Our community judo academy has become a place where young people, families, and individuals come together to learn discipline, respect, and perseverance through the art of judo. Over the past few years, our program has grown beyond what we ever imagined—and with that growth, we face an urgent challenge.

Right now, our students practice on very old mats that are starting to crack, shift, and lose traction on the wooden basketball court floor beneath them. This creates not only an inconvenience, but a real safety risk for anyone training. On top of that, we simply don’t have enough mat space to accommodate the number of new participants who want to join our program.

Our current mats are outdated tile-style mats, each about 3’x6’ and weighing 30–40 pounds. Every practice, significant time is spent hauling, arranging, and then storing them again since we share the basketball court and gym with other programs. Expanding with more of these heavy mats isn’t realistic—it would double our setup/takedown burden, as well as create more storage problems.

That’s why we’re raising funds to purchase modern rollout judo mats. These mats are designed specifically for judo with the traditional tatami texture to provide safe traction (unlike wrestling mats, which can cause slipping injuries) and the required 2” thickness for cushioning falls and throws. Even better, rollout mats can be quickly set up and taken down, making practices safer, smoother, and more efficient.

The challenge? Specialized judo mats are expensive and only available from a few suppliers in the U.S. The lowest quote we’ve received to fully equip our program with the mats and coverage we need is $14,872 (before tax and shipping).

This is where we need your help.

Your donation—big or small—will directly support:

Safety: Replacing mats that are worn and unsafe.

Accessibility: Expanding our training space so more students can join.

Longevity: Ensuring the program can grow and thrive for years to come.

By giving, you’re not just helping us buy mats—you’re investing in a safe, supportive space where kids and community members can grow stronger, more confident, and more connected through judo.

Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us “pave the way” (or in our case, mat the way) for the next generation of judoka!