The USJA Promotion Board is NOT DOING their Job!!!!!

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 8:29pm

It is very strange indeed. People like markjudo and Tripp are upset, and perhaps postig in a manner that people dn't appreciate, but these are two guys who really have put a lot of themselves into an organization (USJA) that promised it's members it had moved beyond the dark days of rank peddling. This case has shaken that belief, and I can understand why they feel betrayed. Even if Nick is completely blameless in this, by his own testimony, some very shady stuff has gone down at USJA. It's sad really, and I hope folks take that into account when they react to the tone of some of the posting on this thread. Some of these guys are heartbroken over this.

**markjudo** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 9:13pm

Lets just move on......................................... I just have to face it, the Art I love is NO longer there. THANK YOU people for KILLING JUDO and what it STANDS FOR.

Lets have everyone have the RANK of 10th Dan in Judo since Rank DOESNT mean ANYTHING.

Lets call EVERYONE a MASTER!

No need to put in the TIME, No need to have SKILL, No need to TEST!

Why not just BUY Rank, you can buy a RED/WHITE or EVEN a RED Belt online.

Send your Money to:
USJA
21 North Union Blvd.
Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Lets start a RANK FEE on E BAY, send Money and get your 8th Dan today!

**BKR** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 9:21pm

Originally Posted by markjudo

I didnt distance myself from the USJA. I just bowed out of the POLITICS and ALL OF their Committees. I didnt want to be invovled in something I didnt believe in. I still have HOPE that one day the USJA will be great again. I have the 7th Largest USJA Club so, if I had distanced myself why would I have a big club with over 100 USJA members in it.

Like I have stated before: I dont know Sensei Lowry, he seems to be a very nice person but............... it also seems that the USJA had some great people in their organization too and look what happened to the RANK Issue with them.

I dont want to HURT or BELITTLE anyone! I just want EVERYONE to follow the same GUIDESLINES. I dont believe in the BUDDY SYSTEM. It scares me that I have promoted all of my students through the USJA. They have meet all requirements and now I feel their rank could be in question due to all of the Sour grapes that CHEATED the system. No one RESPECTS the USJA Ranks for this reason! I want my STUDENTS to be proud of their rank and what they did to EARN it. It wasnt GIVEN to them as a GIFT. Rank shouldnt be a GIFT! It is something you earn through hard work.

If I recall right. Some Ju Jitsu members werent happy with the USJA so, they went out and started their organization and most of them hold HIGH DAN ranks now. Rank is something that should earned and not given!!!!!!!!!!!!! They left the USJA beacuse they thought they should be HIGH RANK and the USJA wanted Contorl. Wow.... Rank must mean something then :)

Thanks for the clarification on your position with USJA. When all the shenanigans with the last election and the aftermath happened, you seemed to be pretty pissed off.

I can understand why you won't bring this up with the USJA, though, especially if you are still involved with them. You would be stepping on a LOT of toes to say the least. More drama when the JA has been drama-absent and business like for a few months.

And I agree, let it drop. I don't agree that Judo is not Judo anymore. Politics, rank inflation, etc has been part of Judo from the beginning.

Good luck, Mark!

**markjudo** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 9:41pm

For the RECORD!

I have sent a E Mail to Gary Goltz, President of the USA and also sent a note to GARY MONTO, member of the Promotion Board on this Subject.

So YES, I am stepping on Toes!

**BKR** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 10:24pm

Originally Posted by markjudo

For the RECORD!

I have sent a E Mail to Gary Goltz, President of the USA and also sent a note to GARY MONTO, member of the Promotion Board on this Subject.

So YES, I am stepping on Toes!

Good job, Mark, that is the appropriate thing to do. I don't always agree with you, but I've always admired the fact that you speak your mind to the powers that be.

Ben

**BKR** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 10:27pm

Originally Posted by markjudo

I dont why people on this site is attacking me! I am not the one that isnt showing respect!

I never never said anything about anyone. I was just stating MY feelings on the High Dan Ranks without meeting the Guidelines!

I dont read the threads here, just the ones that my name was brought up in

Matter of Fact, I sent a E Mail to Sensei Lowry stating he is WELCOME at the camp that I am forming as the Aikido Instructor.

Yes, I got pissed on some the remarks from people on this site!

RANK is important to me, I am sorry some people dont feel the same way.

GUIDELINES and REQUIREMENTS is the Key to Promotions

Mark,

Rank is a touchy subject to say the least. However, I don't think that anyone intended to attack you. I know I did not.

I admire you for bringing this to the attention of the USJA. That is all I have basically argued from the beginning.

Ben

**markjudo** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 10:55pm

the USJA Promotion Board is NOT DOING their Job!!!!! Period

**BKR** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 11:00pm

Originally Posted by markjudo

the USJA Promotion Board is NOT DOING their Job!!!!! Period

At least in 2006 something funny was going on.

That one record you pulled showing a person going from shodan to rokudan with the skip from yondan to rokudan was crazy. Lots wrong with that whole history.

Ben

**markjudo** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 11:01pm

Mission StatementThe mission of the USJA Promotion Board is to ensure that the standards of promotions awarded by the USJA reflect the technical expertise, range of techniques, character development, overall judo knowledge, and contribution to the sport of the person promoted. Inherent in this process is the direct evaluation of candidates for high dan promotions. Additionally, the Board will ensure that the process maintains its fairness by simultaneously withholding ranks from unqualified candidates and recognizing deserving candidates.
NAMERANKPHONESTATEPOSITIONSid Kelly7D203-937-1922CTChairmanErnest Smith7D760-253-2597CAVice ChairmanJames Bregman9D703 309-5252 MemberWalter Dean9D760-944-9486CAMemberJesse Jones9D619-990-9257CAMemberHarold Sharp8D310-534-1108CAMemberGary L. Monto7D419-693-3682OHSecretaryHayward Nishioka8D310-347-7577CAMemberLynn Roethke7D920-924-7676WIMember

Everyone of them will be getting a E Mail from me!

Maybe a Personal Phone Call too!

**Larus marinus** · Posted On: 7/16/2011 11:07pm

Originally Posted by markjudo

Mission StatementThe mission of the USJA Promotion Board is to ensure that the standards of promotions awarded by the USJA reflect the technical expertise, range of techniques, character development, overall judo knowledge, and contribution to the sport of the person promoted. Inherent in this process is the direct evaluation of candidates for high dan promotions. Additionally, the Board will ensure that the process maintains its fairness by simultaneously withholding ranks from unqualified candidates and recognizing deserving candidates.
NAMERANKPHONESTATEPOSITIONSid Kelly7D203-937-1922CTChairmanErnest Smith7D760-253-2597CAVice ChairmanJames Bregman9D703 309-5252 MemberWalter Dean9D760-944-9486CAMemberJesse Jones9D619-990-9257CAMemberHarold Sharp8D310-534-1108CAMemberGary L. Monto7D419-693-3682OHSecretaryHayward Nishioka8D310-347-7577CAMemberLynn Roethke7D920-924-7676WIMember

Everyone of them will be getting a E Mail from me!

Maybe a Personal Phone Call too!

Doesn't seem unreasonable.

I presume that you're going to flag up *all* the dubious ranks that you've discovered so far?