The CYC Judo Program is a multi-level program that includes basic fundamentals all the way to advanced competition. Curriculum is geared to meet the needs of CYC students and to prepare them for possible competitive opportunities.  The CYC judo classes have central learning components: proper warm-ups, which include stretching upper and lower body, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pivots, break-falls and forward rolls.  The recreational classes are designed to teach students the skills required to participate on a competitive team. However, recreation classes are less serious than a competitive team and have a greater emphasis on having fun, playing games and enjoying the sport. These classes are great for kids who are just joining the sport and are not sure if it is the right sport for them. It is also great for kids who participate in a number of sports and do not have enough time to commit to a competitive team. For information on the Competitive Classes, please see section “Competitive Opportunities”.

At CYC our goal is to develop young individuals to grow in athletics, academics, and life. We recommend that athletes take advantage of The CYC Academic Excellence (AE) Program. This program is designed to augment our members’ current studies.

TIMES: Classes are held three times a week for Pre-Judo students (ages 4-6); twice a week for Recreational students (Beginning and Intermediate/Color Belts); and three times a week for competitors—see an updated schedule at the front desk.  We ask that you have your son/daughter here on time for class; it is very disruptive to the class when students walk in late.

RULES: We expect all of our students to follow these rules and procedures in order to maintain a safe and fun learning environment.

1. Must complete the required warm up at the beginning of class.
2. All clothing must match the requirements listed below.
3. No admittance to any class 10 minutes after the scheduled class time.
4. During class times the following standard rules are expected:
   • EYES watching
   • EARS listening
   • MOUTH quiet
   • HANDS to yourself
   • RESPECT others
   • DEMONSTRATE good sportsmanship
   • WEAR uniform and TIE belt properly

Any student that has problems following the above rules and procedures will be subject to discipline, including:

• REFUSAL TO BE ALLOWED TO ENTER CLASS FOR THE DAY
• WARNINGS
• TIME OUTS
• PARENT CONFERENCE
• POSSIBLE DISMISSAL FROM THE CLASS

Students are expected to respect instructors, listen and follow directions and behave well at all times during judo practice. Otherwise, students will lose the opportunity to participate and have fun in judo training at CYC.

Proper attire for practice: white judo uniform only. No students may wear non-white judo uniforms without prior permission from the instructor/coach. All female students must wear plain white T-shirts under the judo jacket.  All CYC judo students are required to purchase a judo uniform on the first day of practice. New students may check out the loaner uniform at the front desk. The uniforms are available for purchase at CYC. All judo uniforms worn on the mat must be clean.  Remove all watches and jewelry.

• HAIR: Everyone needs to have their hair out of their face. Hair, including bangs, should be pulled up into a pony-tail.
• CLOTHING: All judo students must wear a judo uniform (jacket and pants). Please note that the judo uniform is a great bacteria attractor, especially when they are moist and warm after practice. It is highly recommended that you wash your uniform as soon as possible after practice and that you wash your uniform after every practice. A dirty uniform will not be allowed in the practice room.
• FOOTWEAR: Slippers (flip-flops) are required to wear walking outside of the judo mat area. Everyone must be bare-foot on the judo mats. All participants must wash their feet and hands before and after practice.  
• JEWERLY: Not permitted; i.e. earrings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, rings, belly rings, nose piercing and so on must be removed.
• MARK ALL PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: Be sure to mark your personal belongings with your name and/or phone number.  It's quite common for people to accidentally pick up someone else's personal property by mistake at the end of practice.
• FINGERNAILS & TOENAILS: All participants MUST cut their fingernails and toenails to a very short length and keep them smoothly filed. No fake nails are permitted.

Judo is contact sport and all judo students are required to keep good personal hygiene. Students must come to practice with a clean and dry uniform, clean body and feet, and safely clipped finger and toe nails.

During practice spectators are restricted to the bench area only.  No spectators are allowed on the mat area. This helps keep street shoes from tracking dirt onto the mat, and it also makes a safer and roomier area for the students.  Please do not disrupt practice by coaching or distracting your children from the bench or asking coaches questions during class. It is difficult for some parents to stay out of the coaching process for their children.  CYC has strong confidence in the abilities and knowledge of the coaches.  If you feel you have something constructive to add to the program, please set up a time to meet with the Head Coach or Program Director at a time outside of practice. The following are common disruptions that are detrimental to the training process and goals of CYC: Speaking to your child for something other than an emergency, making gestures from the bench, calling students away from the training area, coaching your child from the side and distracting the coach during training.  Training times are strictly for the development of your children by CYC coaches.  Please keep times for concerns with the program, your child and/or the coaches outside of scheduled training.

Students will be moved to different classes when the coaching staff feels that the student has developed technically and is physically ready.  This is not a parental decision. If for some reason you think that your child should move to a different class or you want to discuss your child’s progress, please schedule a meeting with the Head Coach. All advancements MUST have the Head Coach’s prior approval.

PURPOSE: The CYC Competitive Judo Program is designed to teach boys and girls about the sport of judo. Not only does this program offer the students training in stretching upper and lower body, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pivots, break-falls and forward rolls, it also provides students with values for life. Becoming a part of a judo team teaches students about teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication, discipline, desire, leadership, time management and more. Because this program requires students to spend a lot of time together and to rely on each other, this program also places a great emphasis on friendship, trust and fun.

COMPETITIVE TEAM: The competitive season runs from September to the end of July. The National Junior Championships are usually held in July/August.  It is strongly recommended to participate in the local competitions where athletes are trained and prepared. Competitors are pooled into group based on judo rank, weight and age. Judo tournaments are usually held on Sundays. The most important aspect of judo training is to grow CYC students to be self-confident and successful people! The competitive team is more serious than the recreational classes and requires more time and commitment on the part of both students and parents. Tryouts for this team will be held every year, usually in September. Students must try out for the team each year, even students on the team previously. No student is guaranteed a spot on the team just because they were on the team the year before.

• AGES: The program offers a competitive team for students, ages 6 to 18. Athletes selected to the team will already have the basic fundamentals of various judo techniques.
• UNIFORM: The competitive uniform is comprised of a judo gi and a team warm-up suit. The students will have the opportunity to personally raise funds for their uniforms as well as travel funds. In the situation that a family can not cover the full cost of the uniform, scholarships may be available.
• MEMBERSHIP: All competitors must join USA Judo (USJI) and purchase the annual membership. Financially challenged students may apply for scholarship.
• TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES AND FORMS: All competitors must pay entry fees and complete entry forms with parents/guardians. Financially challenged students may apply for scholarship.
• TRAVEL: The CYC Competitive Judo Team will travel to compete at various competitions during the year.
  • LOCAL: The competitive judo team will compete monthly from September to June around the Bay Area. These competitions are all-day events.
  • REGIONAL: The competitive team will compete in a regional competition, usually in February each year.
  • STATE: The competitive team will compete in state championships each year. It is generally held in May. This is an all-day event. There is usually no fee or a small fee of approximately $10 per spectator.
  • NATIONALS: The team also travels to USA Junior or Senior Nationals held in a different city each year. This is a 3-4 day trip. Typically, the team would leave on Friday and come back on Sunday or Monday. There is usually a small fee of approximately $10 per spectator.
  • TRANSPORTATION: Parents are responsible to provide transportation for their students to tournament sites.

Past team participation does not guarantee a spot on the judo team’s roster the following year. All interested athletes must tryout every year. Criteria for team selection includes:

1. Break-fall skills: Must be able to break the fall safely.
2. Throwing skills: Minimum of 3 techniques (hand, hip and foot).
3. Mat Techniques: Pinning & escapes; choking (13 & older); Arm locks (17 & over—Black Belt division only).
4. Commands: Understanding the various referee commands.
5. Athletic Abilities: Speed, strength and flexibility.
6. Participation in group training sessions.
7. Good sportsmanship and good character.

1. Judo team members are required to practice in regular and competitive training classes.
2. Each competition member can miss no more than five practices during the season. If you are going to be absent or late, please call the coach in advance so that the coach can make the proper preparations for practice.
3. Be on time for practice! If you are late, do your warm-ups and quickly join the team. Three late arrivals is equivalent to one absence. If you are more than five minutes late and you do not call the coach, you will have to do 30 push-ups before being allowed to join practice.
4. Judo is a sport, and thus there is the possibility of injury. However, the team members will be properly trained to reduce chances of injury.
5. CYC encourages athletes to play more than one sport. However, we would hope that judo comes first as we get closer to our competition dates. Team members cannot miss any practices two weeks prior to the competitions. Coaches will work together with you to work out a schedule beneficial to everyone. Therefore, it is important that parents and athletes communicate effectively in advance to alert coaches of any potential conflicts. All doctor, dentist and other appointments should best be worked around judo practice times. We appreciate your effort on this.
6. A team is like a family. We encourage positive attitudes toward fellow team members and coaches. If there are any issues, we ask that the athlete or parent speak directly with the coach as to work together to solve any problems. The Head Coach has an open door policy and will be available to speak with parents either before or after practices.
7. Team members are encouraged to begin strength and conditioning regimens with The CYC Sport Specific Conditioning Program which will supplement training.

The CYC Judo Program will hold 1-2 demonstrations per year. These demonstrations allow students to show the techniques they have learned and to have fun performing in front of a crowd. These performances are a chance for students to perform for their family, friends, classmates and CYC members. Performing is optional and all judo classes will perform in each demonstration.

1. RECREATIONAL: Classes run for 4 to 18 years of age. New students under the age of 10 should start in the Pre-Judo classes. Pre-Judo classes are mainly for ages 4 to 6. Beginning classes are for ages 10 and under or new students. Intermediate classes are for colored belts or ages 11 and older.
2. COMPETITIVE: A competitive team is for students 6 to 18 years old. See "Competitive Opportunities" section.