Judo, The Fun Sport

Recently, there has been a lot of coverage in the news about parents of athletes whose behavior is less than desirable and sometimes harmful to themselves, the athlete and other athletes. This information sheet serves as guidance for all parents about Kaizen’s expectations of parents of Judoka. We want to make our expectations clear before/should any negative situations arise, so that we can create a healthy, positive learning environment for all participants.

Your Role as Parents

Judo provides many benefits to young athletes. They develop self-discipline, good sportsmanship, and time management skills. Competition allows the judoka to experience success and to learn to deal with defeat, while becoming healthy and physically fit.

As a parent, your major responsibility in this environment is to provide a stable, loving and supportive environment. This positive environment will encourage your son or daughter to continue. Show your interest by ensuring your son or daughter’s attendance at practices, and by your attendance at his/her competitions.

Parents serve as role models and their children often emulate their attitudes. Be aware of this and strive to be positive models. Most importantly, show good sportsmanship and respect at all times towards the Senseis, officials, opponents and teammates.

Be Enthusiastic and Supportive

Remember that your child is the judoka. Your son or daughter needs to establish their own goals, and make their own progress towards them. Be careful not to impose your own standards and goals.

Do not overburden your son or daughter with winning. The most important part of a judoka’s judo experience is that they learn about themselves while enjoying the sport of Judo. This healthy environment encourages learning and fun, which will develop a positive self-image within each judoka participating in the sport of Judo.

Let the Sensei’s Teach

The Sensei is the only person qualified to judge a judoka’s performance and technique.

Your role as a parent is to provide support. The best way to help your son or daughter achieve their goals and reduce the natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement. No one likes to make a mistake. If your son or daughter does make a mistake, remember he/she is still learning. Encourage all efforts and point out things that are done well. As long as your son or daughter gave their best effort, you should make them feel like a winner.

Are You A Pressure Parent?

If you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, you may be in danger of being a pressure parent. It is important to remember that the parents’ role is critical and should be supportive at all times to ensure a positive experience for your child.

Do you want your son or daughter to win more than he/she does?
Do you show your disappointment if he/she has a poor result?
Do you feel that you have to “psych” your son or daughter up before a competition?
Do you feel that your son or daughter can enjoy the sport only if he/she wins?
Do you conduct “post mortems” immediately after competitions or training sessions?
Do you feel that you often have to force your son or daughter to go to training?
Do you find yourself wanting to interfere during training sessions or at competitions, thinking that you could do better?
Do you find yourself disliking your son or daughter’s opponents?
Are your son or daughter’s goals more important to you than they are to your child?
Do you provide material rewards for performance?

Written by Sensei R. J. (Bob) Zettl, Rokudan – 6^th degree black belt

Kaizen Judo Club, 549 Lancaster Street West, Kitchener, Ontario N2K 1M2

Club Tel: (519) 570-0999 Email: bobzettl@zetco.ca

What is Kodokan Judo? http://judoinfo.com/whatis.htm
Judo is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defense or combat, and a way of life. It is all of these and more.

Kodokan Judo comes to us from the fighting system of feudal Japan. Founded in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano, Judo is a refinement of the ancient martial art of Jujutsu. Dr. Kano, President of the University of Education, Tokyo, studied these ancient forms and integrated what he considered to be the best of their techniques into what is now the modern sport of Judo.

Judo was introduced into the Olympic Games in 1964 and is practiced by millions of people throughout the world today. People practice Judo to excel in competition, to stay in shape, to develop self-confidence, and for many other reasons. But most of all, people do Judo just for the fun of it.

Judo is Fun!

As in all sports, Judo has a strict set of rules that governs competition and ensures safety. For those who want to test their skills, Judo offers the opportunity for competition at all skill levels, from club to national tournaments, to the Olympic Games. There are separate weight divisions for men and women, and boys and girls.

Judo is best known for it's spectacular throwing techniques but also involves considerable grappling on the ground utilizing specialized pins, control holds, arm locks, and Judo choking techniques. Judo emphasizes safety, and full physical activity for top conditioning. Judo is learned on special mats for comfort and safety.

Judo is unique in that all age groups, both sexes, and most disabled persons can participate together in learning and practicing the sport. Judo is an inexpensive, year-round activity, that appeals to people from all walks of life. Many people over sixty years of age enjoy the sport, as well as very young boys and girls.

Judo develops self-discipline and respect for oneself and others. Judo provides the means for learning self-confidence, concentration, and leadership skills, as well as physical coordination, power, and flexibility. As a sport that has evolved from a fighting art, it develops complete body control, fine balance, and fast reflexive action. Above all, it develops a sharp reacting mind well-coordinated with the same kind of body. Judo training gives a person an effective self-defense system if the need arises.

The Judo Rank System
Judo created the system of ranks, now used in most other martial arts, that recognize a person's degree of knowledge, ability, and leadership. There are separate ranks for juniors (under 17) and seniors. Judo ranks are identified by colored belts, and ten degrees of advanced grades for black belts. Regular advancement encourages students to achieve more.

Principles and Goals of Judo
Judo, which is translated as the "gentle way", teaches the principle of flexibility in the application of technique. This is the flexible or efficient use of balance, leverage, and movement in the performance of Judo throws and other skills. Skill, technique and timing, rather than the use of brute strength, are the essential ingredients for success in Judo. For example, in Judo classes you may learn how to give way, rather than use force, to overcome a stronger opponent.

The principles of Judo, such as "Maximum Efficiency" and "Mutual Welfare and Benefit", can also be used in our dealings with others in life. The ultimate goal in Judo is to develop oneself to the maximum extent possible, always striving for perfection, so that you can contribute something of value to the world.

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