[UPDATED 26th Feb 2009]

CAMPAIGN UPDATE
From John Goldman
Campaign leader

Firstly, thanks to all supporting the campaign; to maintain the rights of independent judo groups. Our continuing insistence that all are treated equally, in or out of the BJA, is winning through.

Initially the BJA, and Sport England, insisted that the UKCC was only for members of the BJA. We have had this rock-like policy overruled.

More recently, our complaint to the Minister of ‘competence testing’ has been dealt with in part. The Coaching Standards Groups (sports coach UK) have written to say that the £200 demanded by the BJA was “unreasonably high”.

We are of course pursuing the whole issue of ‘competence testing’, insisting that the qualifications of non-BJA judo people equally match those of members of the BJA, and in many instances are of a higher standing. We insist that fully-qualified non-BJA practitioners have a right to be treated on equal terms as those in the BJA. We also insist that provision is made for fully-qualified non-BJA teachers/coaches to map over their awards to the UKCC, as BJA coaches are able to do.

I have now received communications in which the Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe has said;

•    he recognises the issues we raise surrounding the judo UKCC and its application
and
•    sympathises with concerns about the impact long-term future of judo clubs and hopes a solution can be found.

I have made clear to the Minister that to say he ‘hopes’ a solution can be found is  absurd and shirking of his responsibilities. Words are not sufficient and he must take full responsibility in ensuring the mess is straightened out.

I have also pointed out to Mr Sutcliffe that, in his role as Minister for Sport, he has stated his aim is to increase participation in sport. The prospect of the majority of UK judo practitioners, non-NGB members, being forced to give up the sport they love because a solution he ‘hopes’ will be found isn’t, is in direct conflict to his aim.

Mr Sutcliffe now also says he recognises:

•    there are different disciplines of judo
and
•    the BJA must make the UKCC qualifications more accessible to the different disciplines of judo.

We have repeatedly made the point that there are different approaches to judo. The BJA have branded their judo as ‘Olympic judo’, where, for many years a “win at all cost” (their words) approach has prevailed. The vast majority of judo in the UK takes place, and has done so for generations, in groups and organisations outside of the BJA where the ethos and  approach and is very different.

 Although now, for the first time, the Minister, or any ‘authority’, acknowledges there are different approaches to judo, “different disciplines to judo”, Mr Sutcliffe will not commit to giving any assurances. He remains silent as to what he is going to do, if anything, to ensure that there is equity and equality for all who wish to access this national award or of provision for fully qualified non-NGB coaches to map their awards over to UKCC.

What the Minister does say is:

•    judo practitioners may be interested to hear that it is possible to undertake a BJA technical pre-test whereby individuals teaching other judo disciplines can qualify to teach or coach the BJA discipline
but
•    there is no barrier to those judo coaches wishing to practise or instruct their discipline without the UKCC

Interested to hear we can learn BJA judo? I have put it to the Minister we are well aware of what the BJA have dreamt up, and ask him, WHY WOULD WE, and , WHY SHOULD WE, want to learn the BJA discipline? And as to no barriers. The Ministers knows that is sheer nonsense. The UKCC is billed as the industry standard for coaching and a ‘Licence to Practise’ scheme is being developed.

And when the Minister finds questions put to him awkward, he writes:

•    concerned judo practitioners should contact Mr Goldman for an update.

It is clear from the Minister’s words that whereas he may “recognise” and “sympathise”, he is not fully understanding, aware, or up to date.

Although we have brought about change, and there is talk and gesturing going on within and between the authorities, it is abundantly clear from the Ministers words, “I sympathise with concerns about the impact long-term of judo clubs”, that one thing hasn’t changed, and, as things stand:

No one outside of the NGB for judo, BJA, can, or should, consider their future in judo secure.

We must to continue our combined actions to make clear to the Minister and the authorities that those in independent judo groups not only demand that their rights are maintained, but will continue action to see they are maintained. We are not going to be treated as second class citizens; all those in the “different disciplines of judo” have the right to expect to be treated, and are treated, on equal terms as those in the BJA.

I have also written, not for the first time, asking the Minister to take steps to ensure the removal of reference to non-BJA organisations as “dissident”, by the BJA, in their published document, ‘UKCC Access for Non-NGB Members’. I have told Mr Sutcliffe the name calling by the BJA of non-BJA people, firstly “Pirates, outlaws and renegades”, and latterly “dissidents”, is not only crass but damaging to judo as a community. I have put to the Minister that his continuing silence, unwillingness to respond to our asking for the removal of such crass continual name calling, can only to lead to the assumption that the Minister, and the authorities, give tacit approval to this kind of behaviour and thinking.

I finally put to the Minister that unless the authorities are prepared to sit down and talk, with a willingness to discuss a way forward, with a clear and positive agenda to find resolve, to come without entrenched ideas and rock-like stances, and without constantly referring to the restraints of this policy and that policy, judo UKCC matters can only get more muddled.

So, what can you do?

Apart from the many things you are already doing, please continue writing to the Minister, the authorities and your MP.

Good wishes,

John Goldman
Campaign leader


RT Hon Gerry Sutcliffe
Minister for Sport
DCMS
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH    email:    enquiries@culture.gsi.gov.uk

Pat Duffy CEO
sports coach UK
114 Cardigan Road
Headingly
Leeds LS6 3BJ    email:    pduffy@sportscoachUK.org

Simon Macqueen
Senior Client Manager
Sport England
3rd Floor Victoria House
Bloomsbury Square
London WC1B 4SE    email:    simon.macqueen@sportengland.org