Insurance Types

Understand the different insurance providers and what they cover.

Several organizations provide insurance coverage for judo and martial arts practitioners in the United States. Each offers different benefits, coverage levels, and membership perks.

Common Providers

USJA

USJA (United States Judo Association)

Primary insurance for recreational and competitive judo

USA Judo

USA Judo

National governing body, required for national competitions

USJF

USJF (United States Judo Federation)

Alternative national organization with insurance coverage

USJA Insurance

Coverage

  • Primary accident medical insurance during sanctioned activities
  • Coverage for practice, competition, and travel to/from events
  • Excess coverage when member has primary health insurance

Membership Benefits

  • Official rank certification
  • Eligibility for USJA-sanctioned tournaments
  • Access to coaching certification programs
  • Subscription to USJA magazine and communications

Membership Types

  • Regular: Standard membership with full benefits
  • Family: Discounted rate for multiple family members
  • Life: One-time payment for permanent membership

USA Judo Insurance

Coverage

  • Accident and medical coverage for sanctioned activities
  • Higher coverage limits for competitive athletes
  • International competition coverage

Key Benefits

  • Required for national championships and Olympic qualifiers
  • Official national ranking eligibility
  • Access to national team programs
  • International competition eligibility

Note: USA Judo is the National Governing Body (NGB) for judo in the United States. Membership may be required for certain high-level competitions.

USJF Insurance

Coverage

  • Accident medical insurance during practice and competition
  • Coverage at USJF-sanctioned events
  • Supplemental coverage for existing health insurance

Benefits

  • Rank certification through Kodokan
  • Access to USJF-sanctioned tournaments
  • Coaching and referee certification

Configuring Insurance Types

Your club can configure which insurance types are accepted:

  1. Go to Insurance
  2. Under "Accepted Insurance Types", select the organizations you recognize
  3. Optionally add custom insurance types for other providers
  4. Save your settings

Custom Insurance Types

If your members have insurance from other providers (e.g., AAU Judo, international organizations), you can add custom types. Custom types track the same information but may not have automatic verification.

Which Insurance Should Members Get?

The best insurance depends on the member's goals:

For Recreational Judoka

USJA or USJF membership provides adequate coverage for regular training and local tournaments.

For Competitive Athletes

USA Judo membership is required for national championships and provides higher coverage limits appropriate for competitive training.

For Families

Many organizations offer family plans at a reduced per-person rate. Great for families with multiple members training.

Post information about insurance options at your club. Many members don't know where to start.
Most insurance memberships are calendar-year based and renew on January 1st. Plan registration drives in late fall.
Insurance from one organization may not be accepted at events run by another. Competitive athletes may need multiple memberships.

Frequently Asked Questions