Filed under: Kata, Shorin-ryu, Shotokan, karate, karate-do, traditional karate, training, videos
RYU ADVISORS
I recommend that at least 2 senior karate-ka from different organizations be selected based on seniority and experience as non-partisan representatives and to advice on their respective ryu-ha. They may be nominated by their respective organizations. However, we have to acknowledge that there are some senior ‘retired’ karate-ka who are not affiliated to any organizations. These senior karate-ka make the ideal advisers as they represent a non-partisan view on their respective ryu-ha.
Currently active in Malaysia are the following Ryu-Ha :
- Japanese Disciplines : Shito-Ryu (MASK, Hayashi-Ha, Kusano-Ha, Shito-Kai, Itosu-Kai ) Shotokan (SKM, Kanazawa-Ryu, KWF), Goju-Ryu, Kyokushinkai
- Okinawan Disciplines : Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Seibukan, Okinawan Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu
- Occidental Disciplines : Kissaki-Kai, Shotoshinkai
This list is by no means the definitive list, as I may have left out some names due to my own ignorance on the existence of the group.
REGISTRATION
I understand that it takes between 6 to 12 months to register a ’sports’ organization. There are various support letters, lobbies and other bureaucratic requirements involved. For most part, the individuals that form these organizations are just a collection of individuals pursuing their passion for their chosen activity. The long procedures takes the fun out of it all. I understand that the Sports Commissioner processes thousands of applications a day so making the process simples by requiring less paperwork would surely be in it’s favor to lessen the workload of our overworked civil servants. They might even consider e-registration, like we do with taxes nowadays!!
Some may wish to affiliate to an NGB to expand their scope of membership and activities, but for most it is a group of people sharing similar interests. To lobby for support from certain parties would mean surrendering their independence and would require not a small sum of financial strength.
What would happen if the principals of the two organizations, the NGB and the newly formed organization don’t see eye to eye? Or one just don’t like the way the other cuts his/her hair? Would one deny the other the aforementioned ’support’ thus periling the other’s registration attempt?
I’ve read the Buku Panduan Pendaftaran Badan Sukan (Sports Body Registration Guidelines) cover to cover and never once did it mention ’support letter required’. IMHO, this implies that the ’support’ should be offered and not sought. Even if it is sought after, the absence of one should have no impact on the registration application other than acting as ‘icing on the cake’.
CONCLUSION
It is easy to criticize and amke suggestions. The burden of actual implementing any rules and procedures and affect change falls on the shoulders of the Sports Commissioner and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. They are the only ones able to compel MAKAF or any NGB to make the changes that are in the interest of the public. The Sports Commissioner has the authority granted by the Sports Development Act 1997 subsection 20(1)(e) : “…is hindering the development of the particular sport and it is in the public interest to revoke or suspend its registration ” , and further in subsection 20(1)(f) of the same Act : “…has failed or neglected to remedy any malpractice, misconduct or irregularity on the part of its office bearers or its members ….”
Do we want to go the way of Karate England that remains divisive and after several reorganizations still fails to resolve the unification of ‘traditionalists’ and ’sports-centric’ karate?
MAKAF as the NGB with the mandate to oversee the Malaysia Karate Community must step up and prove to skeptics and critics that they have not only the interest of the Malaysia Karate Community at heart but also the willpower to to evolve onto a greater entity that it is now. It has a heavy responsibility, and my only hope is that one day, we all may sit down at the same table and share teh tarik.
As Dr. Martin Luther King once said : I have a dream…..
Filed under: Kata, Shorin-ryu, karate, karate-do, martial arts, seibukan, traditional karate, training, videos
. The videos are mainly done as a reference for my students who wants to train at home… or wherever they have internet access.To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the governing body need to be :
- ATTRACTIVE to all (so that they want to join!!)
- So undeniably legitimate that karate-ka simply have to join, with the full backing and support of the ENTIRE karate community, not just selected ‘majority’.
- Ryu based associations (Shito-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, etc)
- State based associations (Melaka, Sabah, etc)
- Royal Malaysia Police Karate Association
- What of the associations granted national status by the Sports Commisioner? These are ryu-ha based associations that are granted to use of ‘Malaysia’ in it’s name and thus forming a national body for their association. What category do they fall under? What of ryu-ha based associations that are not granted national status, but are the sole representative of their of their ryu-ha?
- Why not carry a total restructuring of the membership structure? Meaning, leave only the state bodies and reassign the ryu-ha based associations to their respective states where they are domiciled. This raises another predicament. The domicile of such an association tends to be that of the ‘chief instructor’. If they same-said association also has a state based association registered in the same state, how then they stand in the state registration?
- Another alternative would be to have both state-level bodies and national-level ryu-ha based associations. The criteria in granting the national status must be crystal clear. To qualify as a national level ryu-ha based association, the organization must have state-level representation in at least 1/3 of the total number of states. Malaysia has a total number of 13 states plus 3 federal territories (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya) : 16 constituents. I recommend that for any organization to qualify and be recognized as a National-level body it must have legal representation (registered with the Sports Commisioner) in at least 6 constituents. This raises the question of proxy registration, in which the state-level organization is registered only on paper, but have no physical presence (ghosts!!). IMHO, it then falls on the Sports Commisioner to ensure that these representations are genuine. The Sports Commisioner in it’s guidelines, specifically states that at least 7 persons are required to make up an association. I recommend that in addition, the majority of the group (4 persons) be practicing karate-ka and are domiciled in the state to qualify. This is to prevent proxy registrations. Ryu-ha based state-level associations may use the designation of X-Ryu Malaysia if they are the only and exclusive representative of the said ryu-ha in the country, but do not qualify under the 6 constituents requirement, and that status is not challenged by any other associations. One usable method is to announce intent to register by advertising in the newspapers (the way liquor licenses are issued). This provides some form of public scrutiny and only then in unofficial term. They may use X-Ryu Malaysia, but not X-Ryu Malaysia Association (or any form of its derivatives), and are not granted national status hence not qualify for membership in the governing body. If such organizations fall below the the required recommended 6 constituents, the Sports Commissioner then must not entertain requests for registration as X-Ryu Malaysia Association and any attempt otherwise should be punished swiftly and severely (ie, deregistration, no appeal). This is to discourage and prevent misrepresentation, intentional or otherwise by any organizations. For Example : X-Ryu has representation in Malaysia. The majority of it’s members and chief instructor are based in Sarawak. It can then be registered as X-Ryu Sarawak Association (XSA). XSA then must then register with the Sarawak Karate Association (SKA) to affiliate with MAKAF. 5 years down the road, X-Ryu expands to 3 other states. That still falls short of the required 6 states to form a national-level ryu-ha based association. It may use X-Ryu Malaysia but may not append the words association, federation, union or other forms of legal designation to it’s name. It cannot be officially listed as X-Ryu Malaysia Association.
NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY
How do we define a national governing body (NGB)? It must be transparent, accountable and open to scrutiny by the public. MAKAF has has done a great job so far, but even insiders agree that there is room for improvement. An qualified association should not be refused affiliation because it is the final say of the ’supreme council’ with no avenue to appeal via the general meeting, to which the same-said council is answerable to (presumably). MAKAF, as an NGB should be accountable for any and all actions to the public, especially to the overall general karate community. If an organization has proper credentials and documentation, it should not be refused membership and any such membership application should be treated as a mere formality rather than a requirement. My recommendations for ‘proper credentials’ are:
- REGISTRATION WITH THE SPORTS COMMISSIONER : This should be current and active registration and any organizations being suspended, under investigation or has had it’s registration revoked must have it’s membership likewise suspended/revoked. This rule extends to the office holders in the NGB, as membership in the NGB is not a personal individual membership but held by their respective organizations.
- PROOF OF REPRESENTATION : Karate is a martial art of Okinawan and Japanese origin. But it since evolved into a worldwide phenomenon and many non-Japanese has gone on to form their own ryu-ha and association. As such, proof of representation either in the form of affiliation certificate or letter of appointment of representation must be included. This is to prevent the problem of an organization claiming to use the name of a legitimate ryu-ha, but in actual has no affiliation or the affiliation is not active and has been terminated and is not the proper representative of the said ryu-ha, and blocking the registration of appointed representative. Failure to provide the said document would render their registration revoked.
Filed under: journal, karate, karate-do, martial arts, ramblings, traditional karate
- Karate is widely misunderstood (and sadly, often misrepresented) and there should be one point of reference that interested parties and members of the public can approach for information, advice and assistance.
- Karate practice encompasses a plethora of ethical and technical ideals. Disparate umbrella groups and self-styled governing bodies mislead and allow confusion.
- A central single body can set, and monitor standards (technical, ethical, financial, etc.)
- Establish and maintain standards
- inform and educate (members and outside parties)
- Lobby outside bodies for support
- Represent it’s members’ disparate needs
- Deliver services for its members
- Act as a disciplining/controlling force to control non-aligned or non-compliant bodies
All the above must be fulfilled in an environment of transparency and propriety. Due proses means that there will be accountability and scrutiny. There is no point in trying to run even a benign dictatorship or patriarchal democracy. One definition of democracy is that the leaders can be rid of. Thomas Paine, two centuries ago, warned that a democratic government must ensure that the will of the people is represented. That means constant reference back to the electorate (overall karate community). This has not been the case with MAKAF. I propose a trimmed down governing body with a lean, effective management that will include ALL the karate-ka in Malaysia in one body.
Read PART 2
Filed under: Kata, News, Shorin-ryu, Shotokan, events, journal, karate, karate-do, ramblings, seibukan, training
