Hi Lance,
Good response. Might have thought someone in NZJF orAJA might have had some thoughts but I guess not. I’ll just elaborate onsome of your points for the sake of clarity.
Re Point 1a
I used the example of press releases because this is asimple and effective way to develop the profile of an organisation. BrianEdwards wrote a bloody good book on using the media to market products andservices (How to Survive and Win with the Media). Very, very good read. Ibelieve promoting the martial art in general is a great role for organisationslike the AJA and NZJF because they have a mandate to speak for the larger ‘bodycorporate’. The second reason is that a pro-active media strategy can bedeveloped and implemented at minimal cost.
My main point is actually that in order to maximise oureffectiveness accept that we have limited resources. If we accept this then itmakes sense to define clear roles within our structure for clubs, regionalorganisations and the federation. In my opinion the role of anincorporated society like the AJA is not dealing with individual players orinterfering with club management but to organise collective activities(tournaments, camps etc) and speak for its membership (in the media or lobbyingfor more resources)
Re Point 1b
I alluded to the coordination role of the AJA andNZJF. These forums also exist for clubs to get together and agree oncommon policy. This is very important because the public relies on ourassociations to ensure that clubs are safe. Therefore I believe that arole exists for the AJA to verify the legitimacy of a club and to ensure thatinstructors are qualified (to a standard agreed by its members).
Re Point 2
I think you make a very good point but would caution youabout the workforce issue. In any voluntary organisation clubs and theirmembers will be called on to support collegial activities (i.e. contests,camps, training or promotional events). I think the point that you aremaking is that the clubs and their members shouldn’t be taken for granted. Ifthe AJA or NZJF is not providing value why should clubs invest resource intheir activities.
Re Point 3Bylaw 1 of the AJA stated a minimum number of registeredplayers. The reason for setting a minimum was that people were concerned aboutthe ‘paper clubs’ that existed under the old constitution. A number ofclubs were registered that had no premises, did not train and sometimes didn’thave any members but still got a vote. This was inappropriate and duringBen Stallworthy’s Presidency a new constitution was written and approved.
Re Point 4.
Agree entirely why waste time, money and human resource whenwe can get a system of qualifications ‘off the shelf’.
Re Point 5
I am an old school Kosen Judo. I don’t see awhole lot of difference between BJJ and Judo. The reality is that in 20years our styles will probably merge. I believe that we should encourage thisbecause the real battle is over whether the next generation’s competitive,physical gi grappling martial arts style is called BJJ or Judo. If it is BJJ itis likely that the more commercially aggressive nature of this style willfundamentally alter the principles of Judo. My strategy is embrace BJJpull them in while they are still less well organised (and not an Olympicsport). Hopefully then the higher ideals of Judo will be preserved. If we try and distance ourselves from BJJ I think the following will happen:
1. BJJ will continue to soak up the aggressive young people looking for atough grappling sport;2. BJJ will become an Olympic sport;3. BJJ and Judo are very similar when BJJ is an Olympic sport the publicwill not make a distinction. BJJ will get more members;4. BJJ’s gain will be Judo’s loss; and 5. Over time BJJ will be the ‘standard’ gi grappling form.
Therefore we need to bring the BJJ to Judo while we arestill better organised and have the Olympic draw card. If we do this andproduce good, tough players we will attract players from the BJJ world. We also have to face MMA. If we are not producing MMA players we will lose thetough guys to BJJ. When we don’t have tough guys BJJ people won’t want to comeand train with us. Remember martial artists will seek out successful,technically strong opponents. You used too. If we don’t have themwe won’t attract top atheletes.rick and ben --------- AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY JUDO CLUB | "There is no learning without pain" | www.judokong.com
