Competions

Not all of our players are or want to be competitive, but we do have a range of competitive opportunities at all levels.

The first step on the competition ladder would normally be an event held at the club. The beginners’ competitions (players must be at least 8 years old) work by organizing the players into groups of (usually) 4 players. The players in each group all compete against each other and whoever has the most wins gets the gold medal, then next highest gets silver and the other two bronze, so that all players get a medal. When players become more experienced, the competition groups get larger so that not all players get a medal, but for the first few events they will all get one.

Information about those competitions and others is on the blue notice board. On the red notice board to the right when you enter the club, there will be a diary of events and also a list of possible names for the next few events coming up.  If you are the parent of a child whose name is on the list, check if they want to go and are available that day and if so, tick their name off, if not cross it out. The entry fee can then be paid in the tin and details written down on the sheet. If it is an event at the club, weigh-in times will be put on the notice board a week or so before the event. Boy’s lightest weights (and lower grades if there is more than one grade section) will be on first thing in the morning (meaning weigh in around 9.30-9.50 am) followed by the heavier weights and then the same with higher grade sections. The girls will be on in the afternoon, unless the girls are on a separate day, which is becoming more common for our events now as we get so many entries. 

Normally the players in any category will compete within an hour or two of weighing in and receive medals as soon as they have finished, so it does not involve more than four hours or so out of the day. If it is an event outside the club, the weigh-in times will usually be on the entry form on the blue notice board, and it may be a longer day – the Samurai events are considered by most to be the best organised judo events in Britain, so others are not quite of the same standard. However, experience outside the club is important as players progress.

Senior events follow the same pattern.

In both cases, one of the club coaches will usually be in the coaching chair. You are very welcome to cheer your child on, but please don’t shout over the coach, who will need to be the person the child listens to during the contests.

It is a major feature of the ethos of the club that we do not put pressure on players to succeed, only to do their best and act in a sporting manner at all times.

PLEASE NOTE: the club sometimes puts reports of events and gradings into the Kidderminster Shuttle, so if there is any reason why your child’s name or photo cannot appear in the local newspaper, please let the head coach know.

Achievements at recent competitions are posted on the red notice board and the membership list contains a permanent record of players’ medals won, grade, star award and any other qualifications.