What is the PJC?
The Pan American Judo Confederation is one of the IJF's five continental unions, covering the Americas. It was founded in 2009 and affiliated to the IJF that March, succeeding the older Pan American Judo Union which dated from 1952.[1] [2]
What does it do?
It organises the Pan American Championships — increasingly run jointly with Oceania as the Panamerican–Oceania Championships, at senior, junior, cadet and team level — the continental Opens and Cups on the IJF calendar, and the judo qualification pathway into the Pan American Games. It also runs continental referee and coach education under the IJF Academy.[1] [3]
Who are its members?
37 national federations, running from Canada and the United States through the Caribbean and Central America to the southern cone, and including non-sovereign members such as Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Curaçao and the US Virgin Islands. Carlos Zegarra Presser of Peru, an Olympian, was first elected president in 2021 and re-elected in 2025 at the congress in Lima.[1] [3]
Does it select athletes?
No — each member federation nominates its own. The PJC sets entry quotas and eligibility for its continental events and administers the places allocated to the region by the IJF and Panam Sports; athlete eligibility itself runs off IJF licensing and the IJF World Ranking List.[1] [2]
References
- IJF — Pan American Judo Confederation members. Accessed August 2026.
- Pan American Judo Confederation. Accessed August 2026.
- IJF — Pan America re-elects Carlos Zegarra Presser. Accessed August 2026.