One of the questions I often get asked the most is how to tell if a judo school or program is legitimate. This is a pretty simple question to answer. Judo is pretty well regulated. If you're attending a dojo whose instructor is recognized by one of the official Judo organizations then it is more than likely legitimate, but dont stop there. For the sake of this article I am going to hit on as many indicators as I can for the person interested in looking for an authentic judo program.
Some dojos follow tradition more than others and maybe the judo school that you are looking at just happens to be less formal. Not a problem really......for example in my school, just call me coach, not sensei, and incessant bowing drives me nuts anyway.
Spending the first month doing nothing but ukemi (breakfall) is nothing unusual, though they should have shown you one or two techniques at some point during that first month. These may well be techniques like Osoto-gari, Seoi-nage or O-goshi. The style of instruction can change depending on whether your school focuses on producing competitors or is more of a traditional school of people who want to do Judo as a hobby or recreation.
So, what is it that one needs to look at as far as the authenticity of a judo school or program?
First and foremost, Judo is a rigorous and demanding physical activity. There isn’t a whole lot of standing around or long lectures in judo. The practice of judo techniques helps people develop basic and fundamental physical fitness in a number of ways, such as the development of strength, flexibility, agility, speed, dynamic and static balance, explosive power, and endurance. My Judo program involves teaching Judo to non-competitive and competitive members, I focus on making students who are more physically fit and better disciplined with a solid knowledge of judo.
Any person who is looking to take up judo should make sure that the instructor is a member of a National Governing Body (NGB) of Judo. There are only three national governing bodies for judo in the United states, these are the following;
1. USA JUDO
2. USJA - The United States Judo Association
3. USJF - The United States Judo Federation
These above national governing bodies are the only ones in the US that are recognized by the Kodokan as well as the IJF, the International Judo Federation. The Kodokan, or the Kōdōkan Judo Institute is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. The International Judo Federation (IJF) is the world governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of judo.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are no other organizations other than USA JUDO, USJA and the USJF that are recognized or endorsed by the Kodokan in the United States.
The Judo instructor should be a black belt (Dan grade) that has registered and VERIFIED rank with one of the national governing bodies of judo, USA Judo, USJI or USJF and the instructor should also have a coaching certificate from one of the national governing bodies as well. Also, most instructors should have some tournament experience, competed in judo tournaments on some level at some point in their careers.
Judo is by its design a full contact martial art. Virtually every legitimate Judo Dojo is full contact. In Randori and tournaments you find out pretty quickly if your instructor and his students know what they are doing or not. The Judo black belts will and do randori with the beginners. A good Judo instructor will “move around” with the white belts. My fondest memories in Judo are being a complete newbie and being thrown by the instructor and hitting the mat as light as a feather. These instructors know thier judo and really put the “art” in “martial art."
From a technical point of view, the most important thing is if an instructor can explain what makes a technique work well and what won’t work. The instructors who can break down complex movements and concepts into smaller segments which can be explained concisely in a short period of time really understands how to teach. In addition, it is important for an instructor to know how to structure daily lessons and have a good sense of controlling time during the lesson. A good instructor understands how to convey information in such a way it is meaningful to the students to apply. To take it further, in a competition-oriented program, a good instructor knows how to prepare the program for competition.
GOOD INDICATORS:
Slick, crisp, seemingly effortless throws
Standup randori is a common part of each training session
Detailed instruction
A history of success in some competitions outside their own dojo (The instructor doesn’t have to be an elite level competitor, the point is you can’t have minor success even at a recreational level without having at least some skill)
BAD INDICATORS:
Strained, clumsy looking throws
No frequent standup randori
Instructors groaning and moaning stuff like "this guy is too heavy", "that throw never works without the partner helping"
Zero participation in NGB sanctioned tournaments (sometimes the reason is the "instructors” are afraid of having their skills or teachings tested)
RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR
There are numerous red flags to look for that will help one determine if the judo instructor or program are questionable.
The most obvious being of course and the one that needs to be repeated, is not being a member of any of the recognized NGBs. This is the most important one and is definitely a very good indicator.
“The NGBs are all about the sport of judo and nothing else.” This is not a very intelligent statement to make and nothing could be further from the truth. First off, and most importantly if the NGBs only catered to sport oriented judoka the NGBs could not exist financially. There just isn’t an abundance of competition-oriented judoka that could sustain the national governing bodies for judo in the US much less just one. Catering to only sport judo and ignoring the abundance of non-competitive judoka would be the equivalent of cutting their throats financially.
Secondly, a quick look at the three NGBS and you will see a wide range curriculum for both the competitive sport judoka and the non-competitive judoka. In Judo it's likely that you'll be able to obtain a black belt in 3 to 6 years based on your commitment to the art. Notice I said “commitment to the art of judo” and not sport of judo. Part of the art is competition, ie. randori. If you are involved with the sport of judo and compete regularly you may attain rank closer to the lower end of the 3 to 6 years spectrum mentioned above.
To give you an idea of how rank may be earned in any of the NGBs let’s look at what it may take to go from the rank shodan, first degree blackbelt to nidan, second degree blackbelt. In the three NGBs you have to have so many years at shodan level to be promoted to nidan level. Let say, for example, one has to be a shodan for at least 4 years minimum to be eligible for nidan. This requirement is for non-competitive judoka or those not involved with the sport. If you compete in sanctioned judo tournaments regularly you may get a percentage of time up to 30 percent knocked off the standard minimum requirement. This means a active competitive judoka could earn his nidan in three years, shaving a year off the time in grade.
Some NGBs offer other programs outside of sport judo to help non competitive judoka, grass roots judo programs, self defense instructor programs, kata certification programs etc.
When an "instructor" tells you they aren’t a member of any of the NGBs and that their requirements are different this generally means they cant meet the NGB’s standards or do not want to put the time in that is required by the NGBs for rank at every level of judo from beginner to advanced.....RED FLAG!
The instructor says that their standards are different than that of the recognized NGBs. This will typically mean that the standards in his class are much lower, very substandard at best to absolutely having no standards at all. I personally had a guy come into my class and wanted to be an assistant instructor and help out with judo. He said he was a black belt and vehemently claimed he knew all 65 throws of the Kodokan left and right side (this isnt a statement a legit judoka would make). Upon observing him, the extent of his knowledge was just being able to do throws from only a static position on a total compliant and motionless uke. He could not apply the techniques moving around on a resisstant opponent in randori. Not being able to randori or absence of randori in training is a strong indication the person or school isnt legitimate.
They use the term or phrase “Kodokan Judo”, for example they say they were “promoted to black belt in Kodokan Judo”. This is yet another big red flag! Legit judoka refer to Judo as simply JUDO. There is just no need to describe it as anything else in any of the three NGBs which are the only three organizations that are endorsed by the Kodokan itself. The only ones who currently use the term “Kodokan Judo” seem to be those with extremely suspicious and questionable backgrounds and practices. This differentiation is generally used to convince others they are more legitimate than they really are. You will even see folks use the term coupled with the word “traditional.” This should serve as another red flag.
Putting down the sport or its NGBs. You might read or hear something like the following: “The NGBs are far from having any real authority or influence in governing anything related to traditional judo.” Again this is very misleading as that only Judo’s recognized governing bodies (USA JUDO, USJF, USJA) in the US are endorsed by the Kodokan. The Kodokan is where judo originated and serves as the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. Also and most importantly the requirement for ranks in the three national governing bodies here in the US meet the same requirements as that of the Kodokan's.
Judoka have no qualms about randori with anyone. Again Randori is a BIG part of judo training. Instructors who tend to shy away from randori as well as competition tend to be on the less reputable side of things. Normally this might be put to the student in this manner…..”we don’t do sport judo we teach only self-defense” or “we just teach traditional judo.” To clarify, there are a lot of registered instructors and programs that do not compete and that is okay. However, randori SHOULD still be present in training. If the instructor says he doesn’t do sport judo nor is he affiliated with one of the recognized NGBs, then you should seek out a another teacher and program.
Kodokan membership card. This is a somewhat rare phenomenon but there has been a few times where questionable individuals try and use the Kodokan membership card as a proof of their rank, affiliation, a license and or a endorsement from the Kodokan. There have even been some cases of forged or photoshopped Kodokan member cards and documents. Membership cards from the Kodokan can be purchased by tourists or anyone simply visiting the KDK or doing a walk thru tour. A life time member card is less than a hundred US dollars. My advice is dont take a KDK member card on its own as proof of rank or endorsement.
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:
Once again your suspicions should go up if your instructor isnt affiliated with any of the recognized NGBs. Question them as to why they are not affiliated with the recognized governing bodies for judo and listen to the answers they give and mannerisms when asked questions. If they act put off or upset then just walk away. There is nothing wrong with basically interviewing the instructor and asking him about his qualifications and experience etc. Questioning an instructors qualifications isnt insulting. If the instructor is qualified he will have no problems at al with answering your questions. If the instructor cant answer your questions very simply then it is a good indicator that there is something wrong.
In this day and time many of the documents mentioned in this article for verification can be photo shopped, changed and forged. If he says he is a instructor who is in good standing with one of the recognized NGBs and even shows credentials, double check the information by contacting the NGB and verify what he says. That is one of the reasons USA JUDO, the USJA and USJF exist. Not only will he have a member card and certificates but he will also be on their member, instructor and coaches lists and rosters.
Dont be afraid or worried to ask the instructor if he is affiliated with one of the recognized national governing bodies for judo in the US. This is a simple yes or no question. If the answer is yes then ask if his rank is verified thru them and if he is a certified coach thru them as well. The NGBs require instructors to become certified as coaches as well when they become black belts. The more of these credentials that he has from the NGBs the better, but double check his credentials by contact the NGBs directly. If the instructor isnt affiliated with USA JUDO, USJA or USJF then seek out another instructor.
