BJA v BJC

Faced with moving house to an area that only seems to have BJC clubs and only having been to BJA clubs before I wondered what people thought the main differences are?

Like any club depends on knowledge and skills of the instructor! Yourself as a 3rd kyu should fit in at any club the main difference would be the syllabus and the fact you will need to fight for your next grade in the BJC.
There probably be more emphasis on basics, which as a 3rd kyu you should have already been taught so your grade should just transfer?
Where are you moving to?

Judoker wrote:Faced with moving house to an area that only seems to have BJC clubs and only having been to BJA clubs before I wondered what people thought the main differences are?

In my experience since arriving in the UK three years ago, the main difference between the two appears to be that BJA clubs will disparage BJC clubs from time-to-time, whereas at BJC clubs the inverse is more commonly practiced.

I would say a good approach is to try every club you can a few times and then decide on the one which suits you best, while being open minded towards aspects of judo you may not have experienced. This may in fact mean training at several clubs.

It can be good to be a member in both organisations, so that you can say "both" when people ask you to which you belong.

jkw wrote:

Judoker wrote:Faced with moving house to an area that only seems to have BJC clubs and only having been to BJA clubs before I wondered what people thought the main differences are?

In my experience since arriving in the UK three years ago, the main difference between the two appears to be that BJA clubs will disparage BJC clubs from time-to-time, whereas at BJC clubs the inverse is more commonly practiced.

I would say a good approach is to try every club you can a few times and then decide on the one which suits you best, while being open minded towards aspects of judo you may not have experienced. This may in fact mean training at several clubs.

It can be good to be a member in both organisations, so that you can say "both" when people ask you to which you belong.

Yes that’s always been true but you also get that between certain BJA clubs, its the environment BJA coaches have been brought up in.

Although I have had licences for BJA/BJC/AJA all together in the past, now all these associations are affiliated (same insurance) unless you wish to fight high ranking tournaments no point in paying twice unless you want to participate on their forum or read the glossy matside mag.

You are right visit all clubs in the area hopefully one or all fits!

Barnet seems to be the most likely at present...it's complicated.

Did strike me that I could join BJC and keep my BJA licence as someone kindly suggested. I did rather randomly attend a BJC competition a while back so it's not completely an unknown. Quite like the notion of fighting for my blue belt...

Thank you to people who have replied.

Have you tried the BJA club finder?

http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/find-a-club?postcode=barnet&radius=10

There appears to be plenty of choice.

Judoker wrote:Barnet seems to be the most likely at present...it's complicated.

Did strike me that I could join BJC and keep my BJA licence as someone kindly suggested. I did rather randomly attend a BJC competition a while back so it's not completely an unknown. Quite like the notion of fighting for my blue belt...

Thank you to people who have replied.

Simons club you will be fine there you will learn a lot, randori with him   he will foot sweep you in the first 10sec.

I do not think you will be disappointed with the BJC. Traditional values, no blue suits, no stripes, kata and a President who's the son of one of the pioneers of UK judo. Contrast that with the BJA.

Jonesy wrote:I do not think you will be disappointed with the BJC. Traditional values, no blue suits, no stripes, kata and a President who's the son of one of the pioneers of UK judo. Contrast that with the BJA.

So you prefer a son of a good Judoka to a former elite Judoka and olympian?

Jonesy wrote:I do not think you will be disappointed with the BJC. Traditional values, no blue suits, no stripes, kata and a President who's the son of one of the pioneers of UK judo. Contrast that with the BJA.

As soon as I read your post I thought you would be in trouble   

Well the BJA does have a living tenth dan now!!

finarashi wrote:

Jonesy wrote:I do not think you will be disappointed with the BJC. Traditional values, no blue suits, no stripes, kata and a President who's the son of one of the pioneers of UK judo. Contrast that with the BJA.

So you prefer a son of a good Judoka to a former elite Judoka and olympian?

With the two particular characters - yes and hell yes.

medo wrote:

Jonesy wrote:I do not think you will be disappointed with the BJC. Traditional values, no blue suits, no stripes, kata and a President who's the son of one of the pioneers of UK judo. Contrast that with the BJA.

As soon as I read your post I thought you would be in trouble   

Well the BJA does have a living tenth dan now!!

Kerr is one of the good guys......

Jonesy wrote:
Kerr is one of the good guys......

So who in your opinion are the other good guys?

still learning wrote:

Jonesy wrote:
Kerr is one of the good guys......

So who in your opinion are the other good guys?

Syd Hoare, Tony Sweeney, Neil Adams, Mick Leigh of the names still active in some sense. John Perrins, Graham, Wright and Terry Edmunds in Wales were great too. Wales has some very fine senior judoka of the next generation too.

Jonesy wrote:

still learning wrote:

Jonesy wrote:
Kerr is one of the good guys......

So who in your opinion are the other good guys?

Syd Hoare, Tony Sweeney, Neil Adams, Mick Leigh of the names still active in some sense.  John Perrins, Graham, Wright and Terry Edmunds in Wales were great too.  Wales has some very fine senior judoka of the next generation too.

Glad to learn you view some of the BJA guys in a positive light. I've only trained with a couple of those named but visit the national dojo in Cardiff whenever circumstances permit. The young team there certainly look promising and make good use of the sprung floor, they throw so heavily.

Jonesy wrote:

finarashi wrote:

Jonesy wrote:I do not think you will be disappointed with the BJC. Traditional values, no blue suits, no stripes, kata and a President who's the son of one of the pioneers of UK judo. Contrast that with the BJA.

So you prefer a son of a good Judoka to a former elite Judoka and olympian?

With the two particular characters - yes and hell yes.

Sorry if I upset you, On reflection I think there is a fine word (that eludes my mind now) of organizations that are run by sons of the former heads. And North Korea is not what I had in mind even if it is close. So I hardly think that is a positive thing to advertise. Again I do not know nor have I ever met any of the individuals we discussed. So my comments do not reflect the characters of the Presidents. I was just intrigued by your choise of words.

Typically IMHO we try to give coaching success, money making success, personal traits, elite status etc. as attributes for a good Judo leader. As you are well aware we have Judo organizations that have had less than optimal success with relatives of former heads at their helm. Personally I remember voting somebody with money making success instead of being the relative to head IJF. That inspite the fact the the said relative came to have dinner with me and gave me the organizational tie that I still treasure. Although that vote turned to be only a partial success.

Jonesy wrote:

still learning wrote:

Jonesy wrote:
Kerr is one of the good guys......

So who in your opinion are the other good guys?

Syd Hoare, Tony Sweeney, Neil Adams, Mick Leigh of the names still active in some sense.  John Perrins, Graham, Wright and Terry Edmunds in Wales were great too.  Wales has some very fine senior judoka of the next generation too.

I'd like to add Dennis Penfold to the list of good guys too if I may.....

GBRonin wrote:

Jonesy wrote:

still learning wrote:

Jonesy wrote:
Kerr is one of the good guys......

So who in your opinion are the other good guys?

Syd Hoare, Tony Sweeney, Neil Adams, Mick Leigh of the names still active in some sense.  John Perrins, Graham, Wright and Terry Edmunds in Wales were great too.  Wales has some very fine senior judoka of the next generation too.

I'd like to add Dennis Penfold to the list of good guys too if I may.....

A great guy. Only omitted him cos I do not remember him being active in BJA politics at major level. Great judoka, European medallist, great knowledge of kata too.

Jonesy wrote:...I do not remember him being active in BJA politics at major level

As an aside, and to focus back on the OP's question - as a san-kyu looking to develop good judo, I don't think that politics at a major level should play much of a consideration when looking for somewhere to train.