What's the difference between judo orgs?

[vadrip]

What's the difference between the judo organizations-USJA, USJI and USJF?

[Jack Stay]

What's the difference between the judo organizations-USJA, USJI and USJF?

Try this website for a quick answer:



http://www.foxvalleyjudo.com/associations.htm

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John 'Jack' Stay

[Abbax8]

I'll submit my personal experiance. In 1967 I started judo. Our club was a member of the Shufu Yudanshikai. I was 12 years old. My mom paid the annual dues. We occasionally got the promised Judo Illustrated magazine.

In 1992 after being out of judo for a while I decided to start my own club. I searched around, called information, etc. and finally got some numbers to call. The Pa. chapter of the USJI promptly sent me a bill. Period. The number for the USJF was always answered by a machine with a heavily accented Japanese voice. This was their total amount of support. No response. At least they didn't bill me. The USJA RESPONDED. For the next two weeks I received mailings from them everyday. Some were duplicates. When I called their office, I actually talked to a person who wanted to help. I joined the USJA.

Peace

Dennis

[Jack Stay]

What's the difference between the judo organizations-USJA, USJI and USJF?

I'll also submit my personal experiences.

The USJA tends to be very user friendly, while the USJF appears to have superior Judo technique.

The USJA also emphasized education in Judo theory, while the USJF appears to emphasize contest Judo.

I was taught Tai-Otoshi by Jim Bregman, a USJA official; I was always too afraid to approach a USJF official for anything.

I am not a member of the USJF but they were my opponents in shiai, and I have worked out in USJF dojos where my USJA rank was respected and I was treated with the greatest of courtesy (as they were slamming me into the tatami).

I know nothing about USJI (US Judo, Inc.).

________________________________
John 'Jack' Stay

[jabonn]

USA Judo (United States Judo, Inc; USJI) is a member of the United States Olympic Committee, the Pan American Judo Union, and the International Judo Federation and is the National Governing Body (NGB) for Judo in the United States.

Here in Texas we have an execellent run state program that when membership is purchased through the state you also receive the National Membership of the USA Judo (USJI).

I have both USJF and USJI/TJI memberships currently. I dropped my USJA membership after Tamura Sensei closed his school. Everyone should know the background of the USJA financial history so I won't rehash it.

While all three governing bodies provide the neccessary insurance for tournament competition - IMHO - the USJI does more for the sport of Judo than the other two. If you do not compete in Shiai or Kata then there is little need for membership, unless you are looking for national rank certificates. The membership fees paid help both the competitors and the sport of Judo.

[starkjudo]

Just to interject on Jabonn's comments, but not be critical of him (cause he's a good guy), the USJA financial history as of now is just that - history. With the sale last year of the old USJA HQ, the org is completely financially solvent, and incidentally, is offerring new members a $20 membership.

USJA continually holds camps and clinics and has a number of clinicians available to contact in all different aspects of Judo, whether it be shiai, technique or kata - I can't speak for USJF here because I have no real experience with them. Both organizations, though, are wholly committed to grassroots Judo, and sanction tournaments and clinics on the local and regional level. One complaint you'll hear continually is the USJI is only supportive of the highest-level players, and there is some debate over just how financially supportive they are - for more on that, one should look at Olympian Jimmy Pedro's current campaign for USJI president (which is supported, by the way, by the current USJA president, Jim Bregman).

[jabonn]

Rob thanks for the vote of good confidence. Since the USJA financial situtation has been resolved I did not want to rehash the subject. The USJA is solvent and a quality organization. Like I stated earlier, I was a member of the USJA and had zero issues or concerns with my membership.

I can see the view point from Judoka that the USJI is mainly interested in assisting ranked players, however as a Junior Governing Body the Texas Judo Inc. has an excellent program for athletes of all capibilities. I think that any judoka (player) that loves competition and dreams of a national points ranking and/or making the Olympic team or even training at the OTC - would want to contribute to the foundation that supports his or her dream.

I wanted to be an Elite Athlete - but have not made it past regional competition tournaments - can't get my hands on national points. I know that there are others in my club and in the Judo Community that will make the Elite Roster and use the funds that were made possible by my membership fees.

In any manner all three organizations are needed and provide the highest quality of insurance services possible. If the original topic of this post is what are the difference they are subtle. Each one provides insurance services for competition for both the tournament and the competitor. Each one has a national ranking structure. In theory a USJA black belt in Georgia has completed the same testing that a Black Belt in Texas as received for a USJA Dan certificate. Each organization contributes to the efforts of promoting of Judo either through: camps, tournaments, funding for athletes and advertising Judo as the best sport in the world.

When we run our tournament - it doesn't matter what organization you belong to - just that your membership is current. BTW the Lone Star Classic (Texas' largest Judo tournament) is coming up.

[starkjudo]

I think when you get down to it, it becomes simply a matter of levels of service. If your only expectations from the national org are rank, coaching or kata certification, there's a good argument that all three fit the bill. If you want more than that, then your mileage may vary.

Jabonn, i'm always envious of people from Texas in that you've gotten what appears from the outside to be a strongly cohesive state org that is incredibly mutually supportive and works for the good and support of all the clubs in the state. Everyone else should be so lucky.