Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

Is our club part of the United States Judo Association? If we are, what is our USJA Club Number?

The short answer is no. I'll let sensei elaborate if need be. I've always heard that we're not apart those organizations because were the type of club that does not like to play politics.

Windsong Dojo is a completely independant martial arts school which issues its own ranking credentials -- though several of our members, myself included, hold very significant rank with UJSA, and any of our members are free to join any ranking organization that they choose (Usja, Usji, Usjf -etc.), no one will ever be required to join any outside organizantion; consequently, the dojo is not a sanctioned club. In accord with our independant status, our ranking standards and criteria are our own and are not based upon the the modern competitive point system, but rather reflect the traditional values and methods of our dojo and the lineage of training we derive from.
If our members choose to pursue competition then dojo members should be advised that joining one of the national sanctioning organizating may be required by the tournement officials before you are allowed to participate and your rank may or may not be recognized.
Such are the vagueries of the national and regional systems that Greg Ables, one of our most long standing members and well recognized as one of the top competitiors of the state and the region in the 80's and 90's spent several years competing as a white belt in local tournements. His winning record eventually convinced the local officails to recognize the legitimacy of his dojo rank.

That's called "batsungun" - rank awarded by contest.

So Greg Ables was able to compete in local tournaments against black belts despite only being authorized to wear a white belt?

By the way, I'm not ready to charge out on to a tournament mat or anything. I'm just trying to set some realistic, medium term goals.

sure -- the only real effect their stubborness had was to skew their own points system -- Greg wins over a higher rank guy and gets more points-- higher rank guy wins over Greg (in a white belt) --he gets less points--
since we dont fool around much with points it was a moot point to us (sorry, couldnt resist)

nick lowry wrote:Windsong Dojo is a completely independant martial arts school which issues its own ranking credentials -- though several of our members, myself included, hold very significant rank with UJSA, and any of our members are free to join any ranking organization that they choose (Usja, Usji, Usjf -etc.), no one will ever be required to join any outside organizantion; consequently, the dojo is not a sanctioned club. In accord with our independant status, our ranking standards and criteria are our own and are not based upon the the modern competitive point system, but rather reflect the traditional values and methods of our dojo and the lineage of training we derive from.
If our members choose to pursue competition then dojo members should be advised that joining one of the national sanctioning organizating may be required by the tournement officials before you are allowed to participate and your rank may or may not be recognized.
Such are the vagueries of the national and regional systems that Greg Ables, one of our most long standing members and well recognized as one of the top competitiors of the state and the region in the 80's and 90's spent several years competing as a white belt in local tournements. His winning record eventually convinced the local officails to recognize the legitimacy of his dojo rank.

That is how I view my Dojo and I do have several USJA USJI and one USJF member but I got tired of the politics in the Phil Porter years. My instructor because Phil liked him, gave him promotions once a year like clockwork even though DeVore Sensei wasn't applying for an increase in Rank. Then After DeVore Sensei retired at the Rank of Sandan, we were looking at the sanctioned USJA Black Belt list and it still had him listed as a Shodan although he has the Certificates to prove the Sandan. Silly politics.