UPDATE 19 Sep 2025: First judo class is Wednesday 15th Oct at 5pm - Elijah Smith school Gym.
ATTENTION:
1) Register Fee $105.67 with Judo Yukon ($70) and Judo Canada ($30) plus admin ($5.67) - see registration link at bottom of this page.
2) Club Fee $500 (2x a week) or $400 (1x a week) - payment is e-transfer to
Northern Lights Judo Club (NLJ) 2025/2026
Head Sensei:
Location: Elijah Smith Elementary (ESE), Whitehorse.
About this judo club:
Northern Lights Judo Club (NLJ) is a recreational/competitive judo club in Whitehorse dedicated to the education and promotion of Kodokan judo. Our programs focusses on kids - boys and girls from white belt to orange/green belts under 13 years of age with emphasis on fun, effort, and respect.
Ages:
Our judokas (people that practise judo) range from 5 to 12 years of age, beginner to competitor with separate classes for novice (5-7 years and 8-12 years) and intermediate (returning/coloured belts) members (8-12 years).
Club Location:
Our judo classes are in the gym of Elijah Smith Elementary (ESE), 1399 Hamilton Blvd, Whitehorse.
Club Entry and Exit:
Enter and exit through the main school doors and not the gym doors. Knock on the gym doors and someone will let you in through the main doors. Shoes and boots should be removed inside main entrance.
Club Categories & registered members:
• Ninja are our novice active judokas with belts of White, White-Yellow, or Yellow from ages 5 to 7 years;
(Kid's first name will appear here if registration are complete and paid)
• Samurai are our novice FUNdamental judokas with belts of White, White-Yellow, or Yellow are typically in the age range 8 to 12 years;
(Kid's first name will appear here if registration are complete and paid)
• Warrior are our intermediate, more experienced and returning Learn to Train judokas with belts of Yellow-Orange, Orange, or Orange-Green, and even Green are about ages: 8-12 years with club tournament experience in the Yukon, and some have competed at tournaments outside the Yukon.
(Kid's first name will appear here if registration are complete and paid)
Club Schedule:
Mondays:
• Samurai & Warrior (8-12): 5:15pm to 6:45pm in gym. Angus, John, Ben, Myra-Rose, Bennett.
Wednesdays:
• Samurai & Warrior (8-12): 5:15pm to 6:45pm in gym. Angus, John, Ben, Louis, Eli, Harold, Lillian, Alma, Steele, Bennett.
• Ninja (5-7): 5:15pm to 6:15pm in gym. Mason, Keanu, Myra-Rose, Huntlee.
Note:
• In the gym:
Setup mats 5pm to 5:15pm, On the mats 515pm,
Off the mats 645pm, Clean & store mats 645pm to 7pm.
Saturdays:
• Invitation only: 3pm to 6pm in gym.
Sundays:
• Invitation only: 10am to 12pm in gym
Club Calendar (2025/2026):
NLJ Classes starts Wednesday 15 Oct 2025 scheduled until Wednesday 17 Dec 2025, and Monday 05 Jan 2026 and ends Wednesday 27 May 2026.
NO judo classes (stat holidays, PD day, & other activities):
Monday 27 Oct 2025 (election)
Monday 03 Nov 2025 (election)
Monday 10 Nov 2025
Monday 15 Dec 2025
Monday 22 Dec 2025 - Sunday 04 Jan 2026 (Christmas Break)
Monday 09 - Friday 27 Feb 2026 (School Activities - gym not available)
Monday 09 - Sunday 22 Mar 2026 (Spring Break)
Monday 06 Apr 2026
Monday 18 May 2026
2025/2026 Shiai (tournament) & Events:
Saturday 22 Nov 2025: Golden Horn shiai @10am @ Golden Horn School, Whitehorse (Carcross Cutoff).
Monday 01 Dec 2025 & Wednesday 03 Dec 2025: NLJ Grading
Saturday 06 Dec 2025: North of 60 shiai @10am @ TBA, Yellowknife.
Saturday 10 Jan 2026: Northern Lights shiai @10am @ ESE school, Whitehorse.
Saturday 31 Jan 2026: Arctic Open shiai @10am @ East 3 Secondary, Inuvik.
Saturday 14 Feb 2026: Hiroshikai shiai @10am @ Ghùch Tlâ School, Carcross.
Monday 02 Mar 2026 & Wednesday 04 Mar 2026: NLJ Grading
Saturday 07 Mar 2026: Edmonton International Judo Championship @10am @ WEM.
?Saturday 21 Mar 2026: Alaska Judo ChampionshipN @10am @ TBA, Anchorage?
?Saturday 02 May 2026: Yukon Judo ChampionshipN @10am @ CGC, Whitehorse?
Monday 04 Mar 2026 & Wednesday 06 Mar 2026: NLJ Grading
Gear: White Gi is $80 and Blue Gi is $100.
Gi (uniform) can be purchased from the head sensei.
Mikado brand - single weave white gi (jacket, pants and white belt) - sizes (0000, 000, 00, 0,1, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6 & 7).
Mikado brand - single weave blue gi (jacket, pants) sizes (000, 00, 0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7).
Check for used gi at Changing Gear store or contact me.
If you don't have a gi on the 1st day of class, don't worry - show up with clean gym clothes like a t-shirt and sweatpants or shorts, a sweater or long sleeve shirt is fine too. Please avoid zippers, snaps, or jewelry. All classes are barefoot on the mats (tatami), and indoor slippers (zori) are required off the mats to keep the space clean.
Note: When competing in the Yukon some clubs will have tournaments rules that require a white gi to compete.
Etiquette & Hygiene:
• Keep your judo gi clean.
• Girls must wear white t-shirt under the gi.
• Keep nails trimmed.
• Feet and hands are to be kept clean.
• Barefoot only on the tatamis.
• Bring and wear own zori (slippers) when not on the mats.
• Bring and use own water bottle.
• Seiza or Anza is only 2 ways of sitting on tatami.
• Bow properly when entering & leaving the mats and bow properly to your partner before & after when working together.
• Stay home if sick.
• Listen when sensei or coach speaks which means be quiet so everyone can hear.
• Ensure your obi (belt) properly tied at all times.
• No food allowed on the tatami.
• Ask for permission when leaving tatami.
• Always be open-minded about accepting the teaching of a visiting sensei, or a sensei who does not regularly teach their class.
Safety Rules in the dojo:
• When matte is called you must stop right away.
• Intentionally injuring an opponent is not permitted.
• Punching, kicking and other strikes are not allowed.
• Touching opponent face is not allowed.
• No swearing or foul language.
• During a throw, always ensure you hold on to uke so person can do proper ukemi.
• Before you bow to each other, ensure there is space between each other during rei so not to bump heads.
• Always practise away from edge of tatami so that no one falls outside of the mat area.
Club's Programs & Registration Fees:
Judo Program 2025/2026
• Love Judo Program fee is $500 (does NOT include 1 year Judo Yukon/Judo Canada membership dues):
A) 2 classes per week for FULL season from Oct to Apr.
• Like Judo Program fee is $400 (does NOT include Judo Yukon/Judo Canada 1 year membership dues):
A) 2 classes per week for HALF season from Oct until Dec or;
B) 2 classes per week for HALF season from Jan until May or;
C) Ninja (5-7) or others (as determined by Head Sensei): 1 class per week for FULL season from Oct until May.
Registration Fees include:
• Annual membership valid from 01 Sep this year to 31 Aug next year, and for this judo club, the Judo Yukon Association, and Judo Canada (2 separate fees).
• Participation in our classes.
• Coverage to the following: program offered (judo classes), service of this website/registration website, use of the mats, grading, grading certificate (if available), belt, membership card, accident/liability insurance, & related costs for coaches/members (i.e. honorarium, courses, travel, accommodations, etc), and other judo related expenses.
• NOTE: Family Discount - pay for 2 Programs (any combination of the programs) and additional family members pay for the club membership fees ($100) plus the JY/JC fee ($105.67) - you'll need register online for JY/JC. Club fee can be e-transfer or cheque (to: northern lights judo club) or cash for $100 club fee. Arrangement for additional family member's refund will be sorted out.
• NOTE: Ninja (5-7years) is the program at one class a week from Oct to May.
Club Registration Fee does not include:
• NEW Separate Fee: Judo Yukon fee ($70) and Judo Canada fee ($30) plus registration fee ($5.67) must registrer with Trackie click here.
• Cost of judo gi (uniform). $80 white gi. $100 blue gi.
• Cost of more than 2 family members where additional members require to pay club annual membership fee of $100 PLUS $105.67 for Judo Yukon/Judo Canada.
• Cost of registration fee to Judo tournaments (shiai) in the Yukon.
• Cost of clinics or camps in the Yukon.
• Cost of judo events outside the Yukon like tournaments, clinics, camps, etc.
Refund Policy:
Fees, less a $40 admin fee, will be fully refunded before deadline. After the deadline date of the 1st half season is 15 Oct 2025, this year and the 2nd half season is 05 Jan 2026, the following year - all registration fees are forfeited. Or deadline is 10 calendar days after payment. After the deadline date - fee is forfeited.
Registration:
Click on link below for online registration.
Online association registration is live 01 Aug 2025.
1) Click here for Judo Yukon/Judo Canada/Admin Fees registration ($105.67 credit card)
2) Club fee & program registration: payment is e-transfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or cheque to Northern Lights Judo Club or cash.
($500 2x week or $400 1x week)