One of the strongest tournaments in the Midwest is back. Tohkon Judo Academy hosts the 28th Tohkon Classic on Saturday, October 17, at the Oak Lawn Community Pavilion outside Chicago — about a six-hour drive from the Twin Cities, or a short flight into Midway Airport. If you have been looking for a fall shiai to point your training at, this is the one.
Why this tournament
Tohkon has built the Classic into a genuine destination event. This year it is a National Referee Evaluation Site, with Head Referee and Chief Evaluator Mr. Michael Takata (IJF-A), evaluators Mr. Russ Scherer (IJF-A) and Mr. David Smith (IJF-A), and Honorary Guest Referee Mr. Gary Takemoto (IJF-A), PJC Referee Director. That level of officiating means clean, well-run matches for everyone on the mat.
Senior elite divisions carry cash prizes:
- $1,000 / $500 / $200 (x2) — men's Olympic weight divisions with 8+ competitors; women's with 6+
- $500 / $250 / $100 — men's Olympic weight divisions with 4–7 competitors; women's with 4–5
Custom Tohkon Classic medals go to every finalist in every division. The Jerry Okubo Memorial Award goes to the outstanding junior competitor, and the Tohkon Fighting Spirit Award to the outstanding senior.
The details
Venue: Oak Lawn Community Pavilion, 9401 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Modern, air-conditioned facility with free adjacent parking and concessions on site.
Sanction: USA Judo #00824
Tournament Directors: Douglas Tono, 7th dan — info@tohkon.com, 773-865-7268. Co-Director Travis Yamanaka, 5th dan — travis.yamanaka@gmail.com
Registration — online only
There are no day-of walk-up registrations. Everything runs through Smoothcomp, and the hard cutoff is Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Juniors, Senior Novice, and Veterans
- Early (Aug 1 – Sept 30, 11:59 p.m. CST): $75 first division, $50 each additional
- Late (Oct 1 – Oct 14, 11:59 p.m. CST): $85 first division, $60 each additional
Senior Elite Male and Female (cash prize divisions)
- $100 per competitor, per division, for the full registration window
Maximum of two shiai divisions per competitor. Families entering three or more competitors can email Douglas Tono at dtjudo@tohkon.com for a $25 discount coupon on the first shiai entry for the second and third family members (senior elite divisions excluded).
Early registration closes September 30 — enter before then and save $10.
Weigh-in and weight verification
Enter your accurate weight in pounds when you register; that weight is used for pooling. Insurance rules require all weights to be verified in person on the day of the event, with a 2-pound allowance for scale variance. Anyone over that allowance is moved to the appropriate division.
- Friday, October 16: 7:00–8:00 p.m. at the venue
- Saturday, October 17: 8:30–10:00 a.m. at the venue
Missing mandatory check-in and weight verification means removal from the competition. No exceptions, no refunds.
Lodging
Fairfield Inn and Suites Chicago Midway Airport, 6630 South Cicero Ave., Bedford Park, IL 60638 — 708-594-9448.
Group rate for "Tohkon Classic 2026" is $169 plus tax for a standard two-double-bed room, including breakfast, free parking, and a free Midway Airport shuttle. Book the group rate here. Reservation cutoff: September 16, 2026.
Before you register
A few things that trip people up on Smoothcomp:
- You need a Smoothcomp account. If you are registering minors, create one account and add each child as a profile under it.
- Once your profile exists, go back and click the tournament link again to complete registration.
- Sign each participant up for every category and division they intend to compete in.
- You are not registered until payment is made and you receive a confirmation email for each participant.
- Dojos should set up their club profile in Smoothcomp before competitors register. It is a one-time setup and lets you view and manage your competitors' entries.
Register for Tohkon Classic 28 on Smoothcomp
Training for this one? Talk to your instructor about a plan for the next few weeks — and let us know you are going so we can send Midway competitors down together.
