Extra Blog Post: October

During the West Covina Novice tournament I was a coach, as I was not able to compete, as the tournament was only meant for novis. Novice tournament means that only competitors of white, yellow, orange, and green belt may compete. As I am a brown belt I was not able to compete; leading to one of my sensei's asking me if I wanted to coach. Though I am not certified, he broke a rule here and there for me and just gave me his coaching wrist band that you must have certification and a badge to get. Many of the reffs were bothered that I did not referee because they are all my buddies that I sit and talk with during lunch and after the tournaments.
From this experience I learned that while being a coach, you must be loud; loud enough to be heard over parents cheering for there kids on every mat. You must also be on your toes, having the ability to evaluate the game and understand the other players strengths and weaknesses in a matter of seconds. One must also know there own players strengths and weaknesses, so that during coaching they may tell their player what to do and what not to do.
This also ties into my component one, I plan to get my coaching certificate in December during the winter nationals.

Blog 8:Research and Working EQ

1. What is your working EQ?

How can Judokas apply Judo to more than just the mat?

2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.
A way Judokas can apply Judo to more than just the mat takes time, time to understand what Judo is, that Judo is much more than just a sport of throwing someone, it is about the respect you have for the person your throwing. The thanks you are giving to someone as your throwing them, for letting you throw them. And the return respecting them enough to allow them to practice their technique on you. In mutual benefit and welfare, moving forward together.

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

Book: Second Life of Judo

Interviews: With Sensei Gary, Sensei OJ, and Sensei Kostas

Practice(Clinics): Anyone who has something to offer, no matter the age, rank, weight

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Sensei Gary, along with all the other black belts that help out during class.

I am doing my mentorship at Goltz Judo at Claremont's recreation center.

Practice and helping out the kids class and volunteering in any tournament possible, I am working my hardest to give back to Judo.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Will Be Turned In...
Log of time taken to complete assignment Senior Project Hours spreadsheet.
Evidence of the 30 hours of work (e.g. transcript, essays, tests, art work, photographs) as digital artifacts.
LIA explanation of what you did.

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to learn how to properly coach judoka's during tournaments. To do this I will need to take a coaching clinic in either November or December. I plan to take it in December because it will be during Winter Nationals, and since I work during Winter Nationals anyways I just get to attended another day, or when ever it happens to be. Though my coach, wants me to coach anyways, this past weekend he showed for his coaching badge and got a wrist band that must be worn during coaching, and just gave it to me so that no one would say anything about me not being a certified coach.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will document when I am learning to be a coach, or working with my coach on certain skills needed to coach. Especially when I coach for the students. Doing this, I will need to work with some of those I will be coaching to learn their strengths and weaknesses.

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

I will be taking a coaching clinic during the Winter Nationals or if my Sensei's want me to I will take the one in November. I will also be working with my coach, on what he does, what he says, and how he says it to let the player know what to do.

4. Update your Senior Project Hours log.
okay! lol

Extra Blog Post: September

This month my Sensei, OJ had asked my partner and I to go to another club to take pictures doing Judo throws, that then would be put on a t shirt for Winter Nationals. This was a really awesome experience. Not only were Shadi and I able to go to another club to try out there training but we were able to be in an actual judo photo shoot. Were going to be on a t shirt for Winter Nationals. I just found that so awesome. After participating in practice with Discover(name of club we went to), Gary Wagstaf had us take the pictures. Then as we were laughing and having a good time after that he decided to take a few more, these he actually decided to give to us. As my Sensei didn't like any that were taken and said we have to do it again.

Blog 6: Second Interview Preparation

Due Date: Friday, 9/19 by 8AM


The purpose of the second interview is to justify your mentor as an expert in the field. Thus, you will be asking them at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work.

1. Who is your mentor and where do they work?

My mentor is Sensei Gary Goltz and he owns and works at Goltz Judo. I will be interviewing a few other Sensei's from the club (possible other mentors)

2. What five questions will you ask them about their background?

When and why did you start Judo? What made you choose Judo over any other sport? And why did you stay with Judo?

What is the difference from when you were participating in competitive Judo to today's "competitive Judo"?

What were the rules when you were competing? Why so many rule changes in Judo and what started them? What are some major rule changes that have occurred? Why?

How were you trained when you were competing? Do you teach us the same, why or why not? Did you have two separate classes where you trained one way and learned Judo another way?

Where did your teaching style come from?

Where did you begin Judo? How did you end up at Goltz?

What was your favorite techniques to use when you participated in competitive Judo? 

How have you applied Judo to other parts of your life?

The interview is due 10/25 by 8AM in Q&A format to turnitin.com.

Blog 5: Mentorship Reflection

Based on what you have done for your senior project so far, answer the following questions (be specific and use examples).

1. Mentorship question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship? If you haven't found one yet, describe your experience so far in the search of a mentor.
 

It really wasn't hard for me to find a mentor/mentorship. To be honest I already had it, I already go to judo 3-4 days a week, also work tournaments and try my best to help out in the kids class. All that I really needed to do was notify my Sensei's about the senior project and that I will be working a little closer with them. To answer the question I found my mentorship by going to practice.

2. Research question: What has been your most important article you have read so far and why? 

Article wise or book wise? I'm going to go off the reseach check stuff, in which I have already done books where as most do articles, I have found the two parts of "The second life of Judo" that I have read have been very motivating. The book have been extremely inspirational. This is because it gives a totally different view on Judo that most people never even think of. Which is nice to see that most of the people that come to practice aren't just there for the practice, there there for the spiritual part as well. 

Extra Blog Post: August

This was problably the first day I logged for my mentorship. This is one of my main mentors. Sensei OJ, best friends with Sensei Gary. During this day everyone who was refereeing was being tested for their credentials to either become a regional or local referee, as a beginner. I was not tested due to the fact I was not at the orientation nor to take the writen test to become a referee. (I was taking the SAT) Anyways, back to that day; it was (my other mentor) Sensei Gary's birthday tournment. During that tournment I was able to work as a referee, I was also able to work the tables meaning; I worked the scoreboard, do pooling. When I say I was able to work score board, scoreboard is exactly what it sounds like, it keeps the score between the two players participating in the match. Pooling is a paper with the names of the people who are matched to fight by age, weight, and rank, calling their names and keeping track of score that way they know who will be fighting who next going for first place.