching USA gear, feeling truly celebrated for what they contribute to the sport.”
These are the people who now have disposable income, deep experience, and time. They’re critical to the future of USA Judo.
Legends Competing: 60+ Division
Watching legends like Sandy North and Bert Macky still moving well into their 60s and 70s was inspiring.
“Seeing Gary Berliner, a longtime IJF referee, come back after 30+ years off competition and medal — that was something special.”
It proves once again that judo is truly a lifetime sport.
Reflections on the State of USA Judo
As many of you know, because of the recent USA Judo election content I posted, a lot of people have been reaching out to me — sharing information, opinions, documents.
Right now, I’m in a phase of listening and learning.
I don’t have all the answers yet.
I’m focusing on how to help, how to use my platform for good.
“If you have ideas about how to grow Judo in the U.S., leave them in the comments. I’m reading them. Even if I can’t respond to every one.”
Conclusion: Let’s Keep Building
This event in Las Vegas was more than just a tournament. It was a reminder:
Judo doesn’t end at 30.
Veterans matter.
We need to celebrate and support them better.
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