Mission Statement
Our mission is to build a community dedicated to ongoing self-improvement. Through daily, small steps, we grow stronger in mind and body. By practicing the values of Judo, we look to become resilient people who give back to society - aiming not to be better than others, but to be better than we were yesterday.
Kaizen Kai is an Affiliated Club with Judo New Zealand (JNZ) and with Auckland Judo Association. (AJA)
Auckland Judo Association website
Judo New Zealand website
WHAT IS JUDO?
Judo is a Japanese martial art practiced by over 40 million people globally. The sport was founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882 and has been an Olympic sport since 1964. Judo is about making a positive contribution to society, and an integral part of physical development.
JUDO MORAL CODE
Beyond the physical techniques, we follow the Judo Moral Code. This framework has eight core values: courtesy, courage, honesty, honour, modesty, respect, self-control, and friendship. These principles are designed to be values for life, teaching how to face challenges with integrity and treat others with dignity. By emphasizing "Jita Kyoei" (mutual welfare and benefit), Judo is a lifelong path of character development and social responsibility.
As you earn your different coloured belts, you aren't just learning harder techniques—you are unlocking new ways to see, feel, and understand the world around you.
Here is what your journey will look like:
⚪ White Belt: Building the Foundations with safety first
This is where it all starts. You will learn the right way to fall (Ukemi), the right way to stand, and why we do things in Judo certain ways. Before you can throw, you must learn how to be safe. By understanding the "Why" behind these basics, you are building the mental library that all your future Judo will be built upon.
🟡 Yellow Belt: Making the Connection
Now that you know how to be safe, and how to fall, you can start to feel how Judo works. This level is about Connection. You learn about the directions you can move in on the mats so you can stay in balance and control and start to understand how to work constructively with a partner.
🟠 Orange Belt: Using Timing
At Orange Belt, we stop using "muscle power" and start using "brain power." You are learning the art of timing. Instead of trying to force a technique to happen, you wait for the perfect moment when your partner's own movement does the work for you. This is the first step toward Seiryoku-Zenyo—maximum efficiency.
🟢 Green Belt: Trusting Your Instincts
At Green Belt, your body begins to move without you having to tell it what to do. You don’t have to stop and think "what do I do next?" Your brain is starting to know how to move and flow with your partner. Just like catching a ball, your Judo becomes an Instinct. You trust your training and "flow" naturally with your partner’s energy.
🔵 Blue Belt: The Adapter
In Kaizen, we believe in constant, small adjustments. A Blue belt becomes an Adapter, embodying the principle of Ju-no-ri (the principle of gentleness or giving way).Instead of fighting against your partner's power, you interact with it. You "read" their intentions—their grip, their weight, and their breath—and change your own response instantly to maintain balance. You aren't just looking for a way to win over your partner; you are looking for the most effective solution to your partner's movement.
Judo Focus: You use Renraku-waza (combination techniques). If one path is blocked, you don't stop; you adapt and flow immediately into the next opening. Kaizen Focus: You are refining your efficiency (Seiryoku-Zenyo), cutting away unnecessary movement until your response is perfectly tuned to the moment.
🟤 Brown Belt: Becoming a Role Model
You have moved beyond adapting to a partner’s movement—you now anticipate and guide the energy of the mat. Your presence alone should raise the standard of the class. Because your technique is built on the foundations of safety, connection, and timing, your Judo looks "soft" but is powerful.
Judo Focus: You demonstrate Zanshin (perfect awareness). Whether attacking, defending, or helping a junior, your focus remains unbroken and your spirit remains calm.
Kaizen Focus: You are no longer just improving yourself; you are committed to the Kaizen of the entire club. By being a role model, you help the White, Yellow, and Orange belts see the path they are on.
The Kaizen Kai Student Journey Map - Developing the Mind, Perfecting the Technique.
This map shows how your focus changes as you grow. Each belt is a bridge that leads you forward in your knowledge and understanding.
The Foundation Stage (Learning to Listen)
⚪ White Belt (6th Kyu): The Foundation
The Bridge: Learning the rules of the dojo and your own body.
The Goal: Safety and the "Why."
🟡 Yellow Belt (5th Kyu): The Connection
The Bridge: Feeling the link between you and your partner.
The Goal: Moving as one instead of two.
The Development Stage (Learning to Feel)
🟠 Orange Belt (4th Kyu): The Timing
The Bridge: Waiting for the right time to use that connection.
The Goal: Efficiency—using brains instead of strength.
🟢 Green Belt (3rd Kyu): The Instinct
The Bridge: Moving without waiting; your body just knows what to do.
The Goal: Flow—reacting as naturally as catching a ball.
The Mastery Stage (Learning to Lead)
🔵 Blue Belt (2nd Kyu): The Adaptability
The Bridge: Planning while you move; changing your mind as the partner changes theirs.
The Goal: Strategy—finding the most effective solution to a challenge.
🟤 Brown Belt (1st Kyu): The Expression
The Bridge: Shining as an example of how Judo should look and feel.
The Goal: Leadership—inspiring others through effortless technique.
The Arrival (A New Beginning)
⚫ Black Belt (Shodan): The Integration
The Bridge: Returning to the start with a heart and mind that understands the whole journey.
The Goal: The "First Step"—realizing that Kaizen (improvement) never ends.