Yuma Territorial Judo Club

06/10/2026

In Judo, we often celebrate the person who throws, but we rarely talk about the person who falls. The “Uke” is the invisible foundation of every great champion. Without a partner who is willing to be thrown, to feel the impact, and to get back up a thousand times, there is no mastery. Being a great Uke is an art in itself—it requires a level of trust, selflessness, and technical skill that is often overlooked. It is the ultimate expression of “Jita Kyoei”—mutual welfare and benefit.

The bond between a Tori and their Uke is one of the most sacred relationships in the dojo. It is a silent agreement to help each other grow, to test each other’s limits, and to protect each other’s safety. A great Uke doesn’t just “take” the fall; they provide the perfect resistance and the perfect opening for their partner to find the truth of the technique. They are the silent teachers who remind us that in Judo, as in life, we are only as good as the people we choose to lift up.

“The greatest Tori is the one who was first the greatest Uke.” — Traditional Dojo Wisdom

Who is the training partner who has helped you grow the most on your Judo journey?

05/29/2026

Looking for something Fun to do this summer?
Come check out the Wellton Desert Dragons Judo class.
It is rocking this summer at the Wellton Community Center.
Thursdays at 6 pm.
Ages 6 and up.

05/08/2026

Class is still going strong in Wellton. Come on out and get some stress relief in a fun way.
Class will be on Tuesday the 12 of May instead of Thursday next week.

03/30/2026

Congratulations to Sensei Jeff on earning your Nidan Promotion!
You Stepped into a leadership role from almost Day 1.
You have worked hard, even with having a Bum wing you where still helping out and learning a new Kata as well.
Your students look up to you and enjoy when they get to work with you.
Keep up the good work!

03/22/2026

The Wellton Judo Club would like to give a special thank you to Crossroads Mission for their support during the Tour de Fields spaghetti feed this weekend.

They generously donated fresh lettuce that helped us keep the kitchen running and serve our riders and volunteers. In that kind of heat, having fresh food available made a real difference.

This is what mutual benefit and welfare looks like outside the dojo—neighbors stepping up and helping each other when it counts.

We truly appreciate your support and look forward to working together more in the future.

Thank you, Crossroads Mission.

03/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the Tour de Fields bike event. It takes a lot of people working together to make something like this happen, and because of you, it ran as smoothly as it did.

Friday night was a huge success. We gave away approximately 40 bicycles and helmets, and there were a lot of happy kids—and adults—riding around for hours on their new bikes. Seeing that never gets old.

The bike parade, with SXS support and a police es**rt, was a big hit.

Thank you to Kirk and Dana Heldt for helping protect the riders and bringing everyone home safely.

Thank you to Janet, Jenny, Wade, and Bambi for stepping up and keeping the kitchen running and the food flowing. That does not happen without you.

To all the kids who showed up and helped wherever needed—thank you. And a special shout-out to Charlie and Allie. You two just kept going all day like the Energizer Bunny.

A very special thank you to Crossroads Mission for stepping in at the last minute in a big way. We are incredibly grateful and look forward to supporting your mission in the future.

We also want to recognize Ashley Baughn for all the behind-the-scenes work that helped bring this event together. A lot of what she did may not have been visible, but it made a real difference.

A big congratulations to all of this year's grantees—Wellton Judo Club, Los Psycholist BC, and Parks and Paws. It is great to see these funds going right back into the community.

And we cannot forget Gene, Joyce, Marty, and the entire Yuma Region Bicycle Coalition. Thank you for putting on an amazing event and allowing us to be part of it.

Finally, the biggest thank you to Mary Miranda and the Town of Wellton. Your continued support makes all of this possible. Without you, there would be no judo program and no foundation for events like this.

Despite record-breaking heat, we still had 90 riders come out and ride. That says a lot about this community.

This is what Judo looks like outside the dojo.

Thank you all.
Sensei Dave
Sempai Sarah
and Tour de Fields

03/10/2026

There will be no Judo on Wed.
We are down instructors until Monday. See you on Monday.

03/02/2026

🍝 Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser – March 21 🍝

After Tour de Fields, come eat with us at the Wellton Community Center!

You do NOT have to ride to join us. This is open to everyone.

$10 per person
$25 immediate family (up to 5, same household)

Half the proceeds support Yuma Territorial Judo Club / Wellton Judo Club. The other half supports Tour de Fields.

Grab your tickets online:
https://givebutter.com/spaghetti-fundraiser-YTJC

Come hungry. Support local kids. See you there.

03/02/2026

🍝 Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser – March 21 🍝

After Tour de Fields, come eat with us at the Wellton Community Center!

You do NOT have to ride to join us. This is open to everyone.

$10 per person
$25 immediate family (up to 5, same household)

Half the proceeds support Yuma Territorial Judo Club / Wellton Judo Club. The other half supports Tour de Fields.

Grab your tickets online:
https://givebutter.com/spaghetti-fundraiser-YTJC

Come hungry. Support local kids. See you there.

By Yuma Territorial Judo Club Inc

02/23/2026

We are excited to introduce our Fall Class—not Autumn… an actual class on how to fall safely.

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury in adults over 60—yet falling safely is a skill almost no one has ever been taught.

Participants will train on soft crash pads in a controlled, supportive environment and learn safe-falling techniques, proper body positioning, and practical strategies for getting up after a fall. The class draws inspiration from successful European fall-prevention programs that use adapted judo movement principles to reduce injury risk and build confidence.

Research has shown that learning safe falling techniques can significantly reduce the risk of fracture and serious injury.

Co-sponsored by Wellton PT Plus, this is the first class of its kind offered in our area.