Veterans Judo with Ray Marquez & Billy Gavigan | The Shintaro Higashi Show

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, we dive deep into the world of Veterans Judo with special guests Ray Greeley and Billy Gavigan. They discuss the mission behind Veterans Judo USA, the challenges and rewards of competing over 30, and how they’re building an inclusive, international community for older judo athletes. Whether you’re a former elite competitor or a hobbyist returning to the sport, this episode will inspire you to get back on the mat.00:00 – Intro & Guest Introductions02:30 – From Military to Mat03:45 – Why “Veterans” and Not “Masters”?05:00 – The Importance of Competing After 3007:00 – Age Divisions & Longevity in Judo08:15 – Veteran-Specific Tournaments in the U.S.10:00 – Tournament Structure & Experience12:00 – Novice-Friendly Formats13:30 – Travel, Training, and Community15:00 – Building USA Veterans Team17:30 – Ranking & Point System18:30 – Camaraderie Over Rivalry20:30 – Safety, Rules, and Injury Prevention22:00 – Psychological Barriers for Former Elite Competitors24:00 – August 23rd Tournament in Charleston, SC26:00 – Annual Veterans Judo Training Camp27:30 – Masters Worlds in Paris & International Depth30:00 – Encouragement to Newcomers32:00 – International Growth & Website Resources34:00 – Veterans Need More Recognition36:00 – How to Grow Veterans Judo in the U.S.38:00 – Outreach to BJJ & Older Athletes40:00 – Final Call to Action🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/David Kim YT/Instagram:  @midjitsu ​