Judo South Africa

Judo South Africa

Sport	Judo
Category	Martial art Combat sport
Jurisdiction	South Africa
Abbreviation	JSA
Founded	1955 (1955)
Affiliation	IJF
Regional affiliation	AJU
Headquarters	Welkom
Location	31 Elizabeth Eybers Avenue, Jan Cilliers Park, Welkom 9459
President	Themba Hlasho [1]
Secretary	Ina van den Heever
Official website
www.judosa.co.za

Judo South Africa (JSA) is the governing body of Judo in South Africa, and a member of the world governing body, the International Judo Federation (IJF), ^[2] along with the African Judo Union. JSA is also a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), ^[3] which, alongside Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) control all organised sport in South Africa.

History

Judo introduction into South Africa began in 1945 by soldiers of World War II. Alec Butcher, an immigrant from Britain was among the pioneers alongside Jack Robinson for Jujitsu. Judo established itself as a national sport in 1955 through the formation of the South African Amateur Judo Association (SAAJA) ^{[4] [5]}

Apart from SAAJA, a rival body led by Jack Robinson emerged called South African National Amateur Judo Association (SANAJA) (sometimes referred to as South African Amateur Judo and Jujitsu Association (SANAJJA)) which received recognition by the South African government, teaching a version of Kodokan Judo. During the late 1970s and the 1980s the sport was controlled at various times by a body made up of rival members from both SAAJA and SANAJA. This body was named the South African Judo Union (SAJU). In 1992, all judo organisations in South Africa united under one association now called Judo South Africa (JSA). ^[6]

Structure

The national body has 14 provincial controlling bodies or associations. ^[7] The main tournament organised is the annual South African Judo Championships.

Belt Ranks

Further information: Rank in judo

Judo kyu belt colors of Judo South Africa ^[8]

Degree		Kyu 8	Kyu 7	Kyu 6	Kyu 5	Kyu 4	Kyu 3	Kyu 2	Kyu 1
Color	White	White-Yellow	Yellow	Yellow-Orange	Orange	Orange-Green	Green	Blue	Brown
Belt

Judoka

Further information: Category:South African judoka

See also

• Sport in South Africa
• List of judo organizations
• Judo by country

References

1. Executive Committee, JSA, accessed 27 September 2017.
2. South Africa, IJF, accessed 26 September 2017.
3. Judo South Africa, SASCOC, accessed 23 September 2017.
4. Martial Arts History in S.A., ashihara.co.za, accessed 27 September 2017.
5. "South Africa". www.ijf.org. Archived from the original on 6 October 2000. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
6. Andreas Niehaus. "Judo becomes Olympic" (PDF). Biblio UGent. p. 16. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
7. Constitution, JSA, accessed 27 September 2017.
8. "Judo South Africa Library of Resources | JSA". judosa.co.za. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

External links

• Official website

• Martial arts portal
• South Africa portal