Who is NAJA?
The Natal Amateur Judo Association (NAJA) is the controlling body of Judo in Kwazulu-Natal.  This body is democratically elected by the clubs within Kwazulu-Natal each year.

Membership to Natal Amateur Judo Association (hereinafter referred to as NAJA) will be controlled by the NAJA Executive Members in terms of the contents of the current NAJA Constitution and the rules in this document.

NAJA is affiliated to Judo South Africa (JSA), who in turn is affiliated to the International Judo Federation (IJF).  NAJA as a body is responsible for discipline, administration, promoting of judo and arranging of competitons / tournaments within the province.

Practising Judo
Having joined a club of your choice you will have by now been aquainted with the sport through your Sensei.  As will soon be discovered, Judo is not only practiced as a social past time but is a sport that may be done on a competitive level, be it from novice level right through to Olympics.  Judo, after soccer, remains the second largest sport being practiced in the world today.  Over 180 countries are affiliated to the IJF.

You may well be asking, What is Judo? Why do Judo? The benefits of Judo are many for example:

• Physical and Mental development

• Development of balance, co-ordination skills

• Promoting self confidence and self awareness to new levels

• Promoting self discipline as well improving social skills  / interaction with people

• Opportunity to develop life skills that may be employed in times of crises

• Opportunity to partake in an individual / competitive sport

Judo is very much a family sport that may be practiced by anyone from the age of 5 to 60 years of age.  It is practiced by both the male and female gender at every level.  Judo also affords the opportunity for parents to become involved and contribute toward Judo be it by supporting, by becoming involved in club committees or by becoming officials at competitions.

Are there affiliation costs involved in Judo?
Yes, your club may require you to pay a membership fee however this is not the same as registration fees.

Every individual who participates in Judo must register with the provincial body (NAJA) as well as the national body (JSA).  There are two categories with regards registration and they are referred to as Full Registration and Recreational Registration.

The total cost to register with both bodies is:

Full Registration - R185-00 per annum and
Recreational Registration - R85-00 per annum

Registration takes place in January each year for Clubs and anyone wishing to enter the SA Championships for that year, has to register by the cut-off date in March each year.

What is the difference between Full Registration and Recreational Registration?
With full registration you will be entitled to participate in competitions at other clubs, provincial competitions, national competitions etc.  You will be eligible to participate in all competitions within your province thus allowing you the opportunity to strive toward attaining your provincial colours in Judo.  You will also be entitled to actively partake in gradings where your grade attained will be recognized throughout the country.  Therefore for example, attaining a yellow belt in Natal will be recognised in Gauteng for any intended further grading.

As a fully registered player you will receive a JSA - Red Book with your annual licence that will officially recognise your being registered with the provincial and national body.  All records with reference to your progress in this sport will be updated by your Sensei as you progress.  All Judoka who take out a full registration will receive a full copy of the grading syllabus from NAJA.  This red book should be retained by you the player as it is recorded against your name by the registrar of JSA.

As a recreational player this only entitles you to partake / practice judo within your club.  You may not grade as your grade will not be recognised outside of that specific club.  You may not partake in any competitions where you compete against players from other clubs.

Are there any other initial costs that I may expect?
Initially your Sensei may permit younger children to start practising Judo attired in an old set of sport clothing however this will not facilitate improvement in learning Judo techniques and therefor it will be required of you to purchase a judogi which is made up from a very durable material and should last some time before needing to be replaced.  The Sensei will assist to acquire this judogi.