The Formation of The British Zen Judo Family Association

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 22:38

Urgent: Please pass this message to all Zen Judo Family Judoka.

Dear Judoka

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Millennium New Year.

As you may be aware, there have recently been many Emails floating around with regards to the future of the Zen Judo Family, I would like to share with you my observations.

I whole-heartedly support the initiative of Keo’s email message sent to most of us.

The Zen Judo Family has now become Fragmented, Each club is doing its own thing, and some have been doing other practices along with Zen Judo. Keo has included religious ceremony into his proceedings, Brian has been adding Aikido to his, I have been teaching Applied Judo Technique and I could go on and on.

Most of you will be aware, that Jim Dart, Gordon Lawson, Mike Healy, and Myself have organised training courses and seminars to which all members were invited. Not many people have taken up these invitations, which again show that they only want to practice their Judo in their Club (and not be involved any further).

One of Keo’s observations is that there is NO ONE who can replace Sensei McCarthy; therefore we should not even try! As much as it pains me to say this, The Zen Judo Family died with Mac. Therefore how do we move forward?

There has been a small group of Instructors who are dedicated to carry on and progress with Macs teachings. This will be the basis for what is to follow, it will be up to individual instructors and clubs to decide if they want to belong to this elite group or to continue on their own.

One of my observations is that most Zen Judoka have learnt a syllabus, and have not learnt Judo, Why? I do not know.

From 1st of January 2000 - The British Zen Judo Family Association will come into force, and I welcome all Zen Judo Family clubs to join and unite in following the great mans life work, and taking it forward to new beginnings. The syllabus will remain intact, but annotated Zen Judo Family only, for those that want to practice further, there will be a supplemental syllabus to teach judo skills, such as Kuzushi, Tai Subaki, Application of Technique and Groundwork. In addition, as we are a non-competitive Judo, the syllabus will continue up to 4th Dan.

Courses and seminars will be organised for those of you who want to learn judo and take part, details will follow early in 2000.

Yearly fees will continue, but those fees will remain with the individual club, one of the biggest problems that has been brought to my attention, is that quite a few instructors are having to pay for room hire or supplement this from their own pocket, by re-investing these fees it will go part way to help them to help themselves to create a successful club, in addition if clubs are short of mats, I have mats available.

Grading fees will also remain with the individual clubs. Therefore, the bigger your club, you will have more revenue to help maintain your club and to help pay for courses and seminars.

I know, your all going to groan and moan, Mac never liked committees and associations, well it is purely in name but with an organised structure, and a way to get all the clubs to participate together. I have taken this initiative, but at the end of the day it is up to you to take that step and to start belonging to this great family.

Bottom line

From 1st January 2000 I will no longer be a member of the Zen Judo Family, instead, there is a new beginning, “The British Zen Judo Family Association”. To which you are all invited, and you will also keep your current Zen Judo Family Grade. The syllabus will remain intact, but you will have the option, to learn the supplemental syllabus to start to learn Judo.

Will you please take copies of this and pass it to all members of the Zen Judo Family

If you have Addresses or details of any of the Zen Judo Family Clubs/Instructors, would you please forward them to be by return Email?

Again I must stress, that The Syllabus will remain Intact, and that we will follow our great leader (Sensei Mac McCarthy), and apply all his teachings.

Best Regards

Andrew M Millard BEM