UPDATING & VERIFYING THE DAN GRADES REGISTER
Judo Australia’s move towards digitisation will require an upgrade to our most important historical record: the Dan Grade Register.
A vital step in preparing for our Digital Grading System is to review and update all existing records of grading. Kyu grades are not currently recorded consistently or kept in a central register; from later this year, digitisation will give every Australian judoka a record of their early achievements.
For Dan and High Dan grades, Judo Australia maintains the Dan Grades Register HERE. This is a historical document dating back to 1956 and while most of the information is correct, we appreciate that some people’s Dan Grade information is incomplete or missing.
It is important this is corrected and updated to support our move to the new Digital Grading System.
What do I need to do?
All records held in the Dan Grade Register will need to be verified as a starting point for future progress, and we will build in as much historic data as can be verified. Judo Australia will then approve all future Dan Grades directly from Judo Manager.
We need your help to check your details, those of people close to you including family members who may be no longer with us, and crosscheck with any Club records that support those gradings.
- Check existing details on the register are correct. If yes, confirm as supported by a scan/photo of your/your family member’s grading certificate
- Check if you known details that are MISSING from the Dan Grades Register. Supply evidence as above
- Do you hold Club Records that can be used to crosscheck and verify details on the Dan Register, or support the addition of new names?
Please email all information/evidence to Judo Australia’s Shane Alvisio: salvisio@ausjudo.com.au
Working with Shane in rebuilding the Dan Grades Register is Leo Matsuzaki, the volunteer Project Officer for this massive task.
Leo is an established competitive judoka who has contested Nationals several times, and also coaches through Maishin Judo Club on the Gold Coast, and Taephoon Judo Club in Ipswich.
He is completing his final year of Bachelor of Sport Development at Griffith University and untangling our Dan Grades Register will no doubt test many of the skills he has developed. Expect some emails or phone calls from Leo and do your best to help him out please.
What evidence is required?
Judo Australia will be asking club administrators or individuals to check the Dan Grade Register to ensure all is correct.
As above, Judoka are asked to photograph/scan their Grading Certificate and attach to an email or text message certificate so the JA records can be updated or corrected.
Accepted evidence could include historical certification from Judo Australia or the JA ratified, IJF or Kodokan Institute in Japan.
Certification that will be investigated more closely will be from non-recognised Judo bodies, such as the Australian Kodokan Association, the Australian Judo Union, the International Budo Federation, the Judo Alumni, and Dan Grades from other countries that have previously sought ratification process by Judo Australia.
The IJF has advised that judoka should be graded within the country that they reside. Judo Australia has traditionally ratified one dan grading for judoka but is not permitted to do this for more than one dan grade.
We appreciate there may be judoka living in Australia that only have their dan grade recognised in other countries, and will work with you to find the best solution.
Contact Shane Alvisio (salvisio@ausjudo.com.au) for further information.
