USJF Teachers’ Course

Seasons greetings everyone,

We’re in the midst of a very busy holiday season with family and friends.

I would like to inform you that there is a change in the next USJF Teachers’ Course on Sunday, 12 January, 2020, which will now be held at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center, the home of the San Fernando Valley Judo Club.

• San Fernando Valley Judo Club 
• 12953 Branford St. Pacoima, CA  91331

Attached you will find the revised sanctioned registration form for this course. Share this email with someone you know that may be interested in the program or for your rising leaders in your Dojo. Please RSVP your attendance by replying to this email because of the limited class size of 12 students only.

As an assistant instructor, you will continue to expand your Judo experience and knowledge by passing it down to your students. You will be officially accredited and recognized by the USJF.  You will be taught the latest teaching methods and trends and given back valuable feedback on your teaching delivery and effectiveness to be a more effective instructor. And perhaps, we will learn a different style of one of your favorite techniques.

Again, please mail in your registration form and fees postmarked by 3 January, 2020. However, please make sure that you complete your required certifications and background check and submitted to the USJF Office  before the course. If your submissions are late, the USJF Office will assess a $50 late fee. If you have not completely submitted your required documents with ten (10) days after the complete of this course, you will have to retake this course. In this case, the late deadline would be Thursday, 23 January, 2020. I would highly recommend submitting your USJF background check application as soon as possible.

Bring your Judogi and be prepared to deliver a lesson plan. Bring your notebook and pen/pencil to take notes and create/modify your lesson plan. Concentrate your time on preparing and delivering a concise lesson plan to a group of students successfully. There is litany of resources on the USJF Teachers’ Institute website to draw helpful information from to assist you in clearly and efficiently presenting a Judo lesson plan. You can complete the other required certifications later if you’re limited in time.

 Each candidate will write a lesson plan prior to their lesson demonstration.  Each candidate will give two different lessons during the course.  Here is an example of a veteran instructor’s lesson plan.  You will be divided into two groups presenting your lesson plan and being critiqued on your delivery. Throughout the day, you will build upon each other’s demonstrations and make improvements on your delivery each time. But, don’t wing it. It will show. Your evaluation will focus on how you deliver your lesson plan as an instructor. Yes, it is vital to be able to demonstrate the technique. But, it is just as important to know how to teach someone a technique in a clear, coherent manner with useful feedback as your students practice the technique.  Remember this mantra; WHOLE, PART, WHOLE for teaching.

 Once you have completed Saturday’s course, in order to receive your Teachers or Assistant Teachers’ Certification, you will need to complete the following;

1. Complete theTeachers’ Course online test.·         
2. Fulfill the certificate requirements;
3. Safesport
4. CDC Concussion
5. Background check
6. First Aid/CPR:  Certificate (online) The Red Cross offers online Adult, Child and Baby First Aid/CPR coursesfor only $30 and at your convenience.  This is a little more comprehensive than just an Adult First Aid/CPR course.  
7. For some of you, you may have some of these certificates on record with the USJF from prior certifications, such as coach’s, referee’s or a recent rank promotion. Please verify that your certifications are within the last two years in order to be valid. Otherwise, you will need to re-certify any one of these certificates. If your background check is invalid or incomplete, submit a new application as soon as possible since this process is the most time consuming and will take a few weeks to complete.  

ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE:

Since the USJF Office will grant your Teacher’s Certificate once you have completed the course, when you have completed the online exam, the Teachers’ Course, all of your certifications, background check successfully and a headshot photo of yourself, please forward your certificates in a .pdf format directly to Terri Weibel at adminmgr@usjf.com.  Title your certificate emails to Terri as “USJF Teachers’ Course certifications-(Your name)“. Send it in as once package to minimize the administrative burden rather, one by one.

• Safesport
• Concussion
• First Aid/CPR
• Background check
• Headshot
• The USJF will be automatically notified that you have completed the online test.

They will keep your certificates on file. But, in the same token, keep a record of your certificates as well and know when to re-certify in order to stay current. If you are missing any of your certificates, background check, and online examination or demonstrate a deficiency in your teaching ability, you will not be granted your teaching certificate until you have fulfilled your requirements. You may ask the USJF if any of your certificates are out of date. The headshot will be place on your USJF Teacher’s Card.

3.   There are additional subjects that you may review to enhance your presentations. There are other resources to also review;

• Teacher Certification Required Forms
• Checklist to complete: National Teacher Certification
• Teacher Certification Videos
• Lesson Plan Worksheet Download
• Teacher Lesson Evaluation
• Terminology
• Appendix: Identification of Techniques

Palacio Sensei may present in person in the morning the following subjects;

• Intro to Teacher Certification
• Champion of character
• Lifespan of the Dojo Instructor
• Childhood Growth and Motor Development
• Risk Management

UPDATE: For now, there are some very interesting and informative Judo audio presentations at the usjfteachers.com website under video presentations.  These presentations provide some important instructional, organizational and social insights. Review these presentations for your course preparations.

Once you are certified as an Assistant Teacher, your Assistant Teacher certification is valid for four years. You will still have to renew your First Aid/CPR, Safesport and Concussion during that time since these certifications are only valid for two years. After four years, you may simply re-certify online your Assistant Teacher certification through the USJF without attending another Teachers’ Course.

We may finish around 5:30-6:00 pm.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Happy Holidays,

Jerry Hazemoto

sawtellejudo@gmail.com

310 478-2411