Ihave wrote several articles showing my concern about children under 5 doing kicking and puncing arts but nobody would listen accept SportEngland SO WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT CHILD ABUSE
Dear Martin
Thank you for your recent email about ‘Kiddie Cage Fighting’.
We have shared your concerns with the Child Protection in Sport Unit (part of the NSPCC) who are one of our National Partners who support National Governing Bodies of Sport we fund and recognised sports with matters relating to safeguarding and child protection.
The NSPCC have expressed their concerns about this type of activity happening (they refer to is as ‘mixed martial arts’) and following a documentary which was shown on Channel 4 a couple of years ago entitled ‘Strictly Baby Fighting’ issued the below statement to all press and media / LAs which is still relevant and one which we in Sport England endorse:
Mixed martial arts is not recognised as a sport by any of the UK Sports Councils or the Department of Culture Media and Sport. It has no single governing body that the Sports Councils can intervene with or that the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) can engage in dialogue with to raise the serious issues highlighted by this programme.
There are a number of sports and recreation activities that children and young people are involved in that fall outside of the regulated Governing Body structure. This can often mean that standards fall short of that which we would expect to see in place, and may encourage practice that can compromise the welfare and safety of young people. In the absence of regulation by a Governing Body local interventions are the only means of raising the standards of operation of these activities. All Sport England County Sports Partnerships and many Governing Bodies of sport operate club accreditation programmes that promote and recognise best practice in providing sport for children and young people. Information on this can be found at www.clubmark.org.uk and on the CPSU’s website at www.thecpsu.org.uk .
Specific concerns in relation to safeguarding should be referred to local Children's Social Care services. There may also be the opportunity for local interventions by Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
Local Education Welfare Services have a responsibility under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and 1963 and the Children (Performances) Regulations 1968, to investigate and monitor employment undertaken by young people of compulsory school age. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that it is safe and legal, and that it does not damage or interrupt their education. This would apply to children taking part in a “professional” fight (i.e. where spectators have paid to watch).
The Licensing Act 2003 requires authorisation for regulated entertainment or of entertainment facilities to be obtained, and this would include an indoor sporting event or boxing or wrestling entertainment. Before granting the license the applicant will be required to demonstrate how they are promoting the four objectives of the Act, which includes the protection of children from harm.
Local letting policies have been established in a small number of local authority leisure services to promote best practice in the provision of sporting activities for children and young people. Within the safeguarding policies of these leisure services departments provision can be made for clubs and associations seeking to use facilities to demonstrate minimum standards in relation to safeguarding. Where non-affiliated or unregulated sports clubs seek to hire facilities this approach to letting can be an effective means of introducing minimum operating standards, raising standards of practice, and addressing some of the worst aspects of youth sport highlighted in the programme.
Should you have any further questions / concerns about this please contact Jayne Molyneux, our Strategic Lead Children at jayne.molynuex@sportengland.org or Young People or the CPSU (via the website address above).
We are still looking into your previous email regarding children in martial arts and will respond as soon as possible.
Best wishes
Richard
Richard Clarkson
Senior Grants Manager
SportEngland
Creating sporting opportunities in every community
Sport England, 3rd Floor Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4SE
4 Year Old Black Belt
DISGUSTING
Yes it was reported in a National Newspaper that Erin Parfoot was graded to Black Belt at 4 after starting Tae Kwon Do at the age of 2 ½ .
Now a Black belt is a level of Competence issued by an organisation and yes different organisations have different criteria, So you can have Black belts of different standards but this Black Belt is taking it a step to far, over the last 20 years we have seen a major increase in children being awarded Black belts much to the dismay of sensible Martial Arts Practitioners. Some organisations offer there junior members offer a Junior Black Belt, this practice was started 40 years ago by an organisation called the Kent Junior Judo Association who could grade a 15 year old to Junior Black belt the recipient wore a Black belt with a green stripe through the middle on reaching 16 they would automatically become a Senior Green this in its self was quite a good idea but note the age. Judo out of all the Martial Arts seem to have a more uniform approach to Dan Grades status even though there several different organisation, most will not grade to Dan Grade below 15 years of age and most combine Competition and Traditional Theoretical knowledge to obtain the grade.
So why grade Baby’s and children to Black belt? Money and Power is the answer. Instructors can make a considerable amount of money from Kids Gradings and Kids Classes, how many more students will this baby’s instructor Gareth Davies get because of this grading and at 24 he is a Black Belt Examiner? But above of all it is about power, a large majority on becoming Black belts suddenly become aware that they stand out from the crowd because they have achieved what the public think is the ultimate Martial Arts accolade, suddenly people look up to them and what is worse most believe their own hype. Now they start to have power either within there own organisation or they create one of there own, if they are with a reputable organisation they will have constraints and control placed upon them. Yet many believe they have the answer to everything and create a new association and a new style. How many times have you read of someone creating the Ultimate Martial Art! Suddenly someone who was a 1st Dan a few years ago suddenly becomes an 8th Dan Master and of course they go on some well known names course have their photo taken with them, some time later they publish the photo saying they have trained with so and so to give kudos to their style. Now if they say they are 8th Dan PingBangdo Karate a style they evented that is what they are but if they say they are graded in a traditional style like Shotokan then they can be checked. My own style of CombatSombo which I introduced nearly 30 years ago was just a different approach to a Martial Arts Self Defence System I wanted a system which suited my Jacket Wrestling background i.e. Judo, Free Style Wrestling and Sambo, although I created a grading system I never gave myself a grade, how could I who would award it so if asked what grade CombatSombo am I the answer would be the FOUNDER
Sometimes these new Styles group together to form a Coop, large numbers again give them KUDOS and they think respectability. Yet the way to respectability is high technical ability and high moral standards.
So back to this 4 year old baby doing Tae Kwon Do, my own feeling taking children this young is a form of child abuse, at the age of 2 ½ the child can barely walk let alone do hard physical exercise and what of the damage the parents and Instructor are doing to the child? The child body is far from developed its bones are still soft as is the rest of the body, so things like excessive stretching can be dangerous and lead to early arthritis (this has been a problem with young gymnasts), striking and kicking pads can be dangerous to hands and joints and competition against other children can be dangerous beyond belief.
To teach any child to Kick and punch someone is morally indefensible when a child is young they do not understand wrong from right, who can say this 4 year old doesn’t start school and in an argument with another child knocks them out and may kills them with a kick and do not say that can not happen! those of us who taught in schools knew the playground can be a dangerous place at the best of time. In law the Criminal Age of Responsibility is 10 so should anyone be teaching children to Kick and Punch? To make some excuse that it is self defence is not realistic, the only way to subdue your attacker by kicking and punching is to inflict a mass of pain and damage to there body that is why grappling is a far better introduction for children who want to learn Combat and how can a child or a baby defend themselves against an adult. I have copied a letter sent to me by the late Great Geof Gleeson some 25 years ago, please read it and tell me the Martial Arts have advanced?
A Lot of Karate, Tae Kwon Do styles etc are far more sensible concentrating on Kata where the student is taught the discipline of self control and perfection of techniques rather then learning how knock someone’s teeth out. The most experienced Striking art in the world is boxing and the Amateur Boxing Association has a minimum age of 11 before they can box so why is this baby being taught Tae Kwon Do?
So you think what we need is Government intervention and we a Governing Body for Martial Arts which will be a legal requirement for all those that teach. NO as these have been tried in the past and just become Dictatorships, the Martial arts needs room to move, invent and adjust, because martial arts continual change just imagine if there had been a Government body 30 years ago with absolute Power there would be no Kickboxing, no Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, no Vale Tudo, no Cage Fighting etc. New Martial Arts will come to the fore that is the nature of the beast what we need is more information. Do not just attack an a rival because they have moved on to your patch and make it personal, tell your local paper, Council, MP, Church Hall, Schools etc and ask does this new club have:
1) Pi, PA, and PL Insurance
2) Who taught them and where can they be checked out
3) How long have they been practising
4) Have they a Coaching Award
5) Have they got a CRB check
6) Have they got the right equipment
Other things to watch out for, grading very young kids to Black belt, is the instructor there all the time or does he get a student to teach, are they trying the hard sell like knocking at doors and wanting people to sign up before they have even seen a class in action, after a few months do they appoint a Student to instructor level and the present instructor moves on.
If you had an established club for years people can check on you my Young Judo Club was started in 1957, new people should be given the chance but there is a lot of Con Men out there all claiming to Martial Arts Masters so beware
Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo 6th Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster Sambo Founder CombatSombo System
World Masters Judo Champion, World Silver medallist Jiu Jitsu and Sambo
Monday, August 01, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Judo Kata Course & Sambo Instructors Course
Judo Kata Course
Congratulations to all those who took part in the weekends nage no kata course at The Warriors Grappling Academy in Sittingbourne. Both Lawrence Sandum (Black Belts Martial Arts Academy, Chelmsford) and George Loscombe (Sittingbourne) passed thier dan grade theory for this kata, and at the grading afterwards, Andy Smith, Ben Franks (Sittingbourne) and Robin French (Chelmsford) obtained their 2nd kyu (blue belts). William Hanna (Spitfire, Folkestone) was awared his 3rd. kyu (green) & Mark Ball (also Folkestone) his 4th. kyu (orange.)
Grading officers: John Clarke 5th. dan & Colin Carrott 4th. dan.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Points scoring Judo
Young Judo Club
Points Scoring Judo Championship
For
Boys and Girls 5, 6, 7 – Boys and Girls 8, 9, 10, 11 – Boys and Girls 12, 13, 14
Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, Kent
Sunday December 4th 2011
Dear Judoka
There has been a massive decrease in children doing Judo Tournaments in recent years and some of the reason for this is the new IJF rules which seem to hinder the development of technique. So the YJC has looked at other Jacket Wrestling sports and have come up with a simpler set of rules that encourage youngster to try lots of different techniques.
Ippon will remain the only difference is you have to throw someone on their back and remain standing; this eliminates what some call A Lucky Throw. The other scores will be 1 point, 2 points, 3 points and 4 points, the better the throw the higher the points and all points add up, if you can score 12 clear points over you opponent you win if not you fight to the end of time and who ever has the biggest lead will win. As for hold downs (OseaKomi) that will stay, but will only give you 4 points this allows children the chance to develop their throwing skills.
With regard to weight categories this will be done by getting all the weights a week before the event and matching them, you will still be weigh in just in case you weight changes in the week.
Let me know if you are interested because we need to do something to rejuvenate Junior Judo. Entry form will sent round nearer the date
Martin Clarke
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
USWF Shoot Fighting
USWF Shoot Fighting Inc, Owner-Steve Nelson
After going back and forth to Japan wrestling, one of my best friends from high school talked me into starting the USWF. Felix Rios (my high school team mate) helped me start and run the USWF. He was my right hand man and the USWF owes a great deal of its success to Felix. Without his help and confidence, the USWF would not have ever begun. Felix is still a fight referee and stays very involved in the fight game.
My first USWF show was August 2, 1996. It was an amateur shoot wrestling event just meaning no money. After USWF 1, the fighters competing wanted paid. I didn’t blame them. I was receiving the gate. I had great athletes on USWF 1
such as Ron Trip who is the only person to ever beat
Rickson Gracie who was 300-1 according to history data.
Heath Herring and Paul Jones, both future UFC fighters. Paul Jones who ended up 21-1, his only loss was to Chuck Liddell. Herring was ranked #2 in Pride at one point in time. It was only fair to take shoot wrestling to a professional level.
I received written permission from the president of the Texas Boxing Commission Dick Cole on September 4th,1996 to hold shoot wrestling events under a professional wrestling license. Dan Severn was a friend of mine and had just won the Ultimate Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dan Severn and Royce Gracie were the biggest names in the fight business at the time.
I brought in Dan Severn for USWF 2 on November2, 1996. The USWF became the biggest shoot wrestling/shoot fighting company in America. I never expected the success but was grateful to UFC. Without the UFC there would have never been a Dan Severn to help bring the USWF company name to the attention of the fight fans.
The terms shoot wrestling and shoot fighting had been inter-changeable all over the world since the beginning of the sport. I named the company the
Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation Inc, and advertised as USWF Shoot Fighting.
Texas professional mixed martial arts was started with the USWF in 1996 but shoot wrestling didn't get sanctioned as MMA under the boxing commission until a few years later.
I honestly started the promotion purely to make a little extra money. There was not any ego involved I was just a struggling teacher/coach that wanted to make some extra income through the fight industry.
I wrestled since I was nine years old including college for Oklahoma State University. I was a black belt judo player and had won three world medals in Sombo.
A Bronze in the 1987 World Cup, a Silver in the 1991 World Championships and also a Silver in the 1994 World Championships. I wanted to be involved with fighting at the professional level.
Amarillo had a lot of other men living in the Texas Panhandle that were college All-Americans and many former great high school wrestlers. I believed if I could talk some of the local heroes into fighting, I just may get lucky and draw a crowd.
The USWF is truly a company of the people. Amarillo fans feel they still own shoot fighting and wish the USWF come back. Amarillo had minor league hockey and baseball but nothing had audience attendance like the USWF. Amarillo fans treated the fighters like professionals and were always very excited to see USWF fighters at special appearances and of course the arena. I built the USWF to be a company with class and didn’t allow any kind of disrespectful language or cursing on the microphone at events or during radio interviews. I never wanted myself or my fighters that reflected as if fighters that didn’t like each other. The USWF represented shoot fighting as a sport and not a fight company which employed belligerent out casts. The USWF had a lot of young kids that looked up to us and I felt every fighter had an obligation to be a role model for the company.
I had no problems getting fighters. The USWF had athletes wanting to fight to Amarillo from all over the U.S and Japan. It was purely a respect the USWF earned by the way Felix Rios and I handled business, treated people, and how hard the fighters fought every time they stepped into the ring. It was a respect helped by reporters that came from around the world to see USWF events. These rpeorters could easily see the influence the my fighters had on the public.
The person most responsible for letting the world know what the USWF was about was boxing and MMA reporter
Eddie Goldman. Eddie told the world everything he knew about the USWF and the great town of Amarillo. I will always be grateful to Eddie for reporting to the world what he saw in the USWF and Amarillo, Texas.
It made a giant difference in my career and many
Other USWF competitors.
I never could get a TV deal for the USWF. We only advertised on the radio, newspapers, and put up posters. We did many interviews and special appearances but those were the only outlets we had to bring those big crowds in to our events. I remember trying to get several TV syndicates to come watch us after sending them a USWF VHS. All of their answers were the same, “your company is too violent for television”. I found it hard to believe no sports channel could see the potential that I saw in the USWF being on television.
I currently enjoy all the new fight promotions and what they have done for grapplers. Amateur boxers have always had a place to go when they were ready to turn pro and make a fare salary doing what they love. Fortunately now amateur wrestlers, sombo, judo, jujitsu and other grappling sports have a place to go and make money with their skills as professionals.
Some very good UFC fighters had their first fight with the USWF including:
Evan Tanner former UFC Champion-(deceased) who was a true friend of mine and hero of the people.
Paul Jones, Heath Herring, Frank Trigg Paul ”The Head Hunter” Buentello, Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia
And Eric “Big Head” Davila
Other famous fighters that competed in the USWF were
Dan “The Beast” Severn-3 Time UFC Champion
Don ”The Predator” Frye-UFC Champion, Ralph Gracie,
Ali Elias, and Ron Trip --defeated Rickson Gracie who was 300-1as an amateur.
I know the USWF helped groom all these fighters but they are where they are because of their own determination, work ethic, and more than anything, perseverance.
Some people ask me do I have a favorite USWF fight and all I can say is there are several fights I consider my favorite. I will say being a fighter, promoter, agent, and coach too many of these fighters taught me respect for all different kinds of people
History of USWF ownership.
The first 16 USWF events were promoted and owned by
Steve Nelson.
Evan Tanner was going to take over the USWF and ran USWF 17-18 but then Evan decided to fight for the UFC full time. Evan realized he could not promote the USWF and fight to his full potential at the same time.
Steve Nelson agreed to take back ownership of the USWF.
Steve Nelson (a high school head wrestling coach and teacher) then sold the Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation corporation name and equipment to his high school assistant coach Lisa Hunt. (Lisa was also a world champion professional shoot fighter in the USWF)
Lisa Hunt promoted USWF 19 then changed the name of the corporation to International Fighting Alliance Inc.
Under the International Fighting Alliance Inc, she ran one more show.
For information on USWF 17 and 18 you would need to contact Jeff Tanner of Amarillo, Texas.
For information on USWF 19 and IFA 1 you would need to contact Lisa Hunt.
Steve Nelson currently owns three corporations including:
USWF Shoot Fighting Inc,
Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation Inc,
and USWF Inc.
After going back and forth to Japan wrestling, one of my best friends from high school talked me into starting the USWF. Felix Rios (my high school team mate) helped me start and run the USWF. He was my right hand man and the USWF owes a great deal of its success to Felix. Without his help and confidence, the USWF would not have ever begun. Felix is still a fight referee and stays very involved in the fight game.
My first USWF show was August 2, 1996. It was an amateur shoot wrestling event just meaning no money. After USWF 1, the fighters competing wanted paid. I didn’t blame them. I was receiving the gate. I had great athletes on USWF 1
such as Ron Trip who is the only person to ever beat
Rickson Gracie who was 300-1 according to history data.
Heath Herring and Paul Jones, both future UFC fighters. Paul Jones who ended up 21-1, his only loss was to Chuck Liddell. Herring was ranked #2 in Pride at one point in time. It was only fair to take shoot wrestling to a professional level.
I received written permission from the president of the Texas Boxing Commission Dick Cole on September 4th,1996 to hold shoot wrestling events under a professional wrestling license. Dan Severn was a friend of mine and had just won the Ultimate Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dan Severn and Royce Gracie were the biggest names in the fight business at the time.
I brought in Dan Severn for USWF 2 on November2, 1996. The USWF became the biggest shoot wrestling/shoot fighting company in America. I never expected the success but was grateful to UFC. Without the UFC there would have never been a Dan Severn to help bring the USWF company name to the attention of the fight fans.
The terms shoot wrestling and shoot fighting had been inter-changeable all over the world since the beginning of the sport. I named the company the
Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation Inc, and advertised as USWF Shoot Fighting.
Texas professional mixed martial arts was started with the USWF in 1996 but shoot wrestling didn't get sanctioned as MMA under the boxing commission until a few years later.
I honestly started the promotion purely to make a little extra money. There was not any ego involved I was just a struggling teacher/coach that wanted to make some extra income through the fight industry.
I wrestled since I was nine years old including college for Oklahoma State University. I was a black belt judo player and had won three world medals in Sombo.
A Bronze in the 1987 World Cup, a Silver in the 1991 World Championships and also a Silver in the 1994 World Championships. I wanted to be involved with fighting at the professional level.
Amarillo had a lot of other men living in the Texas Panhandle that were college All-Americans and many former great high school wrestlers. I believed if I could talk some of the local heroes into fighting, I just may get lucky and draw a crowd.
The USWF is truly a company of the people. Amarillo fans feel they still own shoot fighting and wish the USWF come back. Amarillo had minor league hockey and baseball but nothing had audience attendance like the USWF. Amarillo fans treated the fighters like professionals and were always very excited to see USWF fighters at special appearances and of course the arena. I built the USWF to be a company with class and didn’t allow any kind of disrespectful language or cursing on the microphone at events or during radio interviews. I never wanted myself or my fighters that reflected as if fighters that didn’t like each other. The USWF represented shoot fighting as a sport and not a fight company which employed belligerent out casts. The USWF had a lot of young kids that looked up to us and I felt every fighter had an obligation to be a role model for the company.
I had no problems getting fighters. The USWF had athletes wanting to fight to Amarillo from all over the U.S and Japan. It was purely a respect the USWF earned by the way Felix Rios and I handled business, treated people, and how hard the fighters fought every time they stepped into the ring. It was a respect helped by reporters that came from around the world to see USWF events. These rpeorters could easily see the influence the my fighters had on the public.
The person most responsible for letting the world know what the USWF was about was boxing and MMA reporter
Eddie Goldman. Eddie told the world everything he knew about the USWF and the great town of Amarillo. I will always be grateful to Eddie for reporting to the world what he saw in the USWF and Amarillo, Texas.
It made a giant difference in my career and many
Other USWF competitors.
I never could get a TV deal for the USWF. We only advertised on the radio, newspapers, and put up posters. We did many interviews and special appearances but those were the only outlets we had to bring those big crowds in to our events. I remember trying to get several TV syndicates to come watch us after sending them a USWF VHS. All of their answers were the same, “your company is too violent for television”. I found it hard to believe no sports channel could see the potential that I saw in the USWF being on television.
I currently enjoy all the new fight promotions and what they have done for grapplers. Amateur boxers have always had a place to go when they were ready to turn pro and make a fare salary doing what they love. Fortunately now amateur wrestlers, sombo, judo, jujitsu and other grappling sports have a place to go and make money with their skills as professionals.
Some very good UFC fighters had their first fight with the USWF including:
Evan Tanner former UFC Champion-(deceased) who was a true friend of mine and hero of the people.
Paul Jones, Heath Herring, Frank Trigg Paul ”The Head Hunter” Buentello, Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia
And Eric “Big Head” Davila
Other famous fighters that competed in the USWF were
Dan “The Beast” Severn-3 Time UFC Champion
Don ”The Predator” Frye-UFC Champion, Ralph Gracie,
Ali Elias, and Ron Trip --defeated Rickson Gracie who was 300-1as an amateur.
I know the USWF helped groom all these fighters but they are where they are because of their own determination, work ethic, and more than anything, perseverance.
Some people ask me do I have a favorite USWF fight and all I can say is there are several fights I consider my favorite. I will say being a fighter, promoter, agent, and coach too many of these fighters taught me respect for all different kinds of people
History of USWF ownership.
The first 16 USWF events were promoted and owned by
Steve Nelson.
Evan Tanner was going to take over the USWF and ran USWF 17-18 but then Evan decided to fight for the UFC full time. Evan realized he could not promote the USWF and fight to his full potential at the same time.
Steve Nelson agreed to take back ownership of the USWF.
Steve Nelson (a high school head wrestling coach and teacher) then sold the Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation corporation name and equipment to his high school assistant coach Lisa Hunt. (Lisa was also a world champion professional shoot fighter in the USWF)
Lisa Hunt promoted USWF 19 then changed the name of the corporation to International Fighting Alliance Inc.
Under the International Fighting Alliance Inc, she ran one more show.
For information on USWF 17 and 18 you would need to contact Jeff Tanner of Amarillo, Texas.
For information on USWF 19 and IFA 1 you would need to contact Lisa Hunt.
Steve Nelson currently owns three corporations including:
USWF Shoot Fighting Inc,
Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation Inc,
and USWF Inc.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Kiddies Cage Fighting is it Child Abuse
Some weeks ago I wrote an article about a 4 year old getting his Black Belt; I went on to write how dangerous it was for children under 5 to any Martial Art especially those that involved Punching and Kicking. Teaching this to the very young, I felt, was a form of Child Abuse my article got very little response with one exception “That it is down to the Governing Body to decide was is a fit age to start Martial Arts” that is a cop out what if the Governing Body does not have the expertise and what if the Martial Art has no overall governing body? Interesting enough much is being done and said about “CLUB MARK” being the way forward for sports, they make a great deal about Health & Safety, Child protection, Codes of Conduct but they give Club Mark to club who have under 5 (pre school) doing Martial Arts?
In last weeks Sunday Mirror the middle pages were given over to “Kiddie Cage Fighters” where Children as young as 4 are taught to beat the living daylights out of each other you can find the article at
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20110703/ai_n57772933/pg_2/?tag=content;col1
Below is an article from a USA paper The Telegraph you can find my own article http://combatarts.blogspot.com/2011/05/4-year-old-black-belt-disgusting-yes-it.html I even found an organisation who would teach 1 year olds http://combatarts.blogspot.com/2011/06/one-year-old-being-taught-tae-kwon-do.html
Violent 'cage fighting' craze reaches children
Parents of young cage fighters insist the sport is not dangerous and that it teaches children to respect their peers
By Tom Leonard in New York
4:54PM GMT 28 Mar 2008
Children as young as six are taking up the controversial sport of "cage fighting", alarming medical experts and sports officials.
- Six teenagers arrested over Bebo 'fight club'
- Police seek man behind boys' fight on YouTube
- Gareth A Davies: Mixed martial arts blog | Telegraph TV: UFC star Chuck Liddell
The Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, has described it as "human cockfighting" but the popularity of the sport, which usually takes place in a cage, has spread to young American children.
Egged on by parents who regard it as character-building, the children fight two minute bouts in small cages. They are required to wear head gear and padding.
From the Web
They can kick, punch and grapple with each other but are not allowed to use elbow blows or hit to the head when the opponent is on the ground.
Experts say the child version of the sport is growing along with the popularity of the adult equivalent, now showing on cable television and even in a new film, Never Back Down.
Last month, CBS became the first of the big television networks to announce a deal to broadcast prime-time fights. Regardless of any psychological harm, medical experts believe young bodies cannot withstand the pounding.
"It's dangerous from a physical standpoint," said Dr Lisa Thorton, a paediatrician with the University of Chicago Hospitals.
"It can cause significant injuries to the neck and bones, and if they're being taught that fighting is a way to solve problems that is obviously very negative for any child."
Joe Miller, administrator of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission, said cage fighting used a lot of arm and leg twists to force opponents into submission. "There's too much potential for damage to growing joints," he said.
However, parents of young cage fighters insist the sport is not dangerous and – like conventional martial arts – teaches children to respect their peers.
Jennifer Swinehart, whose sons – aged 10 and 14 – are members of the Garage Boys Fight Crew in Joplin, Missouri, said: "It's wonderful. They build such good character and good friendships, and that's what you need to further yourself in life."
Tommy Bloomer, father of two more of the Garage Boys, said the sport was no more dangerous than youth wrestling.
He said: "We're not training them for dog fighting. As a parent, I'd much rather have my kids here learning how to defend themselves and getting positive reinforcement than out on the streets."
Saturday, June 18, 2011
One Year Old being Taught Tae Kwon Do
A week or so ago I wrote an article condemning a 4 year old getting his Black and gave my reason why, I decided to go one step further and check the World Wide Web it seems that most of the respectable Karate and Martial Arts Organisation suggest 7 being the optimum age the exception being Tae Kwon Do, I took the following from a well Tae Kwon do Web Site please read the whole article.
First they list the following five points which are commendable
.
COURTESY
________________________________________
To be courteous is to have deference and consideration for others. We teach our children to say please and thank you. We appreciate when someone holds the door for us. Being courteous is a fundamental necessity in any society. It demonstrates a deep respect and consideration for others. “When one is possessed by a high regard for the greater good, courteous acts do not require a deliberate effort, but become a natural expression of one’s inner state.” Marc Tedeschi
________________________________________
INTEGRITY
________________________________________
To have integrity is to show a firm adherence to moral values. To know inherently what is right and to choose consciously or sub-consciously to do that which is right, is honorable. Trust must be earned. It is through a person's integrity that others become willing to offer that trust.. It is difficult to always have the right action. It is too easy to lose integrity in the eyes of others. Once we lose the trust of our peers, it is almost impossible to regain. So it is better to cultivate integrity in everything that we do, rather than work to regain it because of a momentary lapse.
________________________________________
PERSEVERANCE
________________________________________
To persist in spite of opposition is to have perseverance (en nai). If a goal is easy to achieve, then it has no real value. In order to achieve great things, we must have the ability to persevere. Overcoming obstacles (gun gi) takes resolve. Through Tae kwon do training, we gain the confidence necessary and patience to persevere.
________________________________________
SELF-CONTROL
________________________________________
To exercise restraint over you impulses, emotions and desires is to have self-control. It is extremely important to gain self-control when training in martial arts. Training in Tae kwon do gives you powerful knowledge of deadly skills. If you do not have control over physical actions and emotions, you risk hurting yourself or your partner. Self-control is not just about successfully denying yourself the things you love that may or may not be good for you. It is the triumphant use of patience as we strive for the greater good.
________________________________________
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
________________________________________
To have a spirit that is incapable of being subdued. We admire greatness in the face of adversity, whether in an athletic event or a medical crisis. Having the confidence to believe in yourself and your goals and knowing that steady resolve will lead the way to great things is reflective of an indomitable spirit. Not everyone is born a hero, but heroism can be cultivated. A true hero is one who does not retreat when the going gets rough, but sticks it out and continues to do the right thing, regardless of each victory or defeat.
The tenets of tae kwon do evolved from ancient moral teachings of the Hwa rang warrior class and are a integral part of tae kwon do study and the fabric of Korean life.
THEN THEY TELL US THE FOLLOWING
Tae kwon do classes start as early as age 3
Kid’s tae kwon do classes can range from toddler age to young adult.
I even developed a class for 1 to 3 year olds!
Starting your child in a kid’s tae kwon do class is simple. The only equipment she will need in the beginning is a uniform.
Many schools even provide the first uniform as a bonus for joining the school. If not, a basic student uniform is sufficient and relatively inexpensive
1 Year Old being taught how to Kick and Punch!
If a proper School Teacher was teach a child in their care they would be charged with child abuse, so when will Government do something about this form of abuse
4 Year Old Black Belt
DISGUSTING
Yes it was reported in a National Newspaper that Erin Parfoot was graded to Black Belt at 4 after starting Tae Kwon Do at the age of 2 ½ .
Now a Black belt is a level of Competence issued by an organisation and yes different organisations have different criteria, So you can have Black belts of different standards but this Black Belt is taking it a step to far, over the last 20 years we have seen a major increase in children being awarded Black belts much to the dismay of sensible Martial Arts Practitioners. Some organisations offer there junior members offer a Junior Black Belt, this practice was started 40 years ago by an organisation called the Kent Junior Judo Association who could grade a 15 year old to Junior Black belt the recipient wore a Black belt with a green stripe through the middle on reaching 16 they would automatically become a Senior Green this in its self was quite a good idea but note the age. Judo out of all the Martial Arts seem to have a more uniform approach to Dan Grades status even though there several different organisation, most will not grade to Dan Grade below 15 years of age and most combine Competition and Traditional Theoretical knowledge to obtain the grade.
So why grade Baby’s and children to Black belt? Money and Power is the answer. Instructors can make a considerable amount of money from Kids Gradings and Kids Classes, how many more students will this baby’s instructor Gareth Davies get because of this grading and at 24 he is a Black Belt Examiner? But above of all it is about power, a large majority on becoming Black belts suddenly become aware that they stand out from the crowd because they have achieved what the public think is the ultimate Martial Arts accolade, suddenly people look up to them and what is worse most believe their own hype. Now they start to have power either within there own organisation or they create one of there own, if they are with a reputable organisation they will have constraints and control placed upon them. Yet many believe they have the answer to everything and create a new association and a new style. How many times have you read of someone creating the Ultimate Martial Art! Suddenly someone who was a 1st Dan a few years ago suddenly becomes an 8th Dan Master and of course they go on some well known names course have their photo taken with them, some time later they publish the photo saying they have trained with so and so to give kudos to their style. Now if they say they are 8th Dan PingBangdo Karate a style they evented that is what they are but if they say they are graded in a traditional style like Shotokan then they can be checked. My own style of CombatSombo which I introduced nearly 30 years ago was just a different approach to a Martial Arts Self Defence System I wanted a system which suited my Jacket Wrestling background i.e. Judo, Free Style Wrestling and Sambo, although I created a grading system I never gave myself a grade, how could I who would award it so if asked what grade CombatSombo am I the answer would be the FOUNDER
Sometimes these new Styles group together to form a Coop, large numbers again give them KUDOS and they think respectability. Yet the way to respectability is high technical ability and high moral standards.
So back to this 4 year old baby doing Tae Kwon Do, my own feeling taking children this young is a form of child abuse, at the age of 2 ½ the child can barely walk let alone do hard physical exercise and what of the damage the parents and Instructor are doing to the child? The child body is far from developed its bones are still soft as is the rest of the body, so things like excessive stretching can be dangerous and lead to early arthritis (this has been a problem with young gymnasts), striking and kicking pads can be dangerous to hands and joints and competition against other children can be dangerous beyond belief.
To teach any child to Kick and punch someone is morally indefensible when a child is young they do not understand wrong from right, who can say this 4 year old doesn’t start school and in an argument with another child knocks them out and may kills them with a kick and do not say that can not happen! those of us who taught in schools knew the playground can be a dangerous place at the best of time. In law the Criminal Age of Responsibility is 10 so should anyone be teaching children to Kick and Punch? To make some excuse that it is self defence is not realistic, the only way to subdue your attacker by kicking and punching is to inflict a mass of pain and damage to there body that is why grappling is a far better introduction for children who want to learn Combat and how can a child or a baby defend themselves against an adult. I have copied a letter sent to me by the late Great Geof Gleeson some 25 years ago, please read it and tell me the Martial Arts have advanced?
A Lot of Karate, Tae Kwon Do styles etc are far more sensible concentrating on Kata where the student is taught the discipline of self control and perfection of techniques rather then learning how knock someone’s teeth out. The most experienced Striking art in the world is boxing and the Amateur Boxing Association has a minimum age of 11 before they can box so why is this baby being taught Tae Kwon Do?
So you think what we need is Government intervention and we a Governing Body for Martial Arts which will be a legal requirement for all those that teach. NO as these have been tried in the past and just become Dictatorships, the Martial arts needs room to move, invent and adjust, because martial arts continual change just imagine if there had been a Government body 30 years ago with absolute Power there would be no Kickboxing, no Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, no Vale Tudo, no Cage Fighting etc. New Martial Arts will come to the fore that is the nature of the beast what we need is more information. Do not just attack an a rival because they have moved on to your patch and make it personal, tell your local paper, Council, MP, Church Hall, Schools etc and ask does this new club have:
1) Pi, PA, and PL Insurance
2) Who taught them and where can they be checked out
3) How long have they been practising
4) Have they a Coaching Award
5) Have they got a CRB check
6) Have they got the right equipment
Other things to watch out for, grading very young kids to Black belt, is the instructor there all the time or does he get a student to teach, are they trying the hard sell like knocking at doors and wanting people to sign up before they have even seen a class in action, after a few months do they appoint a Student o instructor level and the present instructor moves on.
If you had an established club for years people can check on you my Young Judo Club was started in 1957, new people should be given the chance but there is a lot of Con Men out there all claiming to Martial Arts Masters so beware
Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo 6th Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster Sambo Founder CombatSombo System
World Masters Judo Champion, World Silver medallist Jiu Jitsu and Sambo
First they list the following five points which are commendable
.
COURTESY
________________________________________
To be courteous is to have deference and consideration for others. We teach our children to say please and thank you. We appreciate when someone holds the door for us. Being courteous is a fundamental necessity in any society. It demonstrates a deep respect and consideration for others. “When one is possessed by a high regard for the greater good, courteous acts do not require a deliberate effort, but become a natural expression of one’s inner state.” Marc Tedeschi
________________________________________
INTEGRITY
________________________________________
To have integrity is to show a firm adherence to moral values. To know inherently what is right and to choose consciously or sub-consciously to do that which is right, is honorable. Trust must be earned. It is through a person's integrity that others become willing to offer that trust.. It is difficult to always have the right action. It is too easy to lose integrity in the eyes of others. Once we lose the trust of our peers, it is almost impossible to regain. So it is better to cultivate integrity in everything that we do, rather than work to regain it because of a momentary lapse.
________________________________________
PERSEVERANCE
________________________________________
To persist in spite of opposition is to have perseverance (en nai). If a goal is easy to achieve, then it has no real value. In order to achieve great things, we must have the ability to persevere. Overcoming obstacles (gun gi) takes resolve. Through Tae kwon do training, we gain the confidence necessary and patience to persevere.
________________________________________
SELF-CONTROL
________________________________________
To exercise restraint over you impulses, emotions and desires is to have self-control. It is extremely important to gain self-control when training in martial arts. Training in Tae kwon do gives you powerful knowledge of deadly skills. If you do not have control over physical actions and emotions, you risk hurting yourself or your partner. Self-control is not just about successfully denying yourself the things you love that may or may not be good for you. It is the triumphant use of patience as we strive for the greater good.
________________________________________
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
________________________________________
To have a spirit that is incapable of being subdued. We admire greatness in the face of adversity, whether in an athletic event or a medical crisis. Having the confidence to believe in yourself and your goals and knowing that steady resolve will lead the way to great things is reflective of an indomitable spirit. Not everyone is born a hero, but heroism can be cultivated. A true hero is one who does not retreat when the going gets rough, but sticks it out and continues to do the right thing, regardless of each victory or defeat.
The tenets of tae kwon do evolved from ancient moral teachings of the Hwa rang warrior class and are a integral part of tae kwon do study and the fabric of Korean life.
THEN THEY TELL US THE FOLLOWING
Tae kwon do classes start as early as age 3
Kid’s tae kwon do classes can range from toddler age to young adult.
I even developed a class for 1 to 3 year olds!
Starting your child in a kid’s tae kwon do class is simple. The only equipment she will need in the beginning is a uniform.
Many schools even provide the first uniform as a bonus for joining the school. If not, a basic student uniform is sufficient and relatively inexpensive
1 Year Old being taught how to Kick and Punch!
If a proper School Teacher was teach a child in their care they would be charged with child abuse, so when will Government do something about this form of abuse
4 Year Old Black Belt
DISGUSTING
Yes it was reported in a National Newspaper that Erin Parfoot was graded to Black Belt at 4 after starting Tae Kwon Do at the age of 2 ½ .
Now a Black belt is a level of Competence issued by an organisation and yes different organisations have different criteria, So you can have Black belts of different standards but this Black Belt is taking it a step to far, over the last 20 years we have seen a major increase in children being awarded Black belts much to the dismay of sensible Martial Arts Practitioners. Some organisations offer there junior members offer a Junior Black Belt, this practice was started 40 years ago by an organisation called the Kent Junior Judo Association who could grade a 15 year old to Junior Black belt the recipient wore a Black belt with a green stripe through the middle on reaching 16 they would automatically become a Senior Green this in its self was quite a good idea but note the age. Judo out of all the Martial Arts seem to have a more uniform approach to Dan Grades status even though there several different organisation, most will not grade to Dan Grade below 15 years of age and most combine Competition and Traditional Theoretical knowledge to obtain the grade.
So why grade Baby’s and children to Black belt? Money and Power is the answer. Instructors can make a considerable amount of money from Kids Gradings and Kids Classes, how many more students will this baby’s instructor Gareth Davies get because of this grading and at 24 he is a Black Belt Examiner? But above of all it is about power, a large majority on becoming Black belts suddenly become aware that they stand out from the crowd because they have achieved what the public think is the ultimate Martial Arts accolade, suddenly people look up to them and what is worse most believe their own hype. Now they start to have power either within there own organisation or they create one of there own, if they are with a reputable organisation they will have constraints and control placed upon them. Yet many believe they have the answer to everything and create a new association and a new style. How many times have you read of someone creating the Ultimate Martial Art! Suddenly someone who was a 1st Dan a few years ago suddenly becomes an 8th Dan Master and of course they go on some well known names course have their photo taken with them, some time later they publish the photo saying they have trained with so and so to give kudos to their style. Now if they say they are 8th Dan PingBangdo Karate a style they evented that is what they are but if they say they are graded in a traditional style like Shotokan then they can be checked. My own style of CombatSombo which I introduced nearly 30 years ago was just a different approach to a Martial Arts Self Defence System I wanted a system which suited my Jacket Wrestling background i.e. Judo, Free Style Wrestling and Sambo, although I created a grading system I never gave myself a grade, how could I who would award it so if asked what grade CombatSombo am I the answer would be the FOUNDER
Sometimes these new Styles group together to form a Coop, large numbers again give them KUDOS and they think respectability. Yet the way to respectability is high technical ability and high moral standards.
So back to this 4 year old baby doing Tae Kwon Do, my own feeling taking children this young is a form of child abuse, at the age of 2 ½ the child can barely walk let alone do hard physical exercise and what of the damage the parents and Instructor are doing to the child? The child body is far from developed its bones are still soft as is the rest of the body, so things like excessive stretching can be dangerous and lead to early arthritis (this has been a problem with young gymnasts), striking and kicking pads can be dangerous to hands and joints and competition against other children can be dangerous beyond belief.
To teach any child to Kick and punch someone is morally indefensible when a child is young they do not understand wrong from right, who can say this 4 year old doesn’t start school and in an argument with another child knocks them out and may kills them with a kick and do not say that can not happen! those of us who taught in schools knew the playground can be a dangerous place at the best of time. In law the Criminal Age of Responsibility is 10 so should anyone be teaching children to Kick and Punch? To make some excuse that it is self defence is not realistic, the only way to subdue your attacker by kicking and punching is to inflict a mass of pain and damage to there body that is why grappling is a far better introduction for children who want to learn Combat and how can a child or a baby defend themselves against an adult. I have copied a letter sent to me by the late Great Geof Gleeson some 25 years ago, please read it and tell me the Martial Arts have advanced?
A Lot of Karate, Tae Kwon Do styles etc are far more sensible concentrating on Kata where the student is taught the discipline of self control and perfection of techniques rather then learning how knock someone’s teeth out. The most experienced Striking art in the world is boxing and the Amateur Boxing Association has a minimum age of 11 before they can box so why is this baby being taught Tae Kwon Do?
So you think what we need is Government intervention and we a Governing Body for Martial Arts which will be a legal requirement for all those that teach. NO as these have been tried in the past and just become Dictatorships, the Martial arts needs room to move, invent and adjust, because martial arts continual change just imagine if there had been a Government body 30 years ago with absolute Power there would be no Kickboxing, no Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, no Vale Tudo, no Cage Fighting etc. New Martial Arts will come to the fore that is the nature of the beast what we need is more information. Do not just attack an a rival because they have moved on to your patch and make it personal, tell your local paper, Council, MP, Church Hall, Schools etc and ask does this new club have:
1) Pi, PA, and PL Insurance
2) Who taught them and where can they be checked out
3) How long have they been practising
4) Have they a Coaching Award
5) Have they got a CRB check
6) Have they got the right equipment
Other things to watch out for, grading very young kids to Black belt, is the instructor there all the time or does he get a student to teach, are they trying the hard sell like knocking at doors and wanting people to sign up before they have even seen a class in action, after a few months do they appoint a Student o instructor level and the present instructor moves on.
If you had an established club for years people can check on you my Young Judo Club was started in 1957, new people should be given the chance but there is a lot of Con Men out there all claiming to Martial Arts Masters so beware
Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo 6th Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster Sambo Founder CombatSombo System
World Masters Judo Champion, World Silver medallist Jiu Jitsu and Sambo
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Young People ar wimps
Are Young People Wimps
Just after Christmas Sal White and myself started a Pankration Class, Saul softly spoken amicable sort of guy would take the first 45 minutes on striking and I would do 15 minutes on submissions and throws we supplied equipment and it was a reasonable success. As the weeks went by students were told they had to purchase their equipments gloves, jacket etc and they had pay a joining fee, this cost us a few members but for everyone we lost one filled their place.
About 6 weeks ago Saul injured himself and had to step back from coaching, so I took a more active role help by Michael and George. My teaching of any Combat Discipline is the student should be fit and able to fight that is the nature of the beast, so the throws got harder and higher. This culminated in last week a hour session becoming hour and quarter with 20 minutes of continual sparring/grappling, with about 10 in attendance it made an ideal number for changing opponents. Yes this was a harder session but I do not want student play acting I want fighters, I have lost count of so called hard men who only attend once. The following week, this Wednesday past, out of the 10 only 1 returned (Michael text being of sick) what a load of wimps one harder session and they blow but I bet they are in the pub bragging how they do MMA.
Compare modern day youth with the 1960’s and 70’s all we had was Judo but everyone would train at least twice a week and 6 week you would be committed to a competition or course and a lesson lasted 2 hours, now a day youth want to fight on the Xbox only WIMPWS
Martin Clarke
Just after Christmas Sal White and myself started a Pankration Class, Saul softly spoken amicable sort of guy would take the first 45 minutes on striking and I would do 15 minutes on submissions and throws we supplied equipment and it was a reasonable success. As the weeks went by students were told they had to purchase their equipments gloves, jacket etc and they had pay a joining fee, this cost us a few members but for everyone we lost one filled their place.
About 6 weeks ago Saul injured himself and had to step back from coaching, so I took a more active role help by Michael and George. My teaching of any Combat Discipline is the student should be fit and able to fight that is the nature of the beast, so the throws got harder and higher. This culminated in last week a hour session becoming hour and quarter with 20 minutes of continual sparring/grappling, with about 10 in attendance it made an ideal number for changing opponents. Yes this was a harder session but I do not want student play acting I want fighters, I have lost count of so called hard men who only attend once. The following week, this Wednesday past, out of the 10 only 1 returned (Michael text being of sick) what a load of wimps one harder session and they blow but I bet they are in the pub bragging how they do MMA.
Compare modern day youth with the 1960’s and 70’s all we had was Judo but everyone would train at least twice a week and 6 week you would be committed to a competition or course and a lesson lasted 2 hours, now a day youth want to fight on the Xbox only WIMPWS
Martin Clarke
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
4 year Old Black belt Disgusting
4 Year Old Black Belt
DISGUSTING
Yes it was reported in a National Newspaper that Erin Parfoot was graded to Black Belt at 4 after starting Tae Kwon Do at the age of 2 ½ .
Now a Black belt is a level of Competence issued by an organisation and yes different organisations have different criteria, So you can have Black belts of different standards but this Black Belt is taking it a step to far, over the last 20 years we have seen a major increase in children being awarded Black belts much to the dismay of sensible Martial Arts Practitioners. Some organisations offer there junior members offer a Junior Black Belt, this practice was started 40 years ago by an organisation called the Kent Junior Judo Association who could grade a 15 year old to Junior Black belt the recipient wore a Black belt with a green stripe through the middle on reaching 16 they would automatically become a Senior Green this in its self was quite a good idea but note the age. Judo out of all the Martial Arts seem to have a more uniform approach to Dan Grades status even though there several different organisation, most will not grade to Dan Grade below 15 years of age and most combine Competition and Traditional Theoretical knowledge to obtain the grade.
So why grade Baby’s and children to Black belt? Money and Power is the answer. Instructors can make a considerable amount of money from Kids Gradings and Kids Classes, how many more students will this baby’s instructor Gareth Davies get because of this grading and at 24 he is a Black Belt Examiner? But above of all it is about power, a large majority on becoming Black belts suddenly become aware that they stand out from the crowd because they have achieved what the public think is the ultimate Martial Arts accolade, suddenly people look up to them and what is worse most believe their own hype. Now they start to have power either within there own organisation or they create one of there own, if they are with a reputable organisation they will have constraints and control placed upon them. Yet many believe they have the answer to everything and create a new association and a new style. How many times have you read of someone creating the Ultimate Martial Art! Suddenly someone who was a 1st Dan a few years ago suddenly becomes an 8th Dan Master and of course they go on some well known names course have their photo taken with them, some time later they publish the photo saying they have trained with so and so to give kudos to their style. Now if they say they are 8th Dan PingBangdo Karate a style they evented that is what they are but if they say they are graded in a traditional style like Shotokan then they can be checked. My own style of CombatSombo which I introduced nearly 30 years ago was just a different approach to a Martial Arts Self Defence System I wanted a system which suited my Jacket Wrestling background i.e. Judo, Free Style Wrestling and Sambo, although I created a grading system I never gave myself a grade, how could I who would award it so if asked what grade CombatSombo am I the answer would be the FOUNDER
Sometimes these new Styles group together to form a Coop, large numbers again give them KUDOS and they think respectability. Yet the way to respectability is high technical ability and high moral standards.
So back to this 4 year old baby doing Tae Kwon Do, my own feeling taking children this young is a form of child abuse, at the age of 2 ½ the child can barely walk let alone do hard physical exercise and what of the damage the parents and Instructor are doing to the child? The child body is far from developed its bones are still soft as is the rest of the body, so things like excessive stretching can be dangerous and lead to early arthritis (this has been a problem with young gymnasts), striking and kicking pads can be dangerous to hands and joints and competition against other children can be dangerous beyond belief.
To teach any child to Kick and punch someone is morally indefensible when a child is young they do not understand wrong from right, who can say this 4 year old doesn’t start school and in an argument with another child knocks them out and may kills them with a kick and do not say that can not happen! those of us who taught in schools knew the playground can be a dangerous place at the best of time. In law the Criminal Age of Responsibility is 10 so should anyone be teaching children to Kick and Punch? To make some excuse that it is self defence is not realistic, the only way to subdue your attacker by kicking and punching is to inflict a mass of pain and damage to there body that is why grappling is a far better introduction for children who want to learn Combat and how can a child or a baby defend themselves against an adult. I have copied a letter sent to me by the late Great Geof Gleeson some 25 years ago, please read it and tell me the Martial Arts have advanced?
A Lot of Karate, Tae Kwon Do styles etc are far more sensible concentrating on Kata where the student is taught the discipline of self control and perfection of techniques rather then learning how knock someone’s teeth out. The most experienced Striking art in the world is boxing and the Amateur Boxing Association has a minimum age of 11 before they can box so why is this baby being taught Tae Kwon Do?
So you think what we need is Government intervention and we a Governing Body for Martial Arts which will be a legal requirement for all those that teach. NO as these have been tried in the past and just become Dictatorships, the Martial arts needs room to move, invent and adjust, because martial arts continual change just imagine if there had been a Government body 30 years ago with absolute Power there would be no Kickboxing, no Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, no Vale Tudo, no Cage Fighting etc. New Martial Arts will come to the fore that is the nature of the beast what we need is more information. Do not just attack an a rival because they have moved on to your patch and make it personal, tell your local paper, Council, MP, Church Hall, Schools etc and ask does this new club have:
1) Pi, PA, and PL Insurance
2) Who taught them and where can they be checked out
3) How long have they been practising
4) Have they a Coaching Award
5) Have they got a CRB check
6) Have they got the right equipment
Other things to watch out for, grading very young kids to Black belt, is the instructor there all the time or does he get a student to teach, are they trying the hard sell like knocking at doors and wanting people to sign up before they have even seen a class in action, after a few months do they appoint a Student o instructor level and the present instructor moves on.
If you had an established club for years people can check on you my Young Judo Club was started in 1957, new people should be given the chance but there is a lot of Con Men out there all claiming to Martial Arts Masters so beware
Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo 6th Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster Sambo Founder CombatSombo System
World Masters Judo Champion, World Silver medallist Jiu Jitsu and Sambo
DISGUSTING
Yes it was reported in a National Newspaper that Erin Parfoot was graded to Black Belt at 4 after starting Tae Kwon Do at the age of 2 ½ .
Now a Black belt is a level of Competence issued by an organisation and yes different organisations have different criteria, So you can have Black belts of different standards but this Black Belt is taking it a step to far, over the last 20 years we have seen a major increase in children being awarded Black belts much to the dismay of sensible Martial Arts Practitioners. Some organisations offer there junior members offer a Junior Black Belt, this practice was started 40 years ago by an organisation called the Kent Junior Judo Association who could grade a 15 year old to Junior Black belt the recipient wore a Black belt with a green stripe through the middle on reaching 16 they would automatically become a Senior Green this in its self was quite a good idea but note the age. Judo out of all the Martial Arts seem to have a more uniform approach to Dan Grades status even though there several different organisation, most will not grade to Dan Grade below 15 years of age and most combine Competition and Traditional Theoretical knowledge to obtain the grade.
So why grade Baby’s and children to Black belt? Money and Power is the answer. Instructors can make a considerable amount of money from Kids Gradings and Kids Classes, how many more students will this baby’s instructor Gareth Davies get because of this grading and at 24 he is a Black Belt Examiner? But above of all it is about power, a large majority on becoming Black belts suddenly become aware that they stand out from the crowd because they have achieved what the public think is the ultimate Martial Arts accolade, suddenly people look up to them and what is worse most believe their own hype. Now they start to have power either within there own organisation or they create one of there own, if they are with a reputable organisation they will have constraints and control placed upon them. Yet many believe they have the answer to everything and create a new association and a new style. How many times have you read of someone creating the Ultimate Martial Art! Suddenly someone who was a 1st Dan a few years ago suddenly becomes an 8th Dan Master and of course they go on some well known names course have their photo taken with them, some time later they publish the photo saying they have trained with so and so to give kudos to their style. Now if they say they are 8th Dan PingBangdo Karate a style they evented that is what they are but if they say they are graded in a traditional style like Shotokan then they can be checked. My own style of CombatSombo which I introduced nearly 30 years ago was just a different approach to a Martial Arts Self Defence System I wanted a system which suited my Jacket Wrestling background i.e. Judo, Free Style Wrestling and Sambo, although I created a grading system I never gave myself a grade, how could I who would award it so if asked what grade CombatSombo am I the answer would be the FOUNDER
Sometimes these new Styles group together to form a Coop, large numbers again give them KUDOS and they think respectability. Yet the way to respectability is high technical ability and high moral standards.
So back to this 4 year old baby doing Tae Kwon Do, my own feeling taking children this young is a form of child abuse, at the age of 2 ½ the child can barely walk let alone do hard physical exercise and what of the damage the parents and Instructor are doing to the child? The child body is far from developed its bones are still soft as is the rest of the body, so things like excessive stretching can be dangerous and lead to early arthritis (this has been a problem with young gymnasts), striking and kicking pads can be dangerous to hands and joints and competition against other children can be dangerous beyond belief.
To teach any child to Kick and punch someone is morally indefensible when a child is young they do not understand wrong from right, who can say this 4 year old doesn’t start school and in an argument with another child knocks them out and may kills them with a kick and do not say that can not happen! those of us who taught in schools knew the playground can be a dangerous place at the best of time. In law the Criminal Age of Responsibility is 10 so should anyone be teaching children to Kick and Punch? To make some excuse that it is self defence is not realistic, the only way to subdue your attacker by kicking and punching is to inflict a mass of pain and damage to there body that is why grappling is a far better introduction for children who want to learn Combat and how can a child or a baby defend themselves against an adult. I have copied a letter sent to me by the late Great Geof Gleeson some 25 years ago, please read it and tell me the Martial Arts have advanced?
A Lot of Karate, Tae Kwon Do styles etc are far more sensible concentrating on Kata where the student is taught the discipline of self control and perfection of techniques rather then learning how knock someone’s teeth out. The most experienced Striking art in the world is boxing and the Amateur Boxing Association has a minimum age of 11 before they can box so why is this baby being taught Tae Kwon Do?
So you think what we need is Government intervention and we a Governing Body for Martial Arts which will be a legal requirement for all those that teach. NO as these have been tried in the past and just become Dictatorships, the Martial arts needs room to move, invent and adjust, because martial arts continual change just imagine if there had been a Government body 30 years ago with absolute Power there would be no Kickboxing, no Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, no Vale Tudo, no Cage Fighting etc. New Martial Arts will come to the fore that is the nature of the beast what we need is more information. Do not just attack an a rival because they have moved on to your patch and make it personal, tell your local paper, Council, MP, Church Hall, Schools etc and ask does this new club have:
1) Pi, PA, and PL Insurance
2) Who taught them and where can they be checked out
3) How long have they been practising
4) Have they a Coaching Award
5) Have they got a CRB check
6) Have they got the right equipment
Other things to watch out for, grading very young kids to Black belt, is the instructor there all the time or does he get a student to teach, are they trying the hard sell like knocking at doors and wanting people to sign up before they have even seen a class in action, after a few months do they appoint a Student o instructor level and the present instructor moves on.
If you had an established club for years people can check on you my Young Judo Club was started in 1957, new people should be given the chance but there is a lot of Con Men out there all claiming to Martial Arts Masters so beware
Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo 6th Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster Sambo Founder CombatSombo System
World Masters Judo Champion, World Silver medallist Jiu Jitsu and Sambo
Monday, May 23, 2011
Yuko 2pts
These days my only interest in Judo is with the IBF and my own club YJC Sittingbourne, I leave the coaching to my son John, Colin Carrott, Keith Costa and Paul Soulsby who are doing a fine job, I still serve on the IBF international Body. I enjoy IBF Judo because the IBF is like a family and when we have a Judo competition it is an enjoyable event where on the whole with people you want to be with. My last venture out was a year ago where I watched some IJF/BJA judo and I totally disliked it, the IJF have totally changed the rules and it is no longer the Martial Art I started some 55 years ago and has become just another Jacket Grappling Sport, the only thing I did like was the new mat design.
So why am I so critical?
1) They change the rules yet half the referees do not apply them and the other half do, so on one mat you have two different competitions. The main one is leg pick ups what is and what is not?
2) What has happen to Ippon? It used to be flat on your back with power and impetus not any more roll them over on there back and you have won
3) Never been a keen lover of Ne Waza yet now it seems nearly non existent
These in my eyes are faults but the newer generation may think they are positive moves yet Judo is on the decline some experts say in 5 years there will be more people will be doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu then Judo and that is like Judo with no throwing.
The above is down to the IJF but the BJA must take some of the blame for the decline in member take Clubmark our Judo section tried for 3 years to go through this bureaucratic nightmare, we had 4 changes of BJA personnel during this time, was expected to go to Sheffield for 4 hour courses (we are in Kent) I am even told there is a Judo Club in Kent which is a Centre of Excellence that does not have a Clubmark. Yet our Grappling Academy has applied to Kent County council for club mark and we are on the verge of completion and this has taken about 10 months.
The BJA spend money like it is going out of fashion, take the Schools programme where coaches go in to schools for 6 weeks, the idea being that it will promote Judo in fact it does the opposite as the visiting coach can only recommend Club Mark Judo clubs, so you can be a BJA Club and get no benefit plus those who move from school to club is practically zero. Yet it gives a false impression on Judo participation as these youngsters get an award from the BJA at a very low price which boosts their membership, they maybe members but they are not regular participants.
Junior Grading scheme is expensive, every time a child has a grading the BJA receive £7 but a child can only move up one tab at a time and can grade once a month, so I believe if they start as a beginner and reach maximum grade they will have taken 15 grades (I am assuming there 3 grades between belts) £105 plus they may have to pay the examiner if he is out of pocket. For the sake of harmony we joined the BJA and any club member who wanted a BJA license the club would pay for it and their grading NO MORE we can not afford it. The IBF is far more friendly and helpful to its members all Club Examiners keep all the grading fees and the money for gradings, the IBF get a fee when they go for Dan Grade plus registered Club gets a good discount for every member that joins. This money helps club buy new mats, take kids to competitions, and pay for courses. The IBF get no government funding yet financial our member clubs are a lot better and in these days of financial constraints this could be the difference in club remaining open or closed.
A well known BJA Judo Coach was excused of “inappropriate behaviour with a minor” which allegedly happened several decades ago, the BJA followed the correct procedure and suspended the Coach while enquires were made (Not very British Guilty till proven Innocent) eventually the matter was handed to the Police and 18 months later he was completely exonerated. So you may think this was the end of the matter NO the BJA have continued the persecution of this Coach he is stilled banned from his Club even though he has committed no criminal act. I am told there is an ulterior motive for his suspension this may be the case but the real point is that I am told it has cost the coach thousands of pounds and may cost the BJA tens of thousands of pounds is this good use of members’ money? To put things in perspective an IBF Coach was accused of inappropriate behaviour but was cleared by the Independent Safeguarding Authority, this took months not years and the Coach is now free to continue coaching.
Let move on to some practical issues, I started Judo when I was 5 years old, 56 years ago in those days Judo still had the excitement of being something new and something children did not do it was only my parents who insisted on creating a Junior section that we had children’s Judo in this part of the world. Children could only get three grades 1st Mon, 2nd Mon and 3rd Mon white belt with red tabs. Competitions outside London were a rarity and children’s competition non existent I believe my first tournament was in 1961 at the age of 11 now why am I going down memory lane well it what Judo was. First of all it was considered something mystic which made it different from all other sports and there were no other martial about the time. Our first karate section started in 1962, two of our Judoka read a book about karate and decided to start teaching it, those were the days no knowledge, no qualifications, no proper safety arrangements could not happened today! You must be joking I would suggest 80% of so called MMA club have no insurance cover or proper mats let alone coaching qualification. I digress in those days Judo was more of a Martial Art then a sport but when there was competition they were quite simple:
1) Most mats were about 18ft x 18ft
2) To win you threw your opponent on his back and you got Ippon
3) You could also win by scoring two ½ points Waza-ari which gave you an Ippon
4) Hold Down Oseakomi Ippon 30 seconds A Waza-ari 25 seconds
5) Submission by Strangle, Choke or arm lock
Simple to understand, easy to watch, no penalties as fouling your opponent was considered not the act of a Gentleman.
Obviously as Judo became an Olympic Sport, competition became more important and by definition more competitive and the idea of a gentleman’s conduct was soon abandoned for the need to win. With competitors become more astute to the rules and a lot fitter, the contests were become closer which would lead to a lot of Judges Decision, which proved very unpopular. This led to lower scores being introduced the Koka and Yuko this in itself was not a bad thing what was bad was that Koka and Yuko were not accumulative i.e. no matter how many koka’s you get they never add up. This had the opposite effect by encouraging competitors to go for lower scores which did not need the commitment required for an Ippon plus with more competitors using the rules to their advantage more penalties had to be given. Result contest being won on very low scores and on penalties producing some rather stagnant Judo, of course when you reach Olympic Standard this may not be the case but how many reach Olympic standard and Judo is a participation sport not a spectator sport. The IJF could have reversed this situation when they lost the Koka they should have changed Yuko to 2 points, Waza-ari 5pts and Ippon 10 points with the first to reach 10 points being the winner, with regard to Oseakomi how many kids have spent all day at a competition only to be pushed to the ground held down for 25 seconds end of match.
To enjoy a sport you have to have understanding within 5 minutes, youngsters and there parents do not want be baffled by oriental name and signs. Before anyone says what he is trying is Sambo well it is not, although I do agree that Sambo rules make far more sense then Judo. What judo can do is stick to their upright posture avoid all the leg shoots but alter the rules as I suggested it would be still Judo
Martin Clarke Sittingbourne
So why am I so critical?
1) They change the rules yet half the referees do not apply them and the other half do, so on one mat you have two different competitions. The main one is leg pick ups what is and what is not?
2) What has happen to Ippon? It used to be flat on your back with power and impetus not any more roll them over on there back and you have won
3) Never been a keen lover of Ne Waza yet now it seems nearly non existent
These in my eyes are faults but the newer generation may think they are positive moves yet Judo is on the decline some experts say in 5 years there will be more people will be doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu then Judo and that is like Judo with no throwing.
The above is down to the IJF but the BJA must take some of the blame for the decline in member take Clubmark our Judo section tried for 3 years to go through this bureaucratic nightmare, we had 4 changes of BJA personnel during this time, was expected to go to Sheffield for 4 hour courses (we are in Kent) I am even told there is a Judo Club in Kent which is a Centre of Excellence that does not have a Clubmark. Yet our Grappling Academy has applied to Kent County council for club mark and we are on the verge of completion and this has taken about 10 months.
The BJA spend money like it is going out of fashion, take the Schools programme where coaches go in to schools for 6 weeks, the idea being that it will promote Judo in fact it does the opposite as the visiting coach can only recommend Club Mark Judo clubs, so you can be a BJA Club and get no benefit plus those who move from school to club is practically zero. Yet it gives a false impression on Judo participation as these youngsters get an award from the BJA at a very low price which boosts their membership, they maybe members but they are not regular participants.
Junior Grading scheme is expensive, every time a child has a grading the BJA receive £7 but a child can only move up one tab at a time and can grade once a month, so I believe if they start as a beginner and reach maximum grade they will have taken 15 grades (I am assuming there 3 grades between belts) £105 plus they may have to pay the examiner if he is out of pocket. For the sake of harmony we joined the BJA and any club member who wanted a BJA license the club would pay for it and their grading NO MORE we can not afford it. The IBF is far more friendly and helpful to its members all Club Examiners keep all the grading fees and the money for gradings, the IBF get a fee when they go for Dan Grade plus registered Club gets a good discount for every member that joins. This money helps club buy new mats, take kids to competitions, and pay for courses. The IBF get no government funding yet financial our member clubs are a lot better and in these days of financial constraints this could be the difference in club remaining open or closed.
A well known BJA Judo Coach was excused of “inappropriate behaviour with a minor” which allegedly happened several decades ago, the BJA followed the correct procedure and suspended the Coach while enquires were made (Not very British Guilty till proven Innocent) eventually the matter was handed to the Police and 18 months later he was completely exonerated. So you may think this was the end of the matter NO the BJA have continued the persecution of this Coach he is stilled banned from his Club even though he has committed no criminal act. I am told there is an ulterior motive for his suspension this may be the case but the real point is that I am told it has cost the coach thousands of pounds and may cost the BJA tens of thousands of pounds is this good use of members’ money? To put things in perspective an IBF Coach was accused of inappropriate behaviour but was cleared by the Independent Safeguarding Authority, this took months not years and the Coach is now free to continue coaching.
Let move on to some practical issues, I started Judo when I was 5 years old, 56 years ago in those days Judo still had the excitement of being something new and something children did not do it was only my parents who insisted on creating a Junior section that we had children’s Judo in this part of the world. Children could only get three grades 1st Mon, 2nd Mon and 3rd Mon white belt with red tabs. Competitions outside London were a rarity and children’s competition non existent I believe my first tournament was in 1961 at the age of 11 now why am I going down memory lane well it what Judo was. First of all it was considered something mystic which made it different from all other sports and there were no other martial about the time. Our first karate section started in 1962, two of our Judoka read a book about karate and decided to start teaching it, those were the days no knowledge, no qualifications, no proper safety arrangements could not happened today! You must be joking I would suggest 80% of so called MMA club have no insurance cover or proper mats let alone coaching qualification. I digress in those days Judo was more of a Martial Art then a sport but when there was competition they were quite simple:
1) Most mats were about 18ft x 18ft
2) To win you threw your opponent on his back and you got Ippon
3) You could also win by scoring two ½ points Waza-ari which gave you an Ippon
4) Hold Down Oseakomi Ippon 30 seconds A Waza-ari 25 seconds
5) Submission by Strangle, Choke or arm lock
Simple to understand, easy to watch, no penalties as fouling your opponent was considered not the act of a Gentleman.
Obviously as Judo became an Olympic Sport, competition became more important and by definition more competitive and the idea of a gentleman’s conduct was soon abandoned for the need to win. With competitors become more astute to the rules and a lot fitter, the contests were become closer which would lead to a lot of Judges Decision, which proved very unpopular. This led to lower scores being introduced the Koka and Yuko this in itself was not a bad thing what was bad was that Koka and Yuko were not accumulative i.e. no matter how many koka’s you get they never add up. This had the opposite effect by encouraging competitors to go for lower scores which did not need the commitment required for an Ippon plus with more competitors using the rules to their advantage more penalties had to be given. Result contest being won on very low scores and on penalties producing some rather stagnant Judo, of course when you reach Olympic Standard this may not be the case but how many reach Olympic standard and Judo is a participation sport not a spectator sport. The IJF could have reversed this situation when they lost the Koka they should have changed Yuko to 2 points, Waza-ari 5pts and Ippon 10 points with the first to reach 10 points being the winner, with regard to Oseakomi how many kids have spent all day at a competition only to be pushed to the ground held down for 25 seconds end of match.
To enjoy a sport you have to have understanding within 5 minutes, youngsters and there parents do not want be baffled by oriental name and signs. Before anyone says what he is trying is Sambo well it is not, although I do agree that Sambo rules make far more sense then Judo. What judo can do is stick to their upright posture avoid all the leg shoots but alter the rules as I suggested it would be still Judo
Martin Clarke Sittingbourne
Thursday, May 12, 2011
PankrationMMA Grappling
Things seem to be picking up at the Swale Martial Arts Club/Warriors Grappling Academy Sittingbourne, our Junior Judo Club has seen a slight increase in memberships but it is our senior section that has taken a big boost. John Clarke’s Jacket Grappling night on a Tuesday which features Judo, Kurash, Sambo and belt Wrestling is proving popular. Pankration the ancient Greek art of combat continues to be popular with the original instructor Saul White being of with a broken foot Martin Clarke assisted by George Loscombe and Michael Hutchinson have taken over. This type of Combat requires you to wear a jacket and involves a lot of throwing what is more popular is MMA Grappling which involves nearly all ground fighting with little throwing. So on July 6TH we intend running an extra class for MMA Grappling this will be coached by John Clarke, who has been an International Judo, Kurash, Sambo grappler, he also won a British Silver in Free Style Wrestling. This will start at 7pm till 8.15pm followed by Pankration/SportCombatSombo till 10pm, those who wish to can take part in both for the same price “BUY ONE GET ONE FREE”. Sambo on a Thursday coached by Martin Clarke still only get a few dedicated players but this to be expected as it is an advanced class.
Another interesting development is on a Saturday Morning Paul Sargent has be running the Kokusai Karate Club for over 20 years, teaching a small group of enthusiastic Junior karateKa Shotokan Karate. Paul who is a 3rd Dan Karate also holds Black belts in several other Martial Arts, that is why he will be adding Shiai Jutsu to his curriculum on a Saturday morning. Shiai Jutsu is a mixture of Karate and Judo below is a brief summary:
Shiai Jutsu is more suitable for Juniors then MMA as only allows semi contact kicks and punches, it allows limited amount of Gi holding (this stops it becoming a Judo Match)
Points are given as follows:
3pts controlled semi contact kick to head
3pts for a high throw
1 pt for Kick to Body, Punch to head or body
Hold on Floor 5 sec 1pt 10 secs 2pts 15 secs 3pts (Max 3pts on ground)
Submission from Strangle, Armlock or Leglock (Adults and 12 years and above)
3 minutes fights highest score wins or win by submission
Competitors wear a Judogi’s and MMA gloves
The club has several websites for more in depth insight on who we are and what we do:
www.sittingbournekarate.co.uk
www.youngjudoclub.co.uk
www.warroirsgrapplingacademy.co.uk
Another interesting development is on a Saturday Morning Paul Sargent has be running the Kokusai Karate Club for over 20 years, teaching a small group of enthusiastic Junior karateKa Shotokan Karate. Paul who is a 3rd Dan Karate also holds Black belts in several other Martial Arts, that is why he will be adding Shiai Jutsu to his curriculum on a Saturday morning. Shiai Jutsu is a mixture of Karate and Judo below is a brief summary:
Shiai Jutsu is more suitable for Juniors then MMA as only allows semi contact kicks and punches, it allows limited amount of Gi holding (this stops it becoming a Judo Match)
Points are given as follows:
3pts controlled semi contact kick to head
3pts for a high throw
1 pt for Kick to Body, Punch to head or body
Hold on Floor 5 sec 1pt 10 secs 2pts 15 secs 3pts (Max 3pts on ground)
Submission from Strangle, Armlock or Leglock (Adults and 12 years and above)
3 minutes fights highest score wins or win by submission
Competitors wear a Judogi’s and MMA gloves
The club has several websites for more in depth insight on who we are and what we do:
www.sittingbournekarate.co.uk
www.youngjudoclub.co.uk
www.warroirsgrapplingacademy.co.uk
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Dave Boulding 40 years at YJC
Dear Editor
A lot of people give their time up to help fellow sportsman and women, especially children but I wonder if anyone has put in the years that Dave Boulding has given to the Young Judo Club?
40 years, he joined the Club in 1971 and came to us as a Green Belt; he started his Judo at the famous London Judo Society. On moving to Sittingbourne with his wife Lynn Dave decided to keep up his Judo by joining the club with in a few years he reach Black belt Status and become a club Instructor. In those 40 years he reached the dizzy heights of 6th Dan (Red/White Belt), became a Senior Coach with the British Judo Council, first person to become a Level 3 Coach with the International Budo Federation, managed the IBF GB British Judo Junior Team on many occasions, qualified as an IBF Class A referee and still serves on the IBF England Judo Technical Commission all this time he never gave up teaching children at the club.
He did not restrict him self to Judo, he became a Black belt in Jiu Jitsu, Sambo and CombatSombo, he won a World Masters Sambo Silver and was a founder member of the British Sombo/Sambo Federation which is 25 years old this year.
I have only scratched the surface of this remarkable man, hopefully you will contact him to get some more historical background, and the YJC is planning a presentation meal to celebrate his 40 years.
You can contact him on 01795 471218 or 07816642478. I am sure the thousands of youngsters he taught would like to know he is still at the helm
Martin Clarke 8th Dan
YJC President
A lot of people give their time up to help fellow sportsman and women, especially children but I wonder if anyone has put in the years that Dave Boulding has given to the Young Judo Club?
40 years, he joined the Club in 1971 and came to us as a Green Belt; he started his Judo at the famous London Judo Society. On moving to Sittingbourne with his wife Lynn Dave decided to keep up his Judo by joining the club with in a few years he reach Black belt Status and become a club Instructor. In those 40 years he reached the dizzy heights of 6th Dan (Red/White Belt), became a Senior Coach with the British Judo Council, first person to become a Level 3 Coach with the International Budo Federation, managed the IBF GB British Judo Junior Team on many occasions, qualified as an IBF Class A referee and still serves on the IBF England Judo Technical Commission all this time he never gave up teaching children at the club.
He did not restrict him self to Judo, he became a Black belt in Jiu Jitsu, Sambo and CombatSombo, he won a World Masters Sambo Silver and was a founder member of the British Sombo/Sambo Federation which is 25 years old this year.
I have only scratched the surface of this remarkable man, hopefully you will contact him to get some more historical background, and the YJC is planning a presentation meal to celebrate his 40 years.
You can contact him on 01795 471218 or 07816642478. I am sure the thousands of youngsters he taught would like to know he is still at the helm
Martin Clarke 8th Dan
YJC President
Thursday, April 21, 2011
FILA MMA called FILA GRAPPLING
Amateur MMA FILA governs and promotes amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) under the name combat grappling. This discipline incorporates techniques from most existing Martial Arts systems, creating a unique fighting environment that alternatively takes the fight from standing to ground positions. Matches are either won by grappling holds such as joint locks and chokes, or by striking and kicking techniques.
Despite its tremendous popularity, MMA is facing various legitimacy issues due to the lack of sanctioning by the national sports authorities and the lack of universal rules that would protect the athletes' physical and psychological integrity. FILA considers that the implementation of an amateur variant that could guarantee a safe training environment and a competition systems complying with the Olympic standards has become an urgent necessity for all athletes wishing to engage in a professional career. Through the mandatory use of protection gear and limited impact rules (especially regarding ground and pound), FILA intends to offer a safe and educational sport that can satisfy athletes with both recreational or professional goals.
With its combination of stand up and ground techniques, amateur MMA represents a great form of self-defense, which is particularly recommended for the training of police, security, and military forces. Amateur MMA is practiced with board shorts and an optional rashguard along with approved protection gear that includes head gear, shin protectors, and gloves that allow grabbing and holding the opponent for a comfortable application of grappling techniques.
Amateur MMA counts 7 weight categories for men and 5 weight categories for women. No absolute category is considered in order to avoid potentially harmful situations.
Men: 60-65-70-75-80-90-110kg
Women: 50-55-60-65-75kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licence and insurance: The FILA licence is mandatory for all international amateur MMA competitions with more than two participating countries. Every international competition shall be anounced to FILA and added to its official calendar. The FILA insurance will only apply to competitions which appear in its calendar. The FILA licence allows its holder to take part in all wrestling styles ruled by FILA.
Despite its tremendous popularity, MMA is facing various legitimacy issues due to the lack of sanctioning by the national sports authorities and the lack of universal rules that would protect the athletes' physical and psychological integrity. FILA considers that the implementation of an amateur variant that could guarantee a safe training environment and a competition systems complying with the Olympic standards has become an urgent necessity for all athletes wishing to engage in a professional career. Through the mandatory use of protection gear and limited impact rules (especially regarding ground and pound), FILA intends to offer a safe and educational sport that can satisfy athletes with both recreational or professional goals.
With its combination of stand up and ground techniques, amateur MMA represents a great form of self-defense, which is particularly recommended for the training of police, security, and military forces. Amateur MMA is practiced with board shorts and an optional rashguard along with approved protection gear that includes head gear, shin protectors, and gloves that allow grabbing and holding the opponent for a comfortable application of grappling techniques.
Amateur MMA counts 7 weight categories for men and 5 weight categories for women. No absolute category is considered in order to avoid potentially harmful situations.
Men: 60-65-70-75-80-90-110kg
Women: 50-55-60-65-75kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licence and insurance: The FILA licence is mandatory for all international amateur MMA competitions with more than two participating countries. Every international competition shall be anounced to FILA and added to its official calendar. The FILA insurance will only apply to competitions which appear in its calendar. The FILA licence allows its holder to take part in all wrestling styles ruled by FILA.
St Petersburg to host 2013 World Combat Games
Sambo is one of the major events in this Combat Games the equivalent to the Olympic Games and the British Sambo Federation will be sending a team. Our selection will start as of now we will be seeing the progress of our athletes over the coming 3 years what competitions they enter, what seminars they attend etc. Those who will represent GB will be chosen by a selection committee not by a one of trials So if you are interested in competing in this prestigious event let us know now. NO JOHNY COME LATELY FOR BRITISH SAMBO
St. Petersburg to host the 2013 SportAccord World Combat Games 08/04/2011 London, 8 April 2011 – St. Petersburg has been announced as the host city of the 2013 SportAccord World Combat Games. SportAccord President Hein Verbruggen and Mikhail Ossievski, First Deputy Governor of St. Petersburg, exchanged the Host City contract during today’s SportAccord General Assembly.
2013 will see the second edition of the SportAccord World Combat Games. Savate and Fencing will be new on the programme. ‘We are happy that two more sports want to join the World Combat Games’, says Hein Verbruggen, President of SportAccord. ‘This shows that our concept is appreciated by our members and that they want to take this additional opportunity to promote their sports.’
Mikhail Ossievski adds: “Martial arts have always been popular, among the numerous sports practiced in St. Petersburg. More than 35 000 children and youngsters go to sports schools and sports clubs where they do wrestling, boxing, fencing, karate, wushu, taekwondo and other kinds of martial arts. There are hundreds of sports clubs in the city and we think that the World Combat Games will further propagate healthy lifestyle among the population and promote the philosophy of good will inherent in the sports.”
St. Petersburg to host the 2013 SportAccord World Combat Games 08/04/2011 London, 8 April 2011 – St. Petersburg has been announced as the host city of the 2013 SportAccord World Combat Games. SportAccord President Hein Verbruggen and Mikhail Ossievski, First Deputy Governor of St. Petersburg, exchanged the Host City contract during today’s SportAccord General Assembly.
2013 will see the second edition of the SportAccord World Combat Games. Savate and Fencing will be new on the programme. ‘We are happy that two more sports want to join the World Combat Games’, says Hein Verbruggen, President of SportAccord. ‘This shows that our concept is appreciated by our members and that they want to take this additional opportunity to promote their sports.’
Mikhail Ossievski adds: “Martial arts have always been popular, among the numerous sports practiced in St. Petersburg. More than 35 000 children and youngsters go to sports schools and sports clubs where they do wrestling, boxing, fencing, karate, wushu, taekwondo and other kinds of martial arts. There are hundreds of sports clubs in the city and we think that the World Combat Games will further propagate healthy lifestyle among the population and promote the philosophy of good will inherent in the sports.”
EU's £10bn slap in the face for Britain with 4.9% budget rise | Mail Online
NOW TELL ME WHY WE HAVE TO STAY IN THE EU
EU's £10bn slap in the face for Britain with 4.9% budget rise Mail Online
EU's £10bn slap in the face for Britain with 4.9% budget rise Mail Online
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Judo in the words of Isao Okano-Sensei
This was sent me, its contents I totally agree with
Voice of Japan by Gotaro Ogawa
Judo in the words of Isao Okano-Sensei
In late January, I asked Mr. Isao Okano for his thoughts on today’s judo. It hardly needs saying that Okano-Sensei was Gold Medalist in the middle-weight category at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, as well as two-time winner of the All-Japan Judo Championships (still holding the record for lightest-weight champion). Having also won the 1965 World Judo Championships (middle-weight category), he is one of the very few in Japan to hold the triple crown of Olympic, All-Japan and World titles. He presently holds no official post in Japanese judo circles, but his skills and his unwavering stance toward upholding the fundamentals of judo command respect both at home and abroad.
Though he has just turned 67, Mr. Okano still gets into his judogi and takes his place on the tatami mat in an on-going career that, including his position at Ryutsu Keizai University, involves judo instruction both in Japan and overseas. He carries a mettle that says, “I can’t just stand by and watch judo turning into a sham.” Each of his statements below bears important points relating to the essence of judo.
( February, 2011 Edited by Gotaro Ogawa)
1. “Looseness” in the fit of judogi
For some time, I have felt there is something wrong with today’s judogi.
It is because when you get into them, you don’t get a feeling of “looseness” or “roominess.” To give one example, when I’m giving lessons on Seoinage, I can’t even maneuver my wrist grabbing my opponent’s collar because there isn’t enough room, and that shouldn’t be. If things go on this way, we’ll no longer be able to use this most basic of judo techniques, and it will be impossible to practice real judo. The difference between combative sports like sambo, sumo and Iran’s wrestling as compared with judo comes in what you wear. The outfits make a big difference in what kind of techniques you can use.
Judogi had their origins in the Japanese kimono, and because kimono are loose-fitting, this made it possible to execute a wide range of techniques, and that led to judo’s distinctive “Sho yoku dai wo seisu (small can conquer large)” character. The outfit formerly used in jujitsu was relatively close fitting, but modern-day judo brought in judogi with a fuller, looser fit.
When judogi don’t have the necessary looseness, it kills the unique nature of judo, and judo begins looking like other combative sports, one result being that you lose the interest and attraction of open-weight matches. Speaking of matches, one thing we need is to have pre-match checks, inserting the hand to see whether the athletes’ judogi are loose enough.
2. Ban on use of the hand in direct attacks below the obi
I myself haven’t gone to see many international tournaments so don’t have an accurate grasp of how the new rules banning hand attacks below the obi are actually being applied. But when I heard of these new rules, I felt concerned that they would make it difficult to use “Go no sen (to make a delayed offensive move taking advantage of the opponent’s attack)” and would reduce the interest of open-weight matches.
There are two main approaches to taking “Go no sen.” One is to use your opponent’s technique and turn it on himself. The other is to absorb it and turn to applying one of the techniques you yourself are good at. I got the impression that under the new rules, we’d no longer be able to use techniques like the Sutemi Kouchigari, Kataguruma, or Ouchigari with a hold on the leg, and that it would be hard to execute Sukuinage or techniques where you hold your opponent around the waist and throw. In that case, it would put an end to “small can conquer large” open-weight category matches. I thought that at the very least, there must be a way to designate just a bare minimum of techniques to be banned.
Only, later on, when I went to the United States and watched practice and matches there, I noticed that under the new rules, a good number of judoka were not aiming for the legs but instead working harder to master fundamental judo techniques like the Uchimata, Taiotoshi and Seoinage. It was good to see judo becoming more authentic, but in another way, I felt there were fewer techniques showing originality and that offensive and defensive interactions had become simple and less interesting.
I want to keep a close watch on how these new rules develop.
3. Newaza
Newaza are essential to judo. Gaining skill in Newaza depends on how you use your legs and requires hard training in using all four limbs, both arms and both legs. Many of today’s judo athletes don’t know of these fundamentals.
When you watch Newaza in matches these days, you find a tendency to lie face down on the mat waiting for the referee to help you out with a “Mate” call. With tactics like this, Newaza are as good as dead. Turning your back on your opponent means getting attacked from behind, and that kind of tactic has no place in the martial arts. You have to lie face up and spar. Shouldn’t they be considering laying penalties on athletes so passive as to lie face down waiting for help from the referee? That would be one way to get Newaza back to the position it deserves.
There are also problems with the referees. Referees don’t know enough about the process of Newaza, so they have a strong tendency to make the two opponents return prematurely to their feet. If they had a good knowledge of the unfolding process involved in attacking and defending in Newaza, they would know whether it’s coming to a standstill or not. There are all too many referees who don’t know much about it, or who have only shallow experience. There’s a need to stop giving refereeing positions to people like that. While on referees, to make another point, it’s really regrettable how many times in international matches you find techniques unqualified as Ippon being declared, nevertheless, as Ippon. There is a clear need for the training and drilling of referees.
4. Riner’s manners
Last September in Tokyo at the open-weight category finals of the World Judo Championships, when France’s Teddy Riner lost by decision, it was reported that he was dissatisfied with the referees’ decision and left the mat without giving the “rei” bow. I wasn’t there to see it in person, but if the media reports are correct, it is a serious problem. Judo begins and ends with “rei.” You might have lost or disagreed with the decision, but leaving without “rei” is the same as starting a brawl.
Down through the years, judo in France has been taught as judo should be, so it is my expectation that this incident has not been overlooked. It would be strange if those in French judo circles did not caution Riner or serve him with a penalty, and could lower France’s reputation. Japan herself should have given a warning on this matter. Many young people and children learning judo here in Japan were watching through television and other broadcasts. “Judo Renaissance” has been emphasizing manners and respect. Japan should have lodged a protest. If Japan is weak at voicing her opinions on an international level, then she should join with France and speak out on this subject.
Voice of Japan by Gotaro Ogawa
Judo in the words of Isao Okano-Sensei
In late January, I asked Mr. Isao Okano for his thoughts on today’s judo. It hardly needs saying that Okano-Sensei was Gold Medalist in the middle-weight category at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, as well as two-time winner of the All-Japan Judo Championships (still holding the record for lightest-weight champion). Having also won the 1965 World Judo Championships (middle-weight category), he is one of the very few in Japan to hold the triple crown of Olympic, All-Japan and World titles. He presently holds no official post in Japanese judo circles, but his skills and his unwavering stance toward upholding the fundamentals of judo command respect both at home and abroad.
Though he has just turned 67, Mr. Okano still gets into his judogi and takes his place on the tatami mat in an on-going career that, including his position at Ryutsu Keizai University, involves judo instruction both in Japan and overseas. He carries a mettle that says, “I can’t just stand by and watch judo turning into a sham.” Each of his statements below bears important points relating to the essence of judo.
( February, 2011 Edited by Gotaro Ogawa)
1. “Looseness” in the fit of judogi
For some time, I have felt there is something wrong with today’s judogi.
It is because when you get into them, you don’t get a feeling of “looseness” or “roominess.” To give one example, when I’m giving lessons on Seoinage, I can’t even maneuver my wrist grabbing my opponent’s collar because there isn’t enough room, and that shouldn’t be. If things go on this way, we’ll no longer be able to use this most basic of judo techniques, and it will be impossible to practice real judo. The difference between combative sports like sambo, sumo and Iran’s wrestling as compared with judo comes in what you wear. The outfits make a big difference in what kind of techniques you can use.
Judogi had their origins in the Japanese kimono, and because kimono are loose-fitting, this made it possible to execute a wide range of techniques, and that led to judo’s distinctive “Sho yoku dai wo seisu (small can conquer large)” character. The outfit formerly used in jujitsu was relatively close fitting, but modern-day judo brought in judogi with a fuller, looser fit.
When judogi don’t have the necessary looseness, it kills the unique nature of judo, and judo begins looking like other combative sports, one result being that you lose the interest and attraction of open-weight matches. Speaking of matches, one thing we need is to have pre-match checks, inserting the hand to see whether the athletes’ judogi are loose enough.
2. Ban on use of the hand in direct attacks below the obi
I myself haven’t gone to see many international tournaments so don’t have an accurate grasp of how the new rules banning hand attacks below the obi are actually being applied. But when I heard of these new rules, I felt concerned that they would make it difficult to use “Go no sen (to make a delayed offensive move taking advantage of the opponent’s attack)” and would reduce the interest of open-weight matches.
There are two main approaches to taking “Go no sen.” One is to use your opponent’s technique and turn it on himself. The other is to absorb it and turn to applying one of the techniques you yourself are good at. I got the impression that under the new rules, we’d no longer be able to use techniques like the Sutemi Kouchigari, Kataguruma, or Ouchigari with a hold on the leg, and that it would be hard to execute Sukuinage or techniques where you hold your opponent around the waist and throw. In that case, it would put an end to “small can conquer large” open-weight category matches. I thought that at the very least, there must be a way to designate just a bare minimum of techniques to be banned.
Only, later on, when I went to the United States and watched practice and matches there, I noticed that under the new rules, a good number of judoka were not aiming for the legs but instead working harder to master fundamental judo techniques like the Uchimata, Taiotoshi and Seoinage. It was good to see judo becoming more authentic, but in another way, I felt there were fewer techniques showing originality and that offensive and defensive interactions had become simple and less interesting.
I want to keep a close watch on how these new rules develop.
3. Newaza
Newaza are essential to judo. Gaining skill in Newaza depends on how you use your legs and requires hard training in using all four limbs, both arms and both legs. Many of today’s judo athletes don’t know of these fundamentals.
When you watch Newaza in matches these days, you find a tendency to lie face down on the mat waiting for the referee to help you out with a “Mate” call. With tactics like this, Newaza are as good as dead. Turning your back on your opponent means getting attacked from behind, and that kind of tactic has no place in the martial arts. You have to lie face up and spar. Shouldn’t they be considering laying penalties on athletes so passive as to lie face down waiting for help from the referee? That would be one way to get Newaza back to the position it deserves.
There are also problems with the referees. Referees don’t know enough about the process of Newaza, so they have a strong tendency to make the two opponents return prematurely to their feet. If they had a good knowledge of the unfolding process involved in attacking and defending in Newaza, they would know whether it’s coming to a standstill or not. There are all too many referees who don’t know much about it, or who have only shallow experience. There’s a need to stop giving refereeing positions to people like that. While on referees, to make another point, it’s really regrettable how many times in international matches you find techniques unqualified as Ippon being declared, nevertheless, as Ippon. There is a clear need for the training and drilling of referees.
4. Riner’s manners
Last September in Tokyo at the open-weight category finals of the World Judo Championships, when France’s Teddy Riner lost by decision, it was reported that he was dissatisfied with the referees’ decision and left the mat without giving the “rei” bow. I wasn’t there to see it in person, but if the media reports are correct, it is a serious problem. Judo begins and ends with “rei.” You might have lost or disagreed with the decision, but leaving without “rei” is the same as starting a brawl.
Down through the years, judo in France has been taught as judo should be, so it is my expectation that this incident has not been overlooked. It would be strange if those in French judo circles did not caution Riner or serve him with a penalty, and could lower France’s reputation. Japan herself should have given a warning on this matter. Many young people and children learning judo here in Japan were watching through television and other broadcasts. “Judo Renaissance” has been emphasizing manners and respect. Japan should have lodged a protest. If Japan is weak at voicing her opinions on an international level, then she should join with France and speak out on this subject.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thanks M.A.I.
Some years ago there was no end of Martial Arts Magazines but now there is only two Martial Arts Illustrated and Combat (plus its other names) and an Internet mag MartialArtsNews which has been very good to us in publishing some of our reports, the others left a lot to be desired so it came as a pleasurable surprise to see a couple of articles published in M.A.I. thanks very much it is appreciated so lets respond by buying their mag and maybe we will get more published.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Over Inflated
A friend of mine from the USA sent some details of some new Sombo Introductory tapes by someone who calls himself a Master of Sport in Sambo, now I am not going to mention his name or his product for two reasons 1) I have not looked at his films in depth so can not make a real comment, what I do know sometimes these people who promote and inflate their own ability can make some very good basic beginner films in the Combat Disciplines, so it may bring in some extra people to Sambo and once they see quality they will move on 2) I am not about to promote anything this gentleman does.
The little I saw of the film an introductory clip did not impress. The most important thing about promoting a Combat Sport is to use correct equipment these guys wore no Sambo Boots wore in correct Shorts and on one occasion wore a white jacket, straight away I am thinking what a bunch of amateurs.
If you want to learn Sambo try and go to a proper Club or look on YouTube there is thousands of clips you can learn from but if you want waste your money go ahead
The little I saw of the film an introductory clip did not impress. The most important thing about promoting a Combat Sport is to use correct equipment these guys wore no Sambo Boots wore in correct Shorts and on one occasion wore a white jacket, straight away I am thinking what a bunch of amateurs.
If you want to learn Sambo try and go to a proper Club or look on YouTube there is thousands of clips you can learn from but if you want waste your money go ahead
Monday, April 11, 2011
Judo Ne Waza
British Judo Association
Kent Championships Dartford
Sunday April 10th
Just one member of the Young Judo Club participated in this even and that was Ben Franks who managed Silver and was selected for the Kent Squad. YJC Coaches who attended said that that the turnout was very poor, which seems a shame as 25 years ago Kent had the largest Judo membership in the country. They all thought the Junior Judo was of a high standard with lots of Ippon throws but the Adult section was of a very low standard as was the refereeing with some abiding by the new rules and some not.
The weekend prior to that Keith Costa of the Young Judo Club held a Ne Waza competition at the Swale Martial arts Club East Street Sittingbourne. Ne Waza means ground fighting so a competition that is only on the ground this went down a storm and everyone enjoyed it. Rolling around the ground instead of throwing has become very popular especially as Martial Arts Players seem not to be so robust as those of previous years and the throws which are more difficult to learn and apply need not be learnt. Therefore the throwing styles of Grappling such as Judo, Sambo, Pankration etc are no longer in vogue, only our own club which only does Grappling Arts which involve throws has a had a slump in numbers I am pleased to say has had a slight revitalisation with more Juniors and Adults attending classes. So much so we are thinking of starting a Grappling section for Juniors on a Saturday morning at Nobbys Gym Milton Regis.
Further information www.warriorsgrapplingacademy.co.uk ibfbcsa@gmail.com
Kent Championships Dartford
Sunday April 10th
Just one member of the Young Judo Club participated in this even and that was Ben Franks who managed Silver and was selected for the Kent Squad. YJC Coaches who attended said that that the turnout was very poor, which seems a shame as 25 years ago Kent had the largest Judo membership in the country. They all thought the Junior Judo was of a high standard with lots of Ippon throws but the Adult section was of a very low standard as was the refereeing with some abiding by the new rules and some not.
The weekend prior to that Keith Costa of the Young Judo Club held a Ne Waza competition at the Swale Martial arts Club East Street Sittingbourne. Ne Waza means ground fighting so a competition that is only on the ground this went down a storm and everyone enjoyed it. Rolling around the ground instead of throwing has become very popular especially as Martial Arts Players seem not to be so robust as those of previous years and the throws which are more difficult to learn and apply need not be learnt. Therefore the throwing styles of Grappling such as Judo, Sambo, Pankration etc are no longer in vogue, only our own club which only does Grappling Arts which involve throws has a had a slump in numbers I am pleased to say has had a slight revitalisation with more Juniors and Adults attending classes. So much so we are thinking of starting a Grappling section for Juniors on a Saturday morning at Nobbys Gym Milton Regis.
Further information www.warriorsgrapplingacademy.co.uk ibfbcsa@gmail.com
Friday, April 08, 2011
Message from the founder of FIAS and others
Dear Martin :
Many thanks for your information concerning the Sambo History in Great
Britain.
Also, I like send to you my congratulations for the 25 Anniversary of the
British Sambo Federation, and my recognition of your excellent work in the
Sambo promotion.
You are the founder of this National Federation and also a Grand Master of
Sambo in FIAS.
Dear Martin, congratulations.
I send to you my best regards and my friendship.
Fernando Compte
FIAS Founder
Honorary President
Dear Martin Clarke!
Thank you for SAMBO.
You are a GREAT man and a big SAMBO coach. You are the best SAMBO man
of the YEAR.
I'm very happy to be in touch with you. I will be in London in next
year on the 30th Olympic Games.
With best regards
Josef Roytman
Dear Martin :
Many thanks for your information concerning the Sambo History in Great Britain.
The 25 Anniversary of the British Sambo Federation – Congratulations!
You are the founder and Grand Master of the British SAMBO Federation.
Best regards,
Dr. Jack Kogan
Pan-American Sambo Federation
(PRESIDENT)
Tel: (732)765-9229
E-mail: FPASambo@Gmail.com
Many thanks for your information concerning the Sambo History in Great
Britain.
Also, I like send to you my congratulations for the 25 Anniversary of the
British Sambo Federation, and my recognition of your excellent work in the
Sambo promotion.
You are the founder of this National Federation and also a Grand Master of
Sambo in FIAS.
Dear Martin, congratulations.
I send to you my best regards and my friendship.
Fernando Compte
FIAS Founder
Honorary President
Dear Martin Clarke!
Thank you for SAMBO.
You are a GREAT man and a big SAMBO coach. You are the best SAMBO man
of the YEAR.
I'm very happy to be in touch with you. I will be in London in next
year on the 30th Olympic Games.
With best regards
Josef Roytman
Dear Martin :
Many thanks for your information concerning the Sambo History in Great Britain.
The 25 Anniversary of the British Sambo Federation – Congratulations!
You are the founder and Grand Master of the British SAMBO Federation.
Best regards,
Dr. Jack Kogan
Pan-American Sambo Federation
(PRESIDENT)
Tel: (732)765-9229
E-mail: FPASambo@Gmail.com
Monday, April 04, 2011
Judo Coach under trial
I have been reporting over the last 18 months how a well known judo coach has been accused of child abuse some 35 years ago and I have said if he was found guilty he should be punished, but the problem with an accusation of child abuse is that you are guilty till you prove your innocence.
This coach was reported to his Association and they acted by suspending him from all judo activities and his club, which sadly is the correct procedure; subsequently he was reported to the police.
The police investigation took over a year and after a vigorous police enquiry the coach was not charged as there was no wrong doing. So you would have thought that the coaches Association would have said sorry, we have to investigate these things, and you are welcome back to the judo world.
NO. The Organisation decided they would continue the enquiry, he is still on the banned list.They have even employed a Private Investigator who is hounding players who knew the coach, to make up some stories! I believe that others have been phoned up by an Association employee, and almost encouraged to make statements against him, despite their positive responses.
The cost of all this must be extremely high, many thousands of pounds! They seemed determined to make the mud stick. So one must ask the question, was there alter motive to this rather dubious accusation?
One thing is sure, the members should ask why they are spending massive amounts of money on this witch hunt, chasing an unsubstantiated allegation, and maybe the people leading this campaign should be asked to resign from their well paid jobs, especially as they are employed to promote judo.
Coaches beware, do not be too friendly with children or parents, someone may be watching.
This coach was reported to his Association and they acted by suspending him from all judo activities and his club, which sadly is the correct procedure; subsequently he was reported to the police.
The police investigation took over a year and after a vigorous police enquiry the coach was not charged as there was no wrong doing. So you would have thought that the coaches Association would have said sorry, we have to investigate these things, and you are welcome back to the judo world.
NO. The Organisation decided they would continue the enquiry, he is still on the banned list.They have even employed a Private Investigator who is hounding players who knew the coach, to make up some stories! I believe that others have been phoned up by an Association employee, and almost encouraged to make statements against him, despite their positive responses.
The cost of all this must be extremely high, many thousands of pounds! They seemed determined to make the mud stick. So one must ask the question, was there alter motive to this rather dubious accusation?
One thing is sure, the members should ask why they are spending massive amounts of money on this witch hunt, chasing an unsubstantiated allegation, and maybe the people leading this campaign should be asked to resign from their well paid jobs, especially as they are employed to promote judo.
Coaches beware, do not be too friendly with children or parents, someone may be watching.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
IBF MULTI NATION NOW AN OPEN
IBF Multi Nation Judo Championships
This event is no longer a closed event this the first time since the IBF was founded some 40 years ago that this has happened. This decision was taken by International President F Niering without any consultation with IBF GB. IBF GB believes this is a retrograde move and asks why do IBF GB pay affiliation fees to the International Body? The President seems reticent in answering. What is even more insulting we are told if an IBF country doesn’t bring referees they will be fined, that may be understandable in a closed event but not in an open event. In fact IBF GB will not be sending a team several IBF Clubs will be sending fighters. For details of the competition go to the International IBF web site.
After complaining about the multi nations in Holland I was quite shocked by the lethargy shown by IBF members when it comes to competing. I am well aware that times are hard, fuel is expensive that is why the IBF and YJC are organising local competitions in smaller cheaper venues but we must learn to pull together. The Young Judo Club/Warriors Grappling Academy organising Fund Raising event such as Disco’s, Race Nights, Club Competition Waste paper collections that and the commission we receive from the IBF for selling membership helps our members. Recently Senior Judo members went to the top rating Belgium Open Keith Costa who is Chairman Fund Raising Committee helped sponsor the travel, those members attending the Multi Nations will given £1000 towards there travel in fact this will cover the mini bus and fuel, those members attending the British Open Sambo will have the majority of there accommodation paid for, we have spare mats so that we can start clubs in different venues. Our Judo club has about the same membership as other IBF Clubs, but show if there is a will there is a way. Everyone is aware Judo has been in decline for several years but it will not always be so one day it will rise again and IBF GB should be ready for that day.,
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