Hello Red River Judo community,

I hope this post finds you well as we begin a new school year. The past few years have truly been a period of remarkable growth and transformation for Red River Judo. We have steadily expanded our membership, hosted six successful seminars, participated in clinics and training camps, and forged meaningful relationships with esteemed judo practitioners from across the country. Our community has also benefited greatly from the mentorship of a former Olympic coach, in Sensei Steve Cohen, and one of our region’s most knowledgeable and experienced martial artists, in Sensei Tim Cruff. I share these accomplishments to express my gratitude, none of this progress would have been possible without the ongoing support of our community.

As our club continued to grow, Mel and I set an ambitious goal: if we could consistently reach, and maintain, a certain level of membership, we would pursue something not attempted in nearly four decades: securing a dedicated dojo for Red River Judo. Today, we are proud to announce that we have reached this important milestone.

In the coming weeks, Red River Judo will transition from our shared space with Red River Taekwondo to our own facility at 17 7th St S, Suite 201, in Fargo. This move will enable us to enhance our judo and grappling martial arts programs, expand our class schedule, and provide students with a more focused and directed training environment. Please see our updated program schedule.

With these changes, we will more than double our youth class schedule and provide consistent class times throughout the week, making it easier for students and their families to plan around other activities. This will also allow Senior/Adult Judo classes to end at a more reasonable time (and we won’t have to roll a mat up anymore).

Melissa and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jim and Shiaomin Grimestad, as well as the entire Red River TKD family, for all their support and partnership over the years. Without their generosity and encouragement, Red River Judo might not have survived the challenges of the COVID pandemic and certainly wouldn’t be where we are today. From our family to yours, our sincerest thank you.

With this move and the changes it brings, we will be sending out an updated waiver that will need to be signed by all students, parents or guardians.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our team, we are always happy to help. We will announce an official move-in date in the coming weeks, with a target of a soft launch in the middle of September.

Please find attached an updated dojo etiquette document, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions raised by our staff. All students should be familiar with the etiquette and safety rules of the dojo.

Thank you all once again. We look forward to seeing you on the mats soon.

Come train!

Regards, 
-Steven & Melissa Fick