Why Join Our Judo & Jujutsu Association?

Author: Bret Gordon

Joining the Seikan Judo & Jujutsu Association offers a myriad of benefits for martial arts instructors seeking both personal growth and community connection. With a rich history and lineage, the SJJA is renowned for its dedication to preserving and promoting the arts of Judo & Jujutsu, fostering an environment where practitioners can refine their skills and deepen their understanding of martial arts philosophy.

All of our certified members receive their official certifications, ranks, and licenses directly from the leading national and international organizations in their respective fields. But aside from certifications, what separates us from any other organization? Why should any instructor specifically join our group? 

The simple answer is that it all comes down to standards. We are far from being the only source to register your rank with the organizations listed below, but our membership process is one of the most strict. There are 3 types of membership into the Seikan Judo & Jujutsu Association:

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Kodokan Judo Membership - Whether you are a traditional or sport Judoka, we have an avenue for you. As members of USA Traditional Kodokan Judo, USA Judo, and the US Judo Association, we can provide training and certification to meet the needs of all Judoka. 

Nihon Jujutsu Membership - With an emphasis specifically on Aiki Jujutsu, members of our Nihon Jujutsu division will learn traditional Japanese Jujutsu and have the opportunity to have their ranks certified by the Kokusai Nihon Bugei Rengokai, one of the leading organizations for the preservation of traditional Japanese arts. 

Gracie/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Membership - We offer affiliation to both traditional Gracie Jiu Jitsu and sport Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Our members have the opportunity to be certified under Grandmasters Reylson and/or Rickson Gracie, as we represent both the International Martial League and the Jiu Jitsu Global Federation. ​​

The first step to membership should anyone seek certification directly under our organization, or from our affiliations through us, is to be tested in-person by us. We simply do not, and never have, certified or promoted anyone that we have not trained with. The only exception to this rule, and even then they are not certified by us but awarded recognition, is when someone joins our organization that is already certified by one of the organizations we are under. 

But now, what does that testing process actually look like? Due to our extensive private security and executive protection experience, where our lives quite literally depend on our training at times, self defense and combatives are an essential part of our requirements. As such, all instructors are subjected to a rigorous physical exam that includes scenario-based responses, pressure testing against non-compliant opponents, edged weapon survival, firearm defenses, and randori. Of course, they must be able to demonstrate the required techniques, but if they cannot adequately defend themselves and do not teach practical self defense, they are not teaching true martial arts in our opinion. Of course, we are willing to help and guide practitioners that have never trained in such a manner, but these standards are non-negotiable for certified members of the SJJA.

This is a large part of why we do not certify practitioners we have never met. We firmly believe that to be an instructor is to be responsible for the lives and safety of your students. Once certified, we regularly hold regional trainings and seminars for continued education. 

There have been numerous instructors that have sought membership with the SJJA and failed to meet these standards, and while our numbers would probably be significantly larger had we waived them, we believe our integrity in preserving traditional Judo and Jujutsu is far more important. If these values are important to you too, consider joining the Seikan Judo & Jujutsu Association.