Thoughts on Black Belts and Coaches
Black Belts:
In our club a black belt should mean you have the skill to hold your own against other black belts. You workout on a regular basis. You go to tournaments to compete. If you are too old to compete you go to tournaments to help by refereeing, coaching, working a table, security, etc. You can do the nage no kata and other katas if you are a higher level black belt. If you are too old to do them due to physical limitations then other areas will weigh more heavily. You should be helping at the club by teaching, supporting club events, and volunteering on a regular basis.
Giving back is important part of judo. You must be current on your dues, have a clean record with a background check. All of these things together get reviewed in the decision process. Some factors like being a national champion, running your own dojo, contributing above and beyond may move things faster but this is not always the case.
Consistency is the key. People who show up prior to a promotion then disappear until the next one are remembered too. Loyalty and integrity and a sound character are tantamount. All black belts are not automatically referred to as Sensei. It varies by age, experience in judo and in life, as well as the level of involvement in the club. Non-sensei black belts need to sign up with the City including their kids. If you are unsure ask me.
Feedback
Sensei Gary, good idea! I am uncomfortable with the idea of a 12 year old calling me Jim. Possibly we could explain this from time to time to remind the others in the class that it is an issue of courtesy and respect. Jim
You should be addressed as Sensei or Dr. Lally, thanks...GG
Thank you for clarifying this issue for me. I understood that a shodan was actually a professional student and that I have a lot to learn about Judo. Your lessons on proper coaching will be also very much appreciated. Should we also not have the 'kids' address any black belt as Sensei or just not confuse them? Jerry
I think Sensei Tambe for a person of your age and experience in life is still appropriate...GG
I agree with all of the above. It is good to have a policy and follow it, and the line needs to be clearly drawn. Is there any consideration as to the black belts under 4th that share in the teaching duties (running class)? Is that considered part of the learning process and therefore part of the class? John
It is part of learning judo to teach and give back to society. That's the way it was for me under Mr. Kim...GG
I have been in Judo for 28 years and have worked under senseis with different backgrounds and styles/traditions. One thing that is common with all of these senseis and clubs is that those with black belts are the biggest contributors to the club. With promoting a person to a black belt, the club and head sensei's expectations from the individual increases; NOT decreases. The other thing that I noticed is, with a black belt comes more responsibility and expectations in the areas of: humility and contribution. When I was a student at Sensei Yoon's Dojo (I was a second degree black belt) I opened the class, taught the class and mopped the mats every week. I also paid my dues of $35 per month (in mid 80's). I did consider it a privilege to do all of that. I was also eager to help out the club any way I could. I had a limited budget so I donated my time to clean up, fix bathrooms and put in flooring at the Dojo. I was not the only one who did this. The other black belts (airline executives, business owners, Highway Patrol officers, lawyers, and doctors as well as many blue collar workers and students) contributed their time the same. Nick
Really appreciate this Nick. At Mr. Kim's (who was Mr. Yoon's upper classmen in Korea) it was exactly the same way...GG
Gary I agree, I have been a part of five different dojos since I was 8 starting with Rendokan dojo. The common thing in each of these dojos was that there was only one Sensei. Needless to say I have always been a bit uncomfortable being called Sensei as that has always been reserved for the master teacher. My place in the dojo and the club is as a student. In the past several years as my natural ability wanes my knees have started to creek and I have lost a step. I have realized what Judo has given to me it is the way that is most important. I will strive to repay that debt. At the Christmas party I realized What the Goltz Judo Club has given to me. On that day a sense of community resonated within me and I realized what a great thing I have been allowed to be part of and what wonderful people I have met here. Carson Sensei used to speak of honor to all the young Judoka. The club honors me by allowing me to be part of it. I will honor the club with my own demonstration of character in representation of the club and in my life I will honor my Sensei with my humility and willingness to learn. Dave
We're proud to have you in our club Dave...GG
Gary, in the 40 year plus, competing, teaching, helping, there has been no finer club than Goltz. When I go to each major event, our name is known and respected because of the dedication to the advancement of Judo. Our place in Judo has been built on strong commitment to that advancement. Our club has given me more than I can ever give back. Allen
You're a credit to our club Allen, thanks...GG
Coaches:
Please understand that when a coach goes to a tournament they are doing this on their own time as a volunteer. We encourage our coaches to make it to many tournaments, however it's not always possible to guarantee we will have someone at every event. More importantly I want to underscore that having a coach at a tournament is not a given. In fact until the last couple decades it was never the case.
When I was growing up there was no such thing as mat side coaches. Mr. Kim (my Sensei) if he was at the tournament would be either refereeing or talking with his many friends and colleagues. I never expected him to drop what he was doing and focus 100% on me and my matches. Afterwards, sometimes he would tell me his opinion on how I did but not always. I also rarely had my parents at judo tournaments and they never came to watch me practice. I'm not saying that was necessarily a good thing but none the less it taught me to stand on my own even in terms of getting to and from the tournament.
So what is my point? Students should go these events to improve their judo, have fun, and grow. Whether a coach is present or not should be irrelevant and be viewed as a value added not an expectation. There are many clubs out there where the coach is present at all events, screams and yells at all his or her players, carry's a clip board and then obsesses on what the student did wrong, sometimes what they need to improve. I've even have seen in private clubs where coaches get paid by the parents for being there. I can tell you all unequivocally that's not my approach.
Once upon a time back when our club was new I was this way. In fact my daughter went on to become a Triple Crown Junior National Champion but most of you never saw her. The reason, she got burnt out on judo! I was in many ways responsible for this development and promised myself to learn from my mistake. Today I see tournaments as part of the overall training in judo to develop both skill and confidence. Learning to face your fears, to stand up after a loss and keep trying is what's important. In judo we appreciate the transcendence of victory and defeat. We understand the connection as summed up in this saying of Kyuzo Mifune, fall down 7 times and get up 8!
So if you want a club where they are obsessed with winning and have coaches who treat all students even little kids like a Pop Warner football team, I can refer you to places like that. Hal Sharp my good friend and one of my mentors calls them, ego judo clubs.
Here at Goltz Judo we are focused on teaching Kodokan Judo in the manner intended by Jigoro Kano. Our goal is developing good people. These to me are the real champions in life who hopefully will go forward to build a better society. This is what Jigoro Kano had in mind, I’m sure of it...thanks.