Competition
General Information
Our students participate in a variety of tournaments, all designed to develop character, gauge progress and improve performance. Most of the tournaments we attend are in Southern California and Baja California. More extensive travel is required for our national and state championships however. Below are listed the various types of tournaments we attend.
Training Philosophy
After a few years as a coach, Coach Lafon became disillusioned with traditional training methods and began searching for a more effective pedagogical system. Fortunately, at an opportune time in his career he was greatly influenced by British "new Judo" innovator Geof Gleeson, whose ideas were introduced to him by American coaches Phil Porter and Bill Montgomery.
Why Every Recreational Judoplayer Should Compete
I went to my son's T-ball game the other day and watched twenty or more kids take whacks at the baseball and run in random patterns around the bases. My son is seven and all he really cares about is hitting the long ball. Fielding is completely optional.
At the end of most games, he always tells me the same thing. "e;Dad, no one wins these games. We always tie. It's boring Dad." It's a new concept that wasn't in vogue when I was a kid. T-ball and other entry level sports don't keep score, don't have league winners, and don't have 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place trophies. Everyone gets the same generic award and the same end-of-season pizza party.
FAQ
Must I compete in tournaments?
Children are required to compete but adults are not. For children, competition is a huge part of a child’s character development, which is why we require children to compete. It’s also a requirement for rank promotion. In general, students who compete advance more quickly than students who don’t compete.
Do I compete with others with similar experience /weight?
Judo competition is based on weight divisions and skill levels- usually novice, advanced, and master for athletes over 30.
Do boys and girls compete with each other?
Yes and no. Girls and boys will train together and compete against each other within the confines of our class but are usually not allowed to compete against boys in sanctioned tournaments. However, in many informal events girls with parent or coach approval may compete against boys.