Please find the latest letter from Campaign leader John Goldman:-
SAVE INDEPENDENT JUDO
A campaign to maintain the rights of independent judo groups
Campaign
Office:
41, Willow Walk
Crediton
Devon EX17 1DD
email: saveindependentjudo(at)tiscali(dot)co(dot)uk
Martin Crick
Sports coach UK
Education and Training Manager (Coaching)
April 23 2008
Dear Martin,
Thank you for your recent emails in response to my question, “What provision, if any, had been made for non-BJA people to gain a UKCC”.
When I took our concerns to then Minister for Sport Richard Caborn MP, he told the House, October 26 2006, “We have ensured that sports coach UK, who are responsible for developing and implementing the UKCC, UK Sport and Sport England are aware of their (the campaign) various concerns. We will continue to work with these organisations to ensure that, where appropriate, these issues are addressed.”
Where appropriate? Clearly sports coach UK did not consider it ‘appropriate’ that non-BJA people wishing to access a national award should be treated on equal terms as those in the BJA.
You say; “The qualification (UKCC) 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 asked you what “recognised equivalent” meant. You replied, “The point with judo however is that they (BJA) are asking for a certain level of technical skill as a prerequisite, 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.”
Firstly Martin the BJAs fixing on “health and safety grounds” as an argument to necessitate the ‘competence testing’ of non-BJA members just doesn’t hold water.
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