Judo in the UK is going through a rather sticky patch at the moment, with numbers on the decrease, competitions are not being supported many are being cancelled. 10 years ago you had to stop youngsters entering competitions now we have to insist that they enter at least one competition in between gradings, this apathy is not just restricted to Judo it is spreading throughout the Country for what ever reason people have given up on the UK.
So how can we stop this destructive attitude, some associations think by dropping standards Judo will appeal to more people, having inferior Dan grades only ridicules our discipline. A Dan Grade should be treated like a Degree something of a high standard worth having, Kyu grades and junior grades are just apprentice grades. Today everything thing is visual, if you want young people involved you have to presented it as a Modern trendy thing and what is trendy CLOTHING. Keep the standards and traditions of Judo but change the Clothing, lets have Multi Coloured Judogi’s, maybe change the shape and cut of a Judogi, introduce Judo Boots soft soled like in Sombo but multi coloured, make competitions more exciting introduce light shows, music introduce competitors with a bit of razzmatazz, instead of massive all day events maybe have a smaller venue and just 3 or weight cat, so the competition doesn’t become a marathon. Maybe these ideas are not the way forward but somebody must think the impossible or Judo in 10 years will go the same way as Boxing and Wrestling just a couple of hundred participating
Martin Clarke 8th Dan
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