(Save Independent Judo Campaign Leader)

e-mail saveindependentjudo@tiscali.co.uk

March 28 2008

UPROAR WITHIN

NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR JUDO

A flood of complaints from BJA rank and file as to the way members are being treated by BJA management has seen a new thread on the BJA website record more than 5000 viewings on this heated matter. The views, concerns, dissatisfaction and anger of BJA members is expressed in more than 350 posts. Below are extracts from a handful of these posts.

BJA is cautioned by members; “The board (BJA) may have a peasants revolt on their hands if they're not careful.”

BJA members issue warning ; “For the first time since I have been a BJA member I have heard many coaches seriously suggesting a move to the BJC (British Judo Council, one of many independent non-BJA judo groups) and I find that very worrying, What a disaster if the biggest martial arts NGB become as splintered as Karate.”

BJA ranks complain; “Head office seems to be full of Commissions, Departments, Directors of this and that but still there is confusion and lack of proper management. Someone needs to get a grip on it all.”

BJA member's anger; “This is one more imposition that will not improve standards but will cause confusion, resentment.”

The BJA is an membership organisation, given status as an NGB and funded with public money, that can do and say what it likes - and all with the tacit approval of the Minister for Sport, DCMS, Sport England and sports coach UK.

The BJA, more than vocal in their disregard for the vast majority of UK judo players, in independent groups and organisations outside of BJA, now turn on their own people.

BJA member sums up BJA attitude; “So you will all do as you are told, Like it or lump it.”

The dissent and anger within the BJA is born from measures, introduced by BJA management, to stem the number of people leaving the BJA. After fifty years as the NGB for judo, the BJA have come to the conclusion that their approach to judo has been too competitive !

In a complete reversal of policy the BJA have now eliminated the competitive element from the majority of gradings (promotional examinations) !

BJA member says all is lost; “I cannot see the point of starting Judo today when it would be so difficult to see a tangible reward”

The campaign says; “ There is every point - and there is choice. The BJA is just one of many judo organisations. Judo is flourishing in the many independent judo groups outside of the NGB and Save Independent Judo campaign is ensuring these groups maintain their rights.”

No doubt non-BJA groups, who, for so long have opposed the BJA's over-competitive approach to judo, will now, with their well-rounded, balanced and attractive grading structure of technical and competitive skills (now frowned upon by BJA), be accused of being too competitive!

And as the ‘authoritative' body of judo, the BJA will probably now accuse non-BJA groups of being over-competitive, damaging young people and of acting without a duty of care thrown in to boot!

And no doubt the Minister, DCMS, Sport England and sports coach UK will continue to give their tacit approval to whatever the BJA do or say.

Thank you for your continuing interest in the campaign. Any further help you can offer will be much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

John Goldman

Campaign leader

Note: On attached sheet I have printed an additional comments, all taken from the BJA website.

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Further comments taken from the BJA website:

“Everyone in my club, including the coaches think this is a terrible development. The lack of solid public information makes it worse.”

“No consultation with the membership.”

“The on going problem with communication (on many subjects)is unacceptable. Head office seems to be full of Commissions, Departments, Directors of this and that but still there is confusion and lack of proper management.. Someone needs to get a grip on it all.”

“I'm very concerned and surprised about the lack of information”.

“You get the feeling that it doesn't matter what we say or the feelings of the customers it will go ahead regardless.”

“If you continue to make changes without proper consultation of the people who run the sport at grass root level then the power to make these changes on your own may be taken from you via the AGM.”

“Agreed - communication of important issues (or lack of it) seems to be a recurring”

“No discussion.”

“It's obviously still top secret so on it's release day coaches will be expected to pick it up and deliver the new system whether we like it or not.”

” People feel they are being ignored. PERHAPS SOMEBODY IS READING THIS WHO CAN OFFICIALLY GIVE US SOME CONCRETE INFORMATION. I asked this a week ago, no reply so far so I'm not confident.”

“Massive lack of communication from HQ!! Starting to get used to that now!”

“No official announcement, no explanation, no communication, no real information whatsoever from the BJA. Why do all the questions posted here remain unanswered? Why doesn't someone explain what's going on?”

“The quality and quantity of communication to the membership over issues and is very worrying.”

“We the unpaid peasant coaches have to implement all of the changed system and then collect the money from the associations members for things that neither they or we totally agree with.”