To preface this whole thing, let me state that I am a diehard fan of Yawara Judo Association as founded by my father. I am a true believer with all that entails. What follows may or may not be to anyone else's liking but its not their blog.
I don't like organizations who believe that whole point of judo is sport. I don't like organizations who believe that the whole point of judo is esoteric. It is neither. It is both. Personally I believe that everyone should experience all the aspects availible in judo.
What does that mean exactly? Simply put, the beginner in judo, by the time they reach black belt level, should have competed, done kata, done research, know the basic five kyo of the go kyo no waza, know six basic chokes, know 6 basic holds, know 4 basic armbars (plus a variety of variations of each). A student should know how judo applies to life outside the dojo and self-defense. These are basic knowledge that a black belt level individual should know.
There are things going on in the US National Governing Body for Olympic Sport Judo (USJI) with which I thoroughly disagree and am disgusted in the way they have conducted themselves and the way they are currently conducting things. That being said, one of the other NGB's (USJA) is remarkable in that when such as occured in USJI and was reported to them, they dealt with the problem post haste. My largest problem with both of these organizations as judo training entities is that their curriculum map for progression to black belt does not give the new black belt a breadth of knowledge that will enable them to effectively learn and teach the basic syllabus of judo (go kyo no waza). I haven't seen any national level organizations that do, that includes the BJA/BJC, USJA/JI/JF, and many others. I find this, as a professional educator, to be a poor method of educating.
Do I have a solution? Only what I was taught as I was growing in judo. Is it the best solution, in a linearly taught program, like a professional education class, yes. Is it best in a club environment where people are coming and going will-he nil-he? Probably not. However, there is a specific set of things that brand new individuals should be taught before any others.
Personally I am working to strengthen and enhance what I teach and my methodolgy so that in the future, my students who go out to start clubs of their own will not have to start from scratch and suffer the learning that I have suffered. I want to be able to send my black belts out with the ability to open up doors, lay down mats, and begin teaching and growing judo from day one. And that, let me tell you, is very difficult.
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On the note of opening doors to a new judo place, I'm thinking of what every new instructor should be able to have in their curriculum guide.
1. List of promotional requirements.
2. List of techniques.
3. Examples of techniques.
4. List of literature to aid in understanding.
5. CD's, DVD's, Videos of judo for help in developing concepts or techniques.
6. Video camera to video practices, matches, and students' techniques for review by the students and instructors.
7. List of games and activities and the purpose of said.
As I get more ideas, I will probably put together a better and more comprehensive list. I will also discuss them with more depth.
I don't like organizations who believe that whole point of judo is sport. I don't like organizations who believe that the whole point of judo is esoteric. It is neither. It is both. Personally I believe that everyone should experience all the aspects availible in judo.
What does that mean exactly? Simply put, the beginner in judo, by the time they reach black belt level, should have competed, done kata, done research, know the basic five kyo of the go kyo no waza, know six basic chokes, know 6 basic holds, know 4 basic armbars (plus a variety of variations of each). A student should know how judo applies to life outside the dojo and self-defense. These are basic knowledge that a black belt level individual should know.
There are things going on in the US National Governing Body for Olympic Sport Judo (USJI) with which I thoroughly disagree and am disgusted in the way they have conducted themselves and the way they are currently conducting things. That being said, one of the other NGB's (USJA) is remarkable in that when such as occured in USJI and was reported to them, they dealt with the problem post haste. My largest problem with both of these organizations as judo training entities is that their curriculum map for progression to black belt does not give the new black belt a breadth of knowledge that will enable them to effectively learn and teach the basic syllabus of judo (go kyo no waza). I haven't seen any national level organizations that do, that includes the BJA/BJC, USJA/JI/JF, and many others. I find this, as a professional educator, to be a poor method of educating.
Do I have a solution? Only what I was taught as I was growing in judo. Is it the best solution, in a linearly taught program, like a professional education class, yes. Is it best in a club environment where people are coming and going will-he nil-he? Probably not. However, there is a specific set of things that brand new individuals should be taught before any others.
Personally I am working to strengthen and enhance what I teach and my methodolgy so that in the future, my students who go out to start clubs of their own will not have to start from scratch and suffer the learning that I have suffered. I want to be able to send my black belts out with the ability to open up doors, lay down mats, and begin teaching and growing judo from day one. And that, let me tell you, is very difficult.
--------------------------
On the note of opening doors to a new judo place, I'm thinking of what every new instructor should be able to have in their curriculum guide.
1. List of promotional requirements.
2. List of techniques.
3. Examples of techniques.
4. List of literature to aid in understanding.
5. CD's, DVD's, Videos of judo for help in developing concepts or techniques.
6. Video camera to video practices, matches, and students' techniques for review by the students and instructors.
7. List of games and activities and the purpose of said.
As I get more ideas, I will probably put together a better and more comprehensive list. I will also discuss them with more depth.
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1 comment:
sounds like an extremely thorough approach! (always best in any endeavor, I think.)
can't wait to read details!
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