Grading SN Athletes

If any coach in GB wants a copy of the guidelines for grading SN Judoka, please contact the BJA Inclusion Commission.

With these guidelines, you will have a better understanding.

www.britishjudo.org.uk

This again is done differently in European countries, there is no set system in the EJU or other countries for all SN Judoka.

GB has now put a system in place, that every judoka with SN can be graded, providing the coaches follow the BJA Guidelines.

This is a big step forward, not only will all judoka be graded on ability, but it will also help with the divisioning and levels of each judoka.

So if a judoka had a grading to yellow belt in Wales, a judoka with a yellow belt in Scotland, should have the same knowledge and ability.

In GB, we have formed a system and guidelines, based on the mainstream junior and senior syllabus.

With coaches being able to adapt or replace certain techniques to suit the individuel disability.

This system is just not showing a technique, this technique must also be shown on the move explaining the entry/breaking of balance etc.

We have done a pilot scheme on this syllabus and it works.

To have a syllabus similar to the mainstream test, is a big breakthrough and way forward.

The dan grade syllabus for SN is also in place, with SN athletes, now able to get points at tournaments, towards their next dan grade level.

Although this system works for the majority, there are exceptions with some of the more severe athletes.

Memory/Balance/ etc.

The way I would grade here, is ask the athlete to show all the different techniques they know, this will put them more at ease. Also observe them in light randori, the main feature here is, are they safe from injury ?.

Can they fall or be thrown safely ?.

Can they throw safely?

Do they understand the meaning of judo?

Is the athlete a junior or senior?

Will the athlete gain more confidence if graded ?

The judo levels and divisioning page on this site explains the differences in judokas ability?

If they cannot show a certain technique correctly, adapt it or change it to something similar?

These are only guidelines, everyone has a right to be graded, regardless of judo level?

If a novice and can demonstrate 4 tachiwaza techniques correctly or adapted/ 2 newaza techniques/ any judo terminology and is safe on the tatami, they deserve their yellow belt.

In SN judo events we look at the age /level/weight firstly, the belt colour is not that important.

You could have a yellow belt judoka in each of the 5 judo levels, but in a competition they would never be put in the same pools, because of the ability.

The same can be applied to judoka with a physical disability, or those that cannot stand. Our events in this case start in newaza.

Techniques can also be demonstrated from the knees, ogoshi/seoinage/taiotoshi plus more.

This can also be the basis for grading a physically disabled judoka.

Judo for ALL