Banned Technique - The Old Loure

Not blogged for a while ....so happy New Year ........but a thread on the BJA website amused me recently about banned techniques and the new IJF rules ..... I then had a mad few minutes and the following is the result.......rant or madness or a marketing opportunity you decide....

If you look at modern judo the move is to the 'sport', talk of techniques now banned being forgotten, some argue these banned techniques should remain part of the sylabus. advocating is that the Martial Art side of Judo isn't forgotten, and yes there are techniques that are dangerous ...but there are in all combat sports - will we see arm locks go because if done badly or applied to fast can cause serious injury ....as for strangles .......

This one incident got a very effective throw banned – why because someone at World Level did it wrong .......

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4yuhq_yasuhiro-yamashita-jpn-sumio-endo-j_sport

So kani basami became illegal in contest now Latts has gone and even Classical upright Kata Gurma, we have to throw off the belt not arm around the leg. Given this was one of the first throws Kano put in his syllabus so have we severed a link to the past?

There are people coaching in the UK who spend hours daily looking at judo, reading researching planning and developing many professional coaches who teach these techniques to appropriate students, but with competitions and grading is there enough mat time to do it properly?

These techniques should not be taught willy nilly they are taught to students who have attend a level of understanding where learning the technique improves and enhances the judo......

We are possibly creating a situation where we will end up with a number of judo coaches who remember the Old LOURE, the mysterious banned technique ...students will flock from near and far to learn the mysteries of the Kawazu-gake and Daki-age, the Kanibasarmi and the Kata Guruma...the gyaku-hishigi and the kubi-hishigi, any kubi-kansetsu-waza....the tate-shiho-hiza-hishigi or the ashi-kansetsu-waza.....many popular in MMA or BJJ........so I have cave will travel ...........

Isn't that one the teaching practices that Kano was working against ...the mysterious hidden techniques only discovered after years of paid for training with a master ...only to find the mystery technique doesn't suit your body or fighting style? But if we forget these technique it is what we will create......... but like anything a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing........how many times has Tate- shio- gatame become tate-shiho-hiza-hishigi.....without a student knowing the transition when the legs are hooked......how many referees can spot the difference?

Rhetorical question ...

.......so.....now how to become a hermit and find a cave...............if you build it they will come................could I get funding?

Back soon

Marc

First Impressions Count

I have been trying to get my son to join a new swimming club, on four separate occasions I have called and e-mailed their contacts over a 3 week period, and yet I have had no response – even a sorry we don’t take new members at present....if it wasn’t for the location I would be going somewhere else.

Contrast this with a Chinese I went to on Friday a lunch time I was met at the door, directed to a table and ask if I was in a hurry – as they had a quick lunch menu or whether I could take my time and order off the main lunch menu. Within second they had established my needs.

Even supermarkets have greeters helping shoppers find trollies information etc, so why when I go to visit Dojos in the UK and abroad am I often greeted by blank faces, or left stood waiting for up to 15 minutes before someone says hello?

When looking at player acquisition and retention we must consider first impression. A judo club is part of the service industry and you should treat everyone who come into your Dojo or class as a potential new student. So how can we make this a positive experience?

Have a designated greeter – could be a player on the mat, a parent – who when somebody new comes in, they go and say hello and introduce themselves and find out about why they have come. Try and agree a time scale – within 2 minutes.

When someone enquires – do you take details? Do you have an information pack or sheet on the club – training times fees etc. It could include a “What is Judo” sheet, a bit about your clubs history and instructors.

Does anyone follow up the enquiry – a phone call or email to say thanks for coming to see us.

Now these are not difficult to implement but they show a club cares, and if you get the right feeling from the moment your walk in then the rest is easy.

So do you understand the expectations of your potential members and do you meet and exceed them?

So next time you go to your club try and have a look at it with the eyes of someone who hasn’t been before ....Is it welcoming? Is it easy to find? Would I if I wanted to send my child to Judo at your club are you easy to deal with?

I sometimes feel we forget that Judo is now a business and any people can do the judo but we shouldn’t forget the business.