Latest letter from John Goldman to the Minister for Sport.


(Save Independent Judo Campaign Leader)

e-mail saveindependentjudo@tiscali.co.uk

April 4th 2008


To:
Rt Hon Gerry Sutcliffe MP
Minister for Sport
DCMS
2 - 4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5HD

April 4 2008


Dear Mr Sutcliffe,

Since the judo UKCC has been endorsed, and your DCMS policy official for sports coaching Mr Burles was unable to give me any information on the promised provision of access to the qualification for non-BJA members, I wrote to sports coach UK.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I asked sports coach UK what provision had been made for non-BJA people to gain the UKCC. Martin Crick, Coach Education Manager replied;

“The qualification specification for the Judo level 1 states that candidates must hold a BJA grade 4th kyu or BJA recognised equivalent, for level 2 a BJA grade 1st kyu or BJA recognised equivalent.”

I subsequently asked what they meant by, “BJA recognised equivalent” Martin replied;

It means any qualification or previous experience which the BJA would recognise as of similar stature to the 4th kyu or whatever. Its a standard formulation in education to allow for non-standard entry e.g overseas qualifications, previous awards. The point with judo however is that they are asking for a certain level of technical skill as a pre-requisite, largely they argue on health and safety grounds, whereas I do not have to have played rugby league / cricket / football etc in order to attend a rugby league / cricket / football coaching course. So 'equivalent' here refers to the technical ability of the candidate. Therefore a candidate will have to demonstrate technical expertise equivalent to 4th kyu etc.”

So, one rule for everyone – except that is, the BJA . They have a different rule – BJA rule. And sports coach UK go along with whatever the BJA do !

Sports coach UK singles judo out from other UKCC qualifications. Martin Crick says, “The point with judo however is they (BJA) are asking for a certain level of technical skill as a pre-requisite, largely they (BJA) argue on health and safety grounds, whereas I do not have to have played rugby league/cricket/football in order to attend a rugby league/cricket /football coaching course.”

It is interesting that Martin says, “they are asking” and “they argue”, and then volunteers the information that other sports holding UKCC courses don’t ask or argue to include the same criteria as the BJA. And even if “they (BJA) ask” and “they (BJA) argue”, why does sports coach UK have to agree to something that is not agreeable, is unacceptable and infringes on the rights of those not in the BJA ?

We all, of course, agree health and safety are priorities in any coaching / teaching environment. That is why those outside the BJA have all the safeguards in place. Fully qualified non-BJA instructors have insurance, CRB checks, first aid qualifications, the sports coach UK “Safeguarding and Protecting Children” certification and follow the Health and Safety Procedures, Codes of Conduct and Child Protection Policy of their respective organisation. Isn’t that enough?

In stark contrast sports coach UK say the only criteria BJA members must meet for access to a judo UKCC, is to have attained 4th Kyu (Orange Belt) for level 1 and 1st Kyu(Brown Belt) for level 2. That’s it !

Citing the BJA, “they are asking” and “they argue”, as valid reason to let the BJA do as they will, just doesn’t hold water.

As things stand non-BJA judo people are being discriminated against in accessing the new national UKCC qualification.

And we are yet to find out (we have to squeeze information out, bit by bit, from your offices and SCUK), as and when non-BJA people gain the UKCC qualification, if strings have in fact been attached despite your predecessor Mr Caborn, and former Prime Minister Tony Blair making it clear that the UKCC must be open to all. Mr Caborn told the House, “Access to a UKCC is not dependent on membership of a specified governing body.” And sports coach UK is on record as saying, “That it was not possible to remove a qualification (UKCC) from an individual once awarded.”

But the reality of the implementation of the UKCC is turning out to be a very different matter – the authorities being far from honest.

The campaign has spread far beyond judo. The internet is alive with debate and complaint; in karate, taekwondo and jujitsu too. Each of these arts, as with judo, involve vast populations of non-NGB participants who have growing concerns over the way the UKCC is being implemented.

And in bully-boy fashion, just like BJA chief executive Scott McCarthy who told the press if non-BJA people, “decide to stop practising rather than join the BJA to obtain the UKCC we won’t notice at all”, other NGBs are intent on gaining total control too. The NGB for jujitsu has put out a warning to non-NGB jujitsu practitioners quoting sports coach UK as saying they (SCUK) are; "Unflinching in our policy that it (UKCC) will only be delivered through the National Governing Bodies".

Your predecessor Mr Caborn wrote to me August 28 2006; “Your campaign has raised a number of issues about the development of UKCC in martial arts in general. Sports coach UK is considering and developing further UKCC policy in this area.” That statement does not sit comfortably with sports coach UK chief executive Pat Duffy’s statement more than a year on, October 11 2007, when he said; “It is impossible to undo what has already happened”.

What is too late? Fairness? Justice? The right to an independent, assured existence for all? The issues we raised were not given proper attention. Non-NGB people are entitled to be treated equally and enjoy the same rights as those in an NGB.

Regular updates in national martial arts publications, as to what is happening, what the campaign and others are doing, are now reaching in excess of one million judo and other martial arts practitioners.

Your continued silence is not helpful. It would be useful, and I ask again Minister, that you offer some real assurance that you are prepared to address the issues we have raised.

I await to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,


John Goldman

Campaign leader

Save Independent Judo


Copies to: Paul Clifton Publisher, Tom Hibbert MBE, Andy Davies, Martin Crick SCUK, Jim Lawson, Angela Browning MP, Roger Knapman MEP and others