Welcome to Kaizen Kai

Welcome to Kaizen Kai 

Kaizen Kai combines two Japanese words: 

Kaizen (改善): A philosophy meaning "change for the better" or "continuous improvement". It emphasizes making small, incremental changes on a daily basis involving everyone in the club.

Kai: The Japanese word for "club" or "group". 

Therefore, the name means the "continuous improvement of the club and group," which reflects our philosophy of a gradual, never-ending search for improvement in the practice of judo. 

The Path of Continuous Improvement  

By joining us, you are not just starting a sport; you are embarking on a lifelong journey of self-improvement. Our dojo is built on the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen (改善): the belief that small, daily changes lead to long-term results.

In this club, we don't ask you to be perfect. We only ask that you be better than you were yesterday.

What to Expect: 

Judo is about building a foundation. You will focus on:

Ukemi (Break falls): Learning how to fall safely—the most important skill in Judo.

Reigi (Etiquette): Learning the bows, the respect for the mat, and the traditions of the Kwai.

Movement: Developing the coordination and balance required for Judo techniques.

The Kaizen Goal: 

Celebrate Effort. After each club session we ask "What is one thing you did better today than last time?"

Encourage Resilience: Judo involves falling down. In our Kai, falling isn't failure.  Partners work together to help each other improve. 

Patience is Key: Skill in Judo grows incrementally. Some days progress will feel fast; other days it will feel slow. Both are part of the Kaizen process.

Our Club Creed

Today, I am better than I was yesterday. Tomorrow, I will be better than I am today.

The Kaizen Reflection:

The Struggle: What was the hardest part of training this week?

The Adjustment: What is one small thing I changed to fix it?

The Success: What did I do better today than I did last week?