Announcing YUME (夢)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MASTERS and High Noon BJJ & Judo to Premiere YUME (夢), a Documentary Following American Judo Athletes Through Japan’s Toughest Training Halls

The film premieres Thursday, November 6, 2026, on the MASTERS YouTube channel

FAIRFAX, Va. — November 6, 2026 — MASTERS (Martial Arts for Social Good), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit developing competitive judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes on the Olympic pathway, and High Noon BJJ & Judo today premiere YUME (夢), a documentary film about the organizations’ August 2026 judo training trip to Japan. The film premieres at 5 PM ET on the MASTERS YouTube channel.

YUME, the Japanese word for “dream,” follows a group of American athletes as they train in some of the most demanding judo programs in the sport’s birthplace. The film moves through three stops: Shutoku High School, the university programs at Shukutoku and Waseda, and the JR East corporate team. In interviews recorded before and during the trip, the athletes speak about why they chose this path, what it costs them, and what it means to pursue elite judo.

“Japan is where judo’s standard is set, and our athletes went there to find out where they stand against it,” said Dr. Christopher Round, Executive Director and Head Coach of MASTERS. “YUME shows what that looks like up close: the hard training, the doubt, and the reasons they keep going. It’s also a picture of what community support makes possible for athletes who deserve a real shot.”

The film was directed by Christian Bergara with cinematography by Adam Kim, and produced in partnership with Black Wolves Studios and Wonny Media.

How to watch: YUME premieres November 6, 2026, at 5PM ET on the MASTERS YouTube channel. Viewers can join the athletes and filmmakers in the live chat during the premiere.