Trefor Owen On Envy

Trefor Owen On Envy

I was concerned at reading about a conflict between the BJA and IBF on the following link.

As a parent with kids who belong to both of these associations, and that are graded with both and have competed for both, I have seen at first hand the negative results that "Federation point scoring" can achieve. I also know that the quality of coaching at IBF clubs is every bit as good as at their BJA counterparts. True: some clubs concentrate more on theory, some on contest, but the overall quality remains the same.

Although I am not a judo player I have been watching training sessions and competitions, from local to International level for over 12 years and do not believe that there is a fundamental difference in standard between the IBF and BJA, certainly not at a junior level, possibly just a difference in numbers. For example my son is an IBF blue belt (1 brown tab) and a BJA top blue (15th mon?) which roughly equates: my daughter is an IBF 1st Kyu and BJA 1st Dan, again these grades roughly equate so from my experience I find it hard to differentiate.

With so many sports (and computer games) out there, just getting kids to participate in Judo is a result.

It might be idealistic but shouldn't everyone involved with judo be fighting for the same things?

Sometimes I agree with Martin Clarke, sometimes I don't - but Live and let Live sounds sensible