HISTORY OF
Fresno Judo Club Articles of Incorporation were executed on November 6, 1953 by Dr. Kikuo Taira, Henry Ueki, Masao Araki, Tom Yamashita, Yoshio Kiuchi, Raymond Sagawa and Henry Shimasaki. The club was organized as general non-profit corporation with the official name of “Fresno Judo Club.” According to Article III, “The specific and primary purposes for which this corporation is formed are to promote and create interest in the sport of judo, and to teach the art of self-defense.”
The other purposes of Fresno Judo Club, according to Article IV, are:
(a) To develop and instill sportsmanship and moral discipline among the participants of the sport of judo.
(b) To provide facilities for the sport of judo.
(c) To provide for and encourage physical exercise through the participation in the sport of judo.
(d) To encourage the youth of our community to learn and to participate in the sport of judo.
On October 9, 1981, the Articles of Incorporation, Article III was amended to “The purpose of this corporation is to promote and create interest in the sport of judo and to promote national and international amateur competition in the sport of judo.” This allowed the Fresno Judo Club to become a tax-exempt non-profit organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Fresno Judo Club is affiliated with the San Joaquin Valley Judo Yudanshakai (black belt association) and the United States Judo Federation.