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It is obvious that our
Judo grading system is out of date and there are many reasons
for changing the existing competitive grading schemes to a skill
and technique study with a more stringent examination process.
Most important is the need
to improve the technical knowledge base of our junior and cadet
players with a structured technique and skill attainment pathway.
From many detailed studies of competition, I and many other BJA
Senior Coaches have and reached the conclusion that in general
our junior and cadet players are technically inferior to the European
counterparts of the same age. Obviously we have some outstanding
individual players who the skills and their results make this
statement somewhat sweeping but there are only a few of them.
I believe that the majority of our juniors and cadet players are
technically struggling against foreign opposition. Their range
of techniques is very limited and they lack of the understanding
of the basic judo principles (lack of kuzushi for example) essential
for the successful execution of judo waza. The prevalence of the
‘win at all costs’ tactics instead of winning through the application
of good technical skills is detrimental to the development of
our young competitors.
We are out of step with
most of the other successful judo nations who have long since
discovered the many benefits of technical grading schemes - very
few of the successful judo nations have a ‘fight for your grade’
scheme. What they do have is technique attainment schemes supplemented
by good randori and contest programmes. If you are in doubt that
this approach works - ask the French and Germans.
Judo has a major problem
with the retention of members. Of course there are many reasons
why young people and adults drop out of sport. The proliferation
of computer games is an often cited as a major cause but poor
coaching and club programmes (kids get bored by the same lesson
plan) are also contributory factors. It is not just judo; all
sports lose a percentage of their members. The concern is that
in judo the dropout rate is at an unacceptable level and something
radical has to be done — if we don’t change and adapt we will
die (look at the dinosaurs).
It seems that judo players
make excellent rugby players and it is rather worrying to hear
that many rugby clubs are talent spotting and head hunting our
members. There is no doubt that Rugby has good coaching and competition
programmes but they don’t have is a individual grading system
like judo and this gives us huge advantage - as long as it works
and produces the outcomes that the judo requires. A major objective
of the new schemes will be to attract more people to take up judo
and for them to stay longer in the sport.
We should consider why
the non-competitive 0 – 6 th Mon scheme which has been running
for several years has been successful and has a good retention
record. For me the reasons are obvious. Not only are grades attainable
by all players not just best fighters; late developers are catered
for; gradings are delivered at the player’s club; players don’t
need to spend a whole day at a sports centre often waiting hours
to have two contests for little or no reward; it is cost effective
for parents in that player doesn’t require to travel. We say players
walk away from judo but experience shows that it can be the parents
who walk away. They are just not prepared to put up with the grading
infrastructure that kicks in at 7 th Mon and above.
We must accept that judo
isn’t only about contest success; it is and should be an activity
that is not only about winning medals, it should be fun to learn
and have attainable goals for all not just the good fighters.
Studying judo is a worthwhile activity in its own right and winning
medals is or, should be, just one of the many facets of the sport.
Our members who wish to compete have the squad systems and training
camps where they can learn how to compete. Unfortunately many
players enter the performance pathway inadequately prepared technically
and we believe the mandatory technical programme demanded by the
non-competitive grading schemes will help address this major problem.
Our intention is to empower
clubs and coaches to deliver the new schemes and over the next
year we will be developing considerable resources to support our
coaches, clubs and Areas to deliver the schemes effectively. We
will also be providing additional funding to clubs and Areas to
help them develop and promote gradings by returning a percentage
of the grading fees in the form of a rebate.
Finally, we understand
that there will be difficulties as we make the change over to
the new schemes but we can overcome these with the help of the
clubs and coaches. Finally there can be no progress without change.
Roy Inman OBE 8th Dan
Chairman Promotion Commission
BJA Director
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