The relationship of judo and its place in a school based setting can be traced back to the founder, Jigoro Kano. Since that time, there have been school based judo classes in America and around the world. The USJA is going to revisit the role of judo in America’s elementary, middle and high schools. With this in mind, the USJA is pleased to announce the formation of the USJA Scholastic Judo Committee.
The purpose of this committee is two-fold. First, to examine the role of judo in the lives of school aged children and teens. Areas to be examined include recruitment and retention, individual learning styles, instructional methods, the role of the family, and external variables that impact student interest. Secondly, the committee will examine the process of developing partnerships with elementary, middle and high schools with suggestions for implementing judo in local schools in the spirit of “mutual welfare and benefit”. This will include a review of curricula, certification, funding, liability, mats, intramural leagues and in-service training.
Deliverables include a position paper with policy recommendations for review by the USJA Board of Directors. The work of the committee during the first year will be primarily by telephone and email.
Experience has shown us that kids that are in judo are better students, have better attendance, fewer encounters with law enforcement, less of a likelihood to be involved with substance abuse or bullying. This is not an accident. The values and behaviors we help kids with are referred to as “protective factors that promote resilience”, by researchers.
Call for Committee Members:
Raymond Conte of the St. Mary’s institute Judo Club in New York has agreed to serve as Chair. He brings many years of Administrative experience in children’s judo and continues to teach children, including his own grandchildren, in a school based setting.
We are actively seeking qualified black belt volunteers with current or prior experience teaching judo to children grades K-12 in a public, private or parochial school. We are also seeking black belts that are currently employed as school teachers in schools where judo is not currently available.
If you have experience in either or both of these areas, and would like to help kids, please contact Raymond Conte, Committee Chair at smijudo@gmail.com, thanks.