Could the UKCC be the demise of Judo?

Could the UKCC be the demise of Judo?

As I have reported before there seems to be some sort of unity happening in the Judo World, I refer of course to the fact that the British Judo Association has now opened their doors to all Judoka regardless of there Judo affiliation. This has been a bold move but it has also been a move born out of necessity as Judo in the UK is in rapid decline and Unity is the only way for it to survive.

This brings me on to the subject of the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC), this organisation has been set up to introduce some conformity and regulation within British Sport, which hopefully will improve Coaching Generally throughout the UK. This to some is quite a novel idea but it not really a new concept because that Great British Judo Coach Geoff Gleeson some 30 years ago formed the British Association of National Coaches, where National Coaches from all sports came to together to share their knowledge and experiences in Coaching. When this folded Geoff and I formed the Academy of Coaching, some of the members the AOC went on to form The Guild of Sports Internationalists, sadly to say both are now defunct.

So as you can see I am all in favour of improving our Coaching Skills but there are several things that worry me:
1) The price! although I have said that Judo is under priced and under valued, I wonder if the proposed pricing structure is just “the straw that broke the camels back” £200 for level 1 plus 30 hours learning requirement, Level 2 £400 88 hours learning requirement, Level 3 in excess of £800 plus 307 learning requirement. These figures are taken from an article written by Dave Duffy BJA National Coaching Officer. To be fair to the BJA they are looking for organisations to help fund this new UKCC but what if they can not get any help, can small Judo Clubs of 20 members afford this? I have my doubts.
2) What of Grandfather Rights (This is where people who have coached for many years are given the award). I personally started Coaching when I was 19 years that is a total 38 years in that time I was a member of BANC, NCF founded the A.o.C, member of BISC , formed IBF Coaching Effective Scheme along side Geoff Gleeson 9th Dan, was a KCC Coach for 9 years do all these qualifications and experience amount to nothing? For me personally I am not worried as due to injury I do very little coaching but I know of hundreds if not thousands of Judoka who have given up their time, effort and in many cases their money to teach and promote Judo. Can we afford to lose them? I do not think so.
3) Some people want the UKCC to become a legal requirement to Coach and the way this Labour Government obsession with interfering with our lives and bringing into legislation laws to control every aspect of lives also with Prime Minister Gordon Brown practically handing over our Nation to the EU this could be a very likely possibility. Some say that this is not possible as will infringe our Human Rights to choose, once again this could be a possibility but like most things if this Government & the EU want something like most dictatorship they normally get it. That way will be using Health & Safety legislation, you can just imagine the spin from some Government Minister her is an example of what they could say “Any one can teach Judo or Sport in the UK , we after all a free country, the only criteria is that they competent” . Great but what is competent? Of course a UKCC. Insurance companies will eventually insist that you have a UKCC.

The UKCC will not only affect Judo Coaches but all Sports Coaches, hopefully I am wrong and the UKCC becomes a symbol of light for Judo and sport. Yet one wonders with Sports participation in rapid decline in the UK shouldn’t we be trying to promote Sport/Judo rather then putting in obstacles. Sport/Judo in the UK has relied mainly on those volunteers who are prepared to help their sport without any pay or reward, will the UKCC stop this? That is up to you to decide.


Martin Clarke 8th Dan Judo Sittingbourne Kent
Grandmaster Sombo, World Masters Judo Champion
World Sombo & Jiu Jitsu Silver Medallist