SFU POLICE JUDO STUDENT SURVEY

SFU Police Fall Survey 2013

Every semester at SFU Police Judo (and soon to start at JIBC Police Judo) SFU provides the students an opportunity to provide feedback through an (anonymous at SFU) on-line survey created by the SFU Police Judo Instructors and Prof. Garth Davies, Criminology Dept., SFU.

As instructors, we review the results and make sure that our training is meeting the needs of the students. We are interested in hearing students' feedback on Police Judo training. 

We are fortunate at SFU Police Judo to have so many return students (@75%) every semester, so after 4 years, the survey returns may be a little low for numbers this past semester (return students may not want to answer the survey repeatedly). However, from where we sit, the more returns the better!

Results:

 

1) The #1 reason for joining Police Judo is "fitness" as well as "fun and stress relief", followed closely by both self-defence and police tactics and techniques. Competition was not referenced in any of the surveys (consistent for the past 4 years).

2) The expected level of demand was being met (92%).

3) The techniques are practical (yes - 100%).

4) Satisfaction with coaching staff - very satisfied (83%) or satisfied (17%) with training.

5) Did SFU Police Judo meet expectations? - Fitness (100%) Self Defence (92%) Fun/Stress Relief (92%)

 

A Few of the Comments

Aspects that Deserve more or less training:

 

"More groundwork"

 - We will be continuing to incorporate groundwork training and drills into our program. While it does not make a lot of sense for law enforcement personnel to be tied up ground fighting in the real world, it is valuable training that can help a person develop strength and skill, and allow them opportunity to deal with a close quarter struggle if needed. Groundwork in context will also help someone get up from a ground fight (which should be the ultimate goal for anyone in law enforcement or in a self-defence situation) should they be entangled in one. And, yes, it's fun!

 

"More time on freestyle groundwork and freestyle standup grappling and throwing..."

As per the above, we will always be incorporating freestyle groundwork into our programs. Freestyle standing work is training that requires more consideration. It is relatively easy to develop skill and experience in groundwork and another thing completely to acquire skill and proficiency in throwing and freestyle standing judo techniques. It is much harder. We have a responsibility to the members regarding their safety as an injury incurred here could put them out of a career if they are in an application process for law enforcement. So, we will always work towards incorporating challenging training such as throw-for-throw, grip fighting, and defend-attack drills to help build up the skill base for members in standing techniques, but we have to be careful on freestyle standing work until a solid breakfall and  judo skill level exists (for both partners).

 

"Club getaways for the weekend to practice in other towns or facilities...."

As we have done continually since our inceptions, we are looking at developing different opportunities both to bring in special instructors and programming as well as to provide opportunities for members to attend training sessions outside of our area. Recently TTC black belt Adelphie and SFU Police Judo black belt Chin-I attended a four day women's Kata class seminar in California which they found very beneficial. Brian Shipper has arranged several higher belt seminars with guest instructors (two day workshops), as well as the NCCP course certification for higher belts. We have arranged a number of presentations ranging from Sgt. Kevin Torvik in Recruiting through to internationally renowned Geographic profiler Dr. Kim Rossmo for SFU Police Judo students. The SFU Police Judo instructors have attended and presented at International conferences in Chicago and California promoting Police Judo. Considerations for the future will be funding, locations, training sessions, and costing. We will be continuing to look for other relevant sessions and keep our members posted on this!

 

"Team building exercises for learning names of the members in the Club and who you practice with..."

We can look at this and will discuss it. Judo is relies on working with a partner, and we constantly change up experience and partnerships throughout the practice. Hoping that through the continued interchange of partners and opportunity to train and spend time with other members of the club there is ongoing learning regarding other members in the club.

 

"Make practice earlier in day - say 6pm?"

 

As we are sharing gym space and utilize the wrestling mats in the Central Gym, as well as the instructors are balancing full time work, the best suited times for being able to manage this program have proven to be at 19:30 hours. All Police Judo Clubs start training at 19:30 hours (JIBC, TTC, and SFU). There may be an opportunity to run additional classes, but currently we just don't have the resources nor space available to run a different time slot for this program.

 

 

"The class is fantastic!! I have recommended it to people as it is great for self defence, a good work-out, and a lot of fun with an excellent group of people. The instructors teach great lessons and make the class relaxed and very enjoyable. Thanks so much!!"

No. Thankyou!

 

SFU Trial Week Starting Jan 21st!

Although not technically started yet, SFU Judo has been seeing good numbers of members showing up for the past two weeks. Next week (the 21st of Jan, 2014) is Trial Week. Come on out and try it! No experience necessary and the program is a lot of fun getting in shape. Here's a couple of the regulars tonight  (Iain and John)  working on body drop.

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40048805/police%20judo%20post/body%20drop%20sfu%20jan%2017th-QuickTime%20H.264.mov

"The Beat" Reality Series

A number of the Police Judo Instructors and police judo members were involved and profiled in both seasons of "The Beat" reality series on OLN (link attached on the "About" page). We just received word today that the series has been nominated for the best documentary series for the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards: http://www.academy.ca/getmedia/7d287cda-d322-4105-825d-5156d931706c/Academy_News_2014CSA_TV_Full_CSA_Nom_1.aspx

Nice to see. The VPD officers of the DTES beat continue to do great work daily and nightly without much recognition for all the challenges they face.

SFU and JIBC Police Judo

JIBC Police Judo has officially started this past week and has had a good turn-out from the winter and Christmas break. SFU Police Judo - while officially not starting until Jan 21st (trial week preceding) - is up an running as well all three nights: Tues, Thurs, and Friday. Feel free to come out before the program officially starts (just need to sign off on a waiver). Good turn-out and a lot of regulars back on the mat for SFU Police Judo. A number of the students from the clubs are now moving through the hiring process for law enforcement positions whether they be CSP, Jail, Traffic, or various police departments. This is great to see.

First Practice at the TTC

Monday, Jan 6th was the first practice for Police Judo at the TTC. Great facility, and nice to see a bunch of the regulars from VPD Judo as well as the new people. The location is perfect for those living in/around the Vancouver area: right next to a Skytrain Station and central for most areas of the city. 24 hour security is an added bonus!

Police Judo Perspective - Competition

 

There has been a lot of interest in competition (and winning) related to martial arts, especially in the domain of MMA (which style is better, which fighter is the best, etc). This is not a new issue to martial arts, and it was one that worried Jigoro Kano - the founder of judo - during his development of judo. He wanted the martial art of judo to be a way of life more than just a sport. He did see a role for tournaments and competition, but strongly believed that the focus for any competition should not be on winning, but should be about the learning process for each participant. In this environment the techniques, training and development of judo could be truly tested.

In Police Judo, the focus is on helping the student develop both physically and mentally, look after each other, to grow and develop together, and there is no concern with who is the "ultimate fighter" or the player with the most medals. There are no referees on the street where police officers work, so rules and regulations and what constitutes a "win" don't necessarily translate. For example in competition judo, a clean throw of an opponent on his back will win a judo match. A clean throw for an aggressive and fighting individual on the street might just be the start of the fight. For an officer, losing is not an option. One will do as one trains under stress and pressure. Police have to train for the demands of the job and the reality of the street.

Based on extensive experience in surveying Police Judo students and monitoring injuries incurred during our early years during the competitive freestyle practice, as well as looking at the renewed popularity of Police Judo in the past several years, the decision was made to shift the training program to a recreational program - eliminating the higher risk of injury and further modifying it to suit the unique needs of law enforcement. And in the process we have developed a recreational judo program that one can safely practice for life -no matter what one's age or previous experience.

The requirements for grading at the black belt level in Police Judo deliberately incorporate a level of volunteer work and community service in addition to regular judo practice (part of developing character and reminding one of the value of giving back). Police Judo, too, hopes to help students find "their path" in life, whether that is a career in law enforcement or any other career aspirations the students have. We want to help them accomplish their goals and encourage judo as a lifestyle.

Although we don't incorporate a competitive judo model in the Police Judo program, we fully support athletes who have made this choice and are pursuing the competitive judo stream. Police Judo training, although recreational in nature, mirrors many of the principles Jigoro Kano laid down when he created the martial art of judo as a way of life, and for development in both education and physical fitness. 

kano picture quote.jpg

Here are some of his thoughts on the subject of competition and winning taken from Jigoro Kano's memoirs:

"I introduced competition in Kodokan judo as an educational tool to give trainees and opportunity to hone their physical and mental abilities in a public forum. Unfortunately, contents have become increasingly competitive, winning now being among the most important factor among the majority of the trainees."...; a contest should be a learning experience that builds your character, not an occasion for building your ego"... (from entry 24 in Jigoro Kano's memoirs).

 

"The purpose of Kodokan judo is physical education, how to behave in contests, how to cultivate wisdom and virtue, and the application of judo principles to daily life. Judo training builds the body, contests build the spirit. The judo spirit consists of perseverance, self-restraint, good manners, and respect for others. The purpose of Kodokan judo is to bring the best out in others. It is for enabling one to lead a satisfying and meaningful life. "...(from entry 23 in Jigoro Kano's memoirs).

Referenced Material: The Way of Judo by John Stevens, copyright 2013.

Police Judo News - December 30th, 2013

This will be a new feature on the website. In the News section we will try to help keep everyone informed of the undertakings and activities that the Police Judo Clubs are involved with, and the volunteer initiatives and accomplishments of our members. With hundreds of students now across three clubs, there is a lot happening! If there is a community service initiative or news that you would like posted, please drop us a line at tacticalpolicejudo.com. Thanks!

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