Board of Trustees
Chair Noboru Saito
Freya Saito
Amy Calapa
To honor his life-long hard work and dedication to judo and the USJF, the Noboru Saito Judo Development Grant was created in April, 2008. The purpose of the grant is synonymous with the ideas and goals of Saito Sensei – to provide financial support to any worthwhile judo development project or program. This particular program is unique and different from other USJF Endowment Trust programs … Instead of being very specific in its goals and purpose, it is unusually broad and can provide financial support for almost any worthwhile project. Saito Sensei has always taken great satisfaction in finding ways to fund programs which too often go without financial support.
The purpose of the grant is to provide funding and support for worthwhile judo developmental projects which may impact a judo participant’s personal development onwards to include an indirect activity which may impact judo’s growth in North America.
Thus, this particular program is different and unique in contrast to other USJF Endowment Trust programs… instead of being very specific in its goals and uses, it is unusually broad and can provide financial support for almost any worthwhile project.
The Noboru Saito Judo Development Grant is a program of the Endowment Trust of the United States Judo Federation (USJF).
The purpose of the grant is to provide funding and support for worthwhile Judo developmental projects which may impact a Judo participant’s personal development onwards to include an indirect activity which may impact Judo’s growth in North America.
Noboru Saito
Saito Sensei was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan. He immigrated to the United States in 1974 and has resided in the Detroit, Michigan area ever since his arrival. He married his wife Freya in 1975 and they have two daughters, Amy and June. All have earned the rank of black belt.
Saito Sensei is also an expert in Haku-ryu Karate and offers the two activities at the Saito Dojo.
Since his arrival in 1974, he has made numerous contributions to all aspects of judo … as a teacher and instructor of judo … as a leader and administrator … Konan Judo Yudanshakai … Judo Affiliates of Michigan … USJF President and USA Judo Board of Directors … standardizing kata judging and examinations refereeing at the highest levels … fundraising to support judo development … the list continues …
Some Potential Examples of Worthy Recipients
A judo student has moved to a new state and is starting up a new dojo. She has some folks helping her to purchase some tatami to get started, but she could use some crash pads to take some of the “ouch” out of learning ukemi for the new beginners.
A fellow judo student will be starting her first semester as a freshman at a local college. She will be working part-time to help out with expenses, but could use some additional assistance, especially with the rising cost of textbooks and school fees.
A dojo owner has an opportunity to bring an Olympic Champion to town to conduct a regional clinic and training camp, but needs additional funds to rent the community college gymnasium.
A yudanshakai needs to update its scoreboards due to changes by the IJF in the contest rules, and all of the electronic scoreboards need to be modified, but the company that manufactured them is no longer in business. The yudanshakai has money to buy 4 new models, but they could really use 2 more.
These are all examples of judo-related projects and individuals that could benefit from the resources of the Noboru Saito Judo Development Grant. They are representative of the types of projects that Saito Sensei would like to support.
Please Consider Making A Donation
The Noboru Saito Judo Development Grant is a program of the Endowment Trust of the United States Judo Federation. The USJF is the oldest and the largest national federation of judo in the United States.
Your generous donation to the program of the Endowment Trust will:
- live on in perpetuity
- become a part of the corpus or principal of this endowment trust program as a part of the endowment trust
- be forever protected from being expended for any reason
- have the income from the corpus available for funding projects approved by the Noboru Saito Judo Development Grant Committee