Dominican Republic

Name of program: School Judo Project in the Dominican Republic Number of schools: 25 Number of children: 1500 Founding year: 2014 Founder(s) program: Gilberto Antonio García Piña

About the program

The School Judo Project began in 2013, with the management of the current president of the Dominican Judo Federation, Gilberto Antonio García Piña. The objective of this project is to help young people to adopt to learning judo with ‘Jigoro Kano Life System’, so that they reduce the aggressiveness that they present on a daily basis. In other words, train young participants with values. This purpose was born together with the Military and Police Project, both of which would allow FEDOJUDO to make our discipline known in all corners of the Dominican Republic.

We started with 10 educational centres, distributed in different provinces of the country. We currently have a total of 24 schools across 20 provinces. Our system strengthens the development of the future athletes of the country. Starting judo at an early age, continuing it during adolescence and providing them with a university scholarship to study the career of their choice (at any university centre) allows pupils to continue judo at all ages. Our robust commitment with the leader of the president, Mr. Garcia allowed us to see immediate international elevation of this discipline and the support to a more conscious culture.

Dream

That our society adopts the philosophy and teaching of judo.

Additional support next to IJF

Ministry of Sport

Highlights

• Obtained results
• Opportunities to grow

Challenges

• Establish within the school system
• Acceptance
• Show the benefit of this project

Best practices

• Uplifting national level -> Growths opportunities

Our priority is to first strengthen the sport at national level. This idea has been followed up very well and we have seen a positive outcome. This is not only applies for the actual competitors but also building high standard referees, coaches etc.

With the primary focus on national level, judo is no longer be known only by a certain group of our society or population, but it is also reaching to areas where basic physical education required. Thus everyone has access to our discipline. We not only work with the youth itself, but also with family, friends, teachers and other group of the society too.

Spreading judo and its’ values to a wider range of the population does not only helps us to grow the sport but also helps family, friends, school and the children to be more united. Creating a link and the feeling of belonging from a group of the society; just like a second family.

• Training methodology

Initial or Basic Level (4-14 years): Teaching is games and the basis of judo, since without a good foundation the techniques would not work perfectly.

Middle or Baccalaureate Level (15-18 years): Since young people are in the adolescent stage, they would receive more complex training and are able to continue their practices in a club or dojo belonging to their association.

University Level (18-…): If the young man maintained and completed all his stages, he would be part of the national team, and ready to be a High Performance Sports athlete. In addition, he would also be part of the military institutions and receiving his university scholarship.

• Various events

We don’t only run general judo events but also host different types of events:

· Knowledge tournaments

· Physical skill tournaments

· School Games

· National and Regional Children Championships

· National and Regional Cadet and Junior Championships

If you are interested to know more about Judo in Schools in Dominican Republic, please contact:

HISTORY

The School Judo Project started in 2013, with the management of the current president of the Dominican Judo Federation Mr. Gilberto Antonio García Piña.

The objective of this project is to help young people adopt the teachings of judo: ‘Jigoro Kano Life System’, with the aim to train the young practitioners in moral values and reduce the aggressiveness on a day-to-day basis.

The program was started together with the Military and Police Project by FEDOJUDO. Both programs will allow the discipline of jduo to be known in every corner of the Dominican Republic. Our dream is that everybody learns the philosophy of judo.

EDUCATIONAL CENTERS & SCHOOLS

We started with 10 educational centers, distributed in different provinces of the country:

1. Diplomatic Ladies (Santo Domingo),

2. The Tank (Barahona),

3. Pantaleón Castillo (Monte Plata),

4. Our Lady of Carmen (Santiago de los Caballeros),

5. Villa Guerrero (El Seíbo),

6. Leonidas Del Carmen (San Juan de la Maguana),

7. Jacqueline Lima (Monsignor Nouel),

8. Prof. Pablo Barinas (San Cristóbal),

9. Mauricio Báez (National District),

10. Dr. José García Chávez (Duarte).

We currently have a total of 24 schools teaching judo in 20 provinces:

1. Liceo Prof. Francisco Antonio Ramírez Díaz (Azua)

2. El Tanque Initial and Basic Educational Center (Barahona)

3. Mauricio Báez Educational Center (National District) in process

4. Ercilia Pepin School (Duarte) in process

5. Villa Guerrero Educational Center (El Seíbo)

6. Las Colina Educational Center (Espaillat)

7. El Corozo Polytechnic School (Espaillat)

8. Antoni Duverge Educational Center (Independence)

9. Mirabal Sisters Basic School (La Altagracia)

10. Polytechnic Prof. Miguel Infante Santana (La Romana)

11. Liceo Tanda Extended Father Fantino (La Vega)

12. San Luis Gonzaga High School (La Vega)

13. Irma Ines Marmolejos (María Trinidad Sánchez)

14. Manuel Aybar School (Monsignor Nouel)

15. Liceo José Martí (Monte Cristi)

16. José Pantaleón Castillo Educational Center (Monte Plata)

17. Juana Aminta Soriano (Monte Palta)

18. Máximo Gómez School (Peravia)

19. Mari School of Jesus Cabrera Guzmán (San Cristóbal)

20. Leonidas Del Carmen Educational Center (San Juan)

21. (San Pedro)

22. Our Lady of Las Mercedes Polytechnic (Santiago)

23. Nursery School Ladies Diplomats (Santo Domingo)

24. La Nueva Barquita Educational Center (Santo Domingo)

With this we have a system that strengthens the development of future athletes in the country. We give people the opportunity to start judo at an early age, continuing it during adolescence, providing them with a university scholarship to study the career of their choice (in any university center). They will also have the possibility to go to the military and police teams.

TRAINING

Initial or Basic Level (4-14 years): Teaching is games and the basis of judo, since without a good basis the techniques would not go perfectly and the learners could be taught.

Middle Level or Baccalaureate (15-18 years): Young people are already in the adolescence stage, they would receive a more complex training and are able to continue their practices in a club or dojo belonging to their association.

University Level (18-…): If the young man maintained and completed all his stages, he would be part of the National Team of the country, and ready to be an athlete of High Sports Performance. In addition to belonging to military institutions and receiving his university scholarship.

BELTS

As the schools are in Associations belonging to the Dominican Judo Federation, they are in charge of requesting the exam corresponding to the progress of their knowledge.

TRAINING

It helps that family, friends, school and the child or practitioner itself be more united. Creating a link that those who know it take care of that feeling and want to integrate more people from society.

EVENTS

We have different types of events:

• Knowledge tournaments.

• Physical skill tournaments.

• School games.

• National and Regional Children's Championships.

• Cadets and Juniors National and Regional Championships.

If you are interested to know more about Judo in Schools in the Dominican Republic, please contact the project manager: