[WhiteBeltJones]

Attention North Texan (and surrounding area) Judoka!

The 53rd Annual Mose Woodson Classic Judo Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2010.

The location will be at the Ken Bahnsen Gym, on the campus of the University of North Texas, located in Denton, TX.

This is an All Star Event, as well as the Brown Belt State Championship.

For full information, please download the information packet and entry form here: http://optimistjudo....onjudoflyer.pdf

Hope to see you all there!

[Gant Grimes]

For those interested in Masters and Brown Belt divisions, you probably noticed that they were both starting in the morning this year (at the same time). I just talked to Mike Woodson, and he said they would run the Masters first, then the Brown Belts. So you'll be able to do both.

[Primetiny]

Gant Grimes, on 17 March 2010 - 03:17 PM, said:

For those interested in Masters and Brown Belt divisions, you probably noticed that they were both starting in the morning this year (at the same time). I just talked to Mike Woodson, and he said they would run the Masters first, then the Brown Belts. So you'll be able to do both.

This is a bit of mistake for the future of judo in our State. Let me see if I can explain my point. As a parent of an 11 year old that has been to your wonderful tournament three times I have sat in the stands and observed the following. Parents, probably new judo parents, chase their young bored to death kids around the stands while kata and old guys compete. I understand that respect has been earned by these long time judoka, but the fact remains that you are severely stressing what should be our target audience. Judo is an incredible sport with a monumental problem attracting young players. If it is to grow, Judo needs to cater to the new parents. It is a shame I was shocked that my son had 7 players this weekend in his bracket, instead of the usual 0-1 players. I absolutely love your tournament and the organization, but all the tournaments in Texas need to become more kid friendly.


thanks for your effort and awesome tournament for my son to compete in, Duane Watts

[okurijdo]

Primetiny, on 22 March 2010 - 04:57 PM, said:

This is a bit of mistake for the future of judo in our State. Let me see if I can explain my point. As a parent of an 11 year old that has been to your wonderful tournament three times I have sat in the stands and observed the following. Parents, probably new judo parents, chase their young bored to death kids around the stands while kata and old guys compete. I understand that respect has been earned by these long time judoka, but the fact remains that you are severely stressing what should be our target audience. Judo is an incredible sport with a monumental problem attracting young players. If it is to grow, Judo needs to cater to the new parents. It is a shame I was shocked that my son had 7 players this weekend in his bracket, instead of the usual 0-1 players. I absolutely love your tournament and the organization, but all the tournaments in Texas need to become more kid friendly.


thanks for your effort and awesome tournament for my son to compete in, Duane Watts

Hi Duane:

As a tournament director, Lone Star Classic each January, your post caught my attention. I don't know if you have ever attended the LSC in the past, but I'm curious on your overall thoughts on how judo tournaments as a whole can become more kid friendly?

Thanks.

Kim Mesa

[Gant Grimes]

Primetiny, on 22 March 2010 - 11:57 AM, said:

This is a bit of mistake for the future of judo in our State. Let me see if I can explain my point. As a parent of an 11 year old that has been to your wonderful tournament three times I have sat in the stands and observed the following. Parents, probably new judo parents, chase their young bored to death kids around the stands while kata and old guys compete. I understand that respect has been earned by these long time judoka, but the fact remains that you are severely stressing what should be our target audience. Judo is an incredible sport with a monumental problem attracting young players. If it is to grow, Judo needs to cater to the new parents. It is a shame I was shocked that my son had 7 players this weekend in his bracket, instead of the usual 0-1 players. I absolutely love your tournament and the organization, but all the tournaments in Texas need to become more kid friendly.

thanks for your effort and awesome tournament for my son to compete in, Duane Watts

Hi, Duane.

I am not involved with putting on the Mose (or any other tourney), but I can address a few of your points. Hopefully some discussion will follow.

I agree that watching masters play and kata competitions have little appeal for parents or youngsters. There are a couple reasons that this is done.

First, the masters and kata competitions are usually held first because a lot of those guys referee or coach the rest of the day. It makes more sense to play those guys early than to have them on their feet all day and run them at the end of the tourney.

Second, you'll see more kata at the Mose than other tourneys because Denton's club is more active in kata. It's also nice because Denton does more than just Nage No Kata.

Regarding a 7-player pool...wow! Assuming that it wasn't a consolidated age/weight class, you should be thrilled to have that many people for your son to play. It's hard for kids (and sometimes parents) to understand, but playing as many kids as possible is better for a young judoka than beating one other kid to win a division. I'd take matches over a walkover medal any day.

I agree with you that judo tourneys (in Texas and elsewhere) can be challenging on young children and their parents. I play masters and seniors and am also the parent of a 6-year old player. We only hit one or two tourneys a year together because it is such a long day for him (and because I don't want "competition play" inhibiting his growth and understanding of real judo. Compared to soccer or basketball, which is a short time commitment for a high "fun" component, a judo tourney has a tough time keeping everybody's attention.

I don't know the answer other than to speed things up for the young ones. If I ran a tourney (and could get away with it), I would start by running 1 referee for all divisions under the age of 12. In the grand scheme of things, it's ok if junior gets a yuko instead of a waza ari. Let's avoid the conference and get on with it.

The second thing I would do--and this isn't directed at you, Duane--is educate the parents (and some coaches) about what judo is really about. Maybe that would cut down on some of the obnoxious behavior and allow the volunteers running tables, calling brackets, and reffing matches do their jobs. But that's another post.

In the meantime, look for inter-dojo or dual tourneys. They're more informal but run a lot faster. Ruben Martin (in Burleson) also puts on developmental tourneys several times a year for newer players. Or just do what I do and let your son enjoy going to class and learning judo. If you hit one or two comps a year, all the better.

This post has been edited by Gant Grimes: 22 March 2010 - 07:08 PM

[Primetiny]

I absolutely love the venue at the LSC. I wish the Texas State could have been there as well. In two seasons my son has not had a fellow player in his bracket at your tournament. On both occasions we had to solicit matches, one kid three matches, both years. It was nice this year because my son was able to measure himself against an older multiple time national champ. I think we are missing out in Texas with all the Judo Clubs. We need to attempt to have 100% club participation at every Texas tournament. I know this is a pipedream, but I see clubs that consistently never come to tournaments. I come from a wrestling background and am amazed at the amount of kids that go to those tourneys on a weekly basis. We have a serious problem attracting the masses that other sports do. I think Judo is an incredible sport with much to offer our youth, we just need to reach them!! At Becerra we have just formed a competition team that will be showcasing the sport. They performed at an Asian Festival already and will be performing at elementary schools around our Rec Center. I am sure this will reap rewards for our club. At LSC it would have been nice if you would have had that last mat going the entire time. It, of course, would have speeded up the tournament. I know volunteers are essential and our kids could not participate without them. I totally understand about the reasoning behind the seniors and kata going first, but I am a fully committed parent to my sons athletic endeavors. I think that practice really alienates NEW Parents to the sport. The bread and butter of these judo tournaments are the youth, and I think they needed to be catered to better.

In conclusion, I am a committed judo dad who absolutely loves the sport and wants to see higher participation. Nothing is more discouraging then to drive 200 miles at 5 in the morning to have one kid in your sons bracket.

sorry if this is disjointed, I have started and stopped this note five times today!!!! thanks, Duane Watts

[okurijdo]

Primetiny, on 22 March 2010 - 10:05 PM, said:

I absolutely love the venue at the LSC. I wish the Texas State could have been there as well. In two seasons my son has not had a fellow player in his bracket at your tournament. On both occasions we had to solicit matches, one kid three matches, both years. It was nice this year because my son was able to measure himself against an older multiple time national champ. I think we are missing out in Texas with all the Judo Clubs. We need to attempt to have 100% club participation at every Texas tournament. I know this is a pipedream, but I see clubs that consistently never come to tournaments. I come from a wrestling background and am amazed at the amount of kids that go to those tourneys on a weekly basis. We have a serious problem attracting the masses that other sports do. I think Judo is an incredible sport with much to offer our youth, we just need to reach them!! At Becerra we have just formed a competition team that will be showcasing the sport. They performed at an Asian Festival already and will be performing at elementary schools around our Rec Center. I am sure this will reap rewards for our club. At LSC it would have been nice if you would have had that last mat going the entire time. It, of course, would have speeded up the tournament. I know volunteers are essential and our kids could not participate without them. I totally understand about the reasoning behind the seniors and kata going first, but I am a fully committed parent to my sons athletic endeavors. I think that practice really alienates NEW Parents to the sport. The bread and butter of these judo tournaments are the youth, and I think they needed to be catered to better.

In conclusion, I am a committed judo dad who absolutely loves the sport and wants to see higher participation. Nothing is more discouraging then to drive 200 miles at 5 in the morning to have one kid in your sons bracket.

sorry if this is disjointed, I have started and stopped this note five times today!!!! thanks, Duane Watts

Thanks for the reply. I would have LOVED to have the State tourney at the NYTEX Centre like the LSC, but unfortunately, it all comes back to money. I have to have $4-5K to pay for the venue, catering, mats, etc... The State tournament doesn't draw like the LSC does because only players from Texas can attend. We had originally planned three mats at States, but when it came down to it, we didn't have enough refs to open 3 mats and I didn't want the same complaint you just mentioned about only running three mats at the LSC (Because of the weather, we only had enough refs for 3 of the 4 mats.) If I don't have enough refs, I can't run the mat, so I decided to go ahead and rent the mats with two Olympic size playing areas (the only size the come in) instead of three modified areas that I couldn't use. Of course renting the two mats was a catch 22 because we could only put out 325 chairs. Bottom line, there is a lot of things that go into a tournament behind the scenes that those who don't run them don't know that happen.

I know, I don't know why it is so hard to attract folks to tournaments. I have students who didn't attend the LSC, their own club tournament. I don't get it, but it's the case.

Thanks again for the reply.

[Primetiny]

Great Tournament Today,,thank you Denton Optimist

[jmdarter]

Yes, great tournament today, with some great matches! Pics will be online soon at www.flickr.com/thejudopodcast