11/04/2026
Very AWESOME
Five Finger Death Punch guitarist and founder Zoltan Bathory has announced another major investment in the martial art that has been part of his life since childhood.
Just days after contributing $100,000 to USA Judo to support American athletes preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Bathory has committed an additional $100,000 to the creation of Pro Judo, a new professional tournament scheduled for November 10 in Las Vegas.
The two initiatives represent a combined commitment of $200,000 to the sport.
Bathory, who serves as executive chairman of the Professional Grappling Federation, wants to introduce judo to a wider audience by combining elite competition with a professional entertainment format.
One of the tournament's most unusual features is its modified scoring system.
In traditional competitive judo, a successful ippon immediately ends the match. Under Pro Judo rules, athletes continue competing after an ippon, with victory determined by the highest accumulated score.
Bathory believes the change encourages competitors to remain aggressive instead of becoming overly defensive.
He emphasized that the new format is intended to complement Olympic judo rather than replace it.
The November 10 event will feature an invitation-only audience, but its four-hour broadcast will be available worldwide for free through PGF World, including YouTube.
Representatives from the International Judo Federation, USA Judo and Japan's Kodokan Judo Institute are expected to attend.
Bathory began practicing judo at the age of nine in Hungary and has continued training and competing for more than four decades.
He holds a fourth-degree black belt in judo and is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. His achievements include winning the New York Open Veterans tournament.
Alongside his career with Five Finger Death Punch, the guitarist has become increasingly involved in professional martial arts, helping develop opportunities for athletes beyond traditional competitions.
What do you think of Zoltan's commitment to supporting judo?