More than 600 participants, plus their families, friends, and event organizers, will venture to the Magic City in May for the competition.

(Colorado Springs, CO) – USA Judo is pleased to announce the 2025 Senior National Championships will be held in Birmingham, Ala., May 24-25.

The shiai competition will be held on Saturday, May 24 with the Kata Nationals on Sunday, May 25. The tournament is expected to draw more than 600 participants.  

“We are excited to head to Birmingham for next year’s Senior National Championships.” said USA Judo CEO Keith Bryant. “Birmingham has established itself as a premier sports event destination, and we know our members will enjoy the event, venue and all the nearby entertainment options.”

The competition will take place at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), Alabama’s largest and foremost event, convention, and entertainment center, with facilities all on one campus. It includes a 45,000-seat stadium, 15,500-seat arena, 220,000 square feet of exhibition space, and 4,000 seats in two theaters—all under one roof. Two hotels, the Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham, are part of the complex, which also includes the Uptown Entertainment District, City Walk, TopGolf and the brand-new Coca-Cola Amphitheater, opening in summer 2025.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the 2025 USA Judo Senior Nationals to Birmingham,” said John Oros, President & CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This prestigious event will showcase incredible athletic talent while giving participants and fans the opportunity to experience our city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and signature Southern hospitality. As a premier destination for major sporting events, Birmingham has a proven track record of hosting world-class competitions, and we are excited to continue that tradition by partnering with USA Judo. We look forward to rolling out the mat and providing an unforgettable experience for everyone attending.”

In 2024, Birmingham was ranked No. 3 in the nation for sporting events, among cities without a “Big Five” professional team, by the Sports Business Journal. The city has hosted international and national events like the 2017 National Senior Games, the 2022 World Games and the 2024 Transplant Games of America, and will host the 2025 World Police and Fire Games and the 2029 National Senior Games.

“In addition to the hosting of Senior Nationals, USA Judo looks forward to expanding our partnerships in the Birmingham area by collaborating with the Lakeshore Foundation, an Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, to assist with USA Judo’s Paralympic pipeline, creating Judo in Schools & Communities programs in the Birmingham area, and establishing a USA Judo P3 Police Training Program in concert with the upcoming 2025 Police & Fire Games being hosted in Birmingham.”

Additional details regarding hotels, registration and tickets will be shared in the coming months on the USA Judo website and social media channels.

ABOUT USA JUDO
A 501-c-3 non-profit organization based in Colorado Springs, USA Judo is the National Governing Body for the sport of judo in the United States. USA Judo serves more than 10,000 members annually, including athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers and supporters. A proud member organization of the International Judo Federation, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the International Blind Sports Association, USA Judo’s mission is to enable all U.S. athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in domestic and international judo competition, and the promotion and growth of the sport of judo in the United States.

ABOUT THE GREATER BIRMINGHAM CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) is the official tourism and marketing organization for Birmingham and Jefferson County. Established in 1969, the non-profit agency generates positive economic impact by positioning the Greater Birmingham Region as a premier destination for conventions, sporting events, and domestic and international leisure travel. Birmingham and its neighboring municipalities welcome more than 3.96 million visitors each year, generating $2.52 billion in economic impact. Learn more at inbirmingham.com.

Header photo credited to USA Judo/Roy Nanjo