Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Top 10 Wish List for the Dream Dojo



1. Ample mat area: Having a huge hall like the kinds you see in Japanese universities is a luxury most of us will never get to enjoy. But if you can have a mat area that can accommodate up to four pairs of players doing randori (standing and groundwork), that would be pretty damn good.

2. Medium-soft mats: For training purposes, mats should be not so hard like the traditional tatami from Japan but neither should they be so soft that your feet will sink into the mats either. Medium-soft is good for training purposes.

3. Crash pads: Ideally several of them but at least one. These are for the hard throws. You absolutely need crash pads for throws like ura-nage. Or the Khabarelli.

4. TV monitor: These are useful for showing players competition clips and for illustrating certain throws as they are done in international competitions.

5. White board: This is for you to write down techniques that phrases that you want to teach the players. Also good for illustrating strategy.

6. Air-conditioning: This would be considered a luxury in Malaysia. To my knowledge, no judo clubs have this. In contrast, almost all judo clubs in Singapore have air-conditioning. Having trained in Singaporean air-conditioned halls, I can say definitively that it helps you last longer for randori. The recovery rate is so much faster when there is cool air blowing through the dojo.

7. Gym equipment: Again, this is quite a luxury and is not that common in dojos, either in Malaysia or Singapore. But if there were some basic weight training equipment, it would be useful for players who want to do some strength building.

8. Nearby amenities: Many dojos in big cities are located in the outskirts of town because it's too expensive to have a dojo in a busy and popular area. But when it's in a rather secluded place, there are usually no shopping or eating options nearby. And that's a drawback. Parents who bring their kids to judo class have nowhere to go and nothing to do. Players who want to eat something after training have to travel someplace else to do so. If you have many retail outlets nearby that's a real bonus.

9. Keen members: In Thor: Ragnarok there is a line that says, "Asgard is not a place, it's a people." Ultimately, that's true also of judo clubs. Yes, the physical infrastructure is important but even more important are the members. Having the right type of members allows you to set the right culture in your club. And if you have that, you have a recipe for success. When it comes to members, quantity is important but quality is absolutely essential.

10. Aligned vision: Operating a judo club can be a costly endeavor that involves a lot of work. It is not something you can easily do alone. So it's good to have collaborators. It's crucial that the people you work with have goals and visions that are aligned with yours. Then together you can reach great heights. 

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