Judo for Parents . com

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“Is my child ready for their next belt” is a question all Judo coaches hear all the time. It is also a great question to be asking the coach at your child’s Judo club. Why? Because if you ask then the coach can give you an indication of where they think your child’s progression is.

As a parent you are vital in keeping your child in the sport of Judo. Without parents Judo clubs would fade and disappear. One of the reasons for this is that you as the parent are able to help set expectations for your child. By this I mean that you can help ensure that your child is excitedly expecting their green belt at the right time, not the wrong time.

You can help encourage regular attendance and enthusiasm, by sharing with your child that the coach things they are almost ready for their next grade. Of course to do this, you need to speak with your club coach (when your child is not able to hear) and find out if your child is ready to grade to the next colour belt.

Please don’t ask your club coach to discuss when your child will get their next belt, right in front of the class and especially in front of your child. You need to be aware that gradings are a sensitive area and who gets graded when is a matter both of technical ability and of maturity in Judo as well.

Some children will be able to do all the throws but the coach may not want to grade them too quickly as in the long-term this is likely to lead the child to a position where age restrictions prevent them from grading for an excessive time. Which is really discouraging for the child. Equally, the child who is not as physically capable may benefit from being graded earlier to help their confidence and enthusiasm.

It is important to be aware also that there are many other children that the coach is considering, and they need to try and ensure that all those of roughly equal ability are wearing roughly the same Judo belt colour. There is also matters concerning social groups for the coach to consider. They may wish to slow your child’s progression through the belts slightly so they stay in a group of friends, or vice versa.

Mostly the deliberations highlighted above will not be visible to you the parent, so it is really important that you talk with your child’s Judo Coach regularly and when away from others. Then you will be able to gain an understanding for when your child is ready to progress to the next Judo belt.

You will also be able to learn in what areas the coach thinks your child’s Judo needs to be developed. For example, their groundwork may be weak or they might be a little too aggressive. You can help guide your child down the same path as your coach is. This is also a two way thing, if you know that your child needs to work on their spelling for example, the coach might be able to work spelling into games or exercises. If your child is shy, the coach may be able to help them socially through the club.

I have mentioned it several times, but I will say it one more time. The best way to find out if your child is ready for their next Judo belt is to speak with the club coach.

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Welcome to fourth in this series on the BJA (British Judo Association) Mon grade syllabus. This series is designed to help you as a parent ensure that your child feels confident they know all they need to know before attending a grading. This helps ensure they have a positive experience. For more information the official BJA guidance is available at http://britishjudo.org.uk/technical/gradings_home.php

Official requirements for 5th Mon from BJA:

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
Ukemi: Mae Mawari Ukemi III
Tachi-waza: Ippon-seoi-nage
Osae-komi-waza: Kami-shiho-gatame

PERFORMANCE SKILLS
Combination Techniques: Ippon-seoi-nage into Kami-shiho-gatame
Ne-waza:

• turnover into Kesa-gatame (Uke in “all fours” position)
• escape from Kami-shiho-gatame using ‘action and re-action’

Kumi-kata: demonstrate alternatives to the right and left standard grips

PERSONAL CHOICE
Candidates are required to demonstrate two of their favourite waza

TERMINOLOGY AND SUPPLEMENTARY KNOWLEDGE
Candidates are required to  know the common English translations and meaning of all Japanese terminology used in this section

NOTES
1.  For the personal choice element, the judoka is required to demonstrate their favourite waza which may be demonstrated
either to the right or to the left with any suitable grip.

As with prior weeks, below are some images and words to help you ensure that your child knows what is required of them when they are examined for the British Judo Association’s 5th Mon grading:

Mae Mawari Ukemi III - From Judoinfo.com

Ippon Seoi Nage - From JudoInfo.com

Kami Shiho Gatame - From Jonathan Beck

Turnover into Kesa Gatame: The BJA syllabus and even the BJA pictorial guide are not very clear on what sort of turnover should be done. The example in the pictorial guide shows the play kneeling next to there partner, who is on elbows and knees. They then, reach with the hand closest to the belt and grasp their partners lapel, going under the body and staying below the arm/armpit. The other hand (nearest the head), reaches across to the partners far arm, grabbing on the sleeve at forearm level. This arm is them pulled back towards you and the other arm used to lever the opponent onto their back and side; ending up holding them in Kesa gatame.

Escape from Kami Shiho Gatame: The version shown in the BJA pictorial guide shows the person being held down, twisting/rocking first to their left then turning over on to their stomachs to the right. It is a “pencil roll” type of movement.

Kumi Kata: Your child should be able to show an alternative grip to the standard “sleeve and lapel” Judo grip.For example, taking a double lapel grip or double sleeve grip “should” be okay. The Example in the pictorial guide appears to be a high grip on the collar and a sleeve grip held on top of the opponents arm rather than under it as in the normal grip.

Terminology:

• Ukemi = Breakfall
• Mae Mawari Ukemi = Forward Rolling Breakfall
• Tachi Waza = Standing/throwing techniques
• Ippon Seoi Nage = One arm shoulder throw
• Ne Waza = Ground techniques
• Osae Komi Waza = Hold Down techniques
• Kami Shiho Gatame = Upper four quarters hold down
• Kesa Gatame = “Scarf” hold
• Judoka = Someone who does Judo

As with all things pertaining to grading, it is wise to make sure that you speak with your child’s coach and an examiner for clarification on any of the above. I have included them here just to help, not as a definitive guide.

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This is a the second in a series aimed at providing some guidance on the British Judo Association grading syllabus. In this post we shall cover the 1st Mon – 2nd Mon requirements.

Again here is the requirements from the BJA website ( TK ):

1ST MON — 2ND MON

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS

Ukemi (BreakFalls): Yoko Ukemi
Tachi-waza (throws): De-ashi-barai
Osae-komi-waza (hold downs): Mune-gatame
PERFORMANCE SKILLS
Combination Techniques: De-ashi-barai into Mune-gatame
Ne-waza: Escape from Mune-gatame using a ‘bridge and roll’ action

PERSONAL CHOICE
Candidates are required to demonstrate two of their favourite waza (techniques).

TERMINOLOGY AND SUPPLEMENTARY KNOWLEDGE
Candidates are required to know the common English translations and meaning of all Japanese terminology used in this section and be able to  translate the following Japanese words into their common English names and where appropriate explain their meaning:

• Osae-komi
• Toketa

Demonstrate the correct bowing procedure for Tachi-rei and Za-rei

Answer the question
Who is the founder modern judo?

NOTES
1.  For the personal choice element, the judoka is required to demonstrate their favourite waza which may be demonstrated
either to the right or to the left with any suitable grip.

And here are some some images and explanations to help you teach your child the right things:

Yoko Ukemi - From JudoInfo.com

De Ashi Barai - From JudoInfo.com

Mune Gatame - From JudoInfo.com

Mune Gatame - Bridge and Roll Escape - From BJA Syllabus pictorial guide.

Terminology:

Osae Komi = Hold down. This is called when you are holding your partner down on their back.
Toketa = Hold down broken/escaped. This is called when your partner escapes from your hold.
Waza = Technique. This is a generic term used to describe a group of techniques too. So Tachi Waza is standing techniques (throws), Ne Waza is ground techniques (hold downs for example).

The founder of Judo is Jigoro Kano (Kano Jigoro as the Japanese would say. Kano is his surname).

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