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THE NEW AUSTRALIAN ALTERNATIVE
Author: sensei
The U.S.K.A. (United Stated Karate Association) is one of the largest karate Associations in the world outside of WUKO, with branches in 55 countries world wide, and has now opened a branch here in Australia.
The U.S.K.A. Australian Headquarters, based in Townsville, North Queensland, which all the readers know, has produced many champions in all sports, including martial arts.
The Australian President Kancho.
Brian Gallon, who has spent the past two years travelling overseas to America to organise the Australian branch, was in Melbourne recently and agreed to an exclusive interview with Karl Longley of Impact.
Karl: Kancho, what is it in your background that enabled you the opportunity to start up a branch of the U.S.K.A. here in Australia?
Kancho: I have been involved with Martial Arts for 27 years now and hold black belt rankings in six different martial arts. I also travel overseas at least three times a year to further my education.
Karl: What do you mean by education?
Kancho: Martial arts as we know it is changing every day, Karl. You yourself travel overseas to Russia to enhance your training and hold seminars.
Karl: Why is it that so many of our so-called high ranking people in other organisations are against progress?
Kancho: Because I want to progress, I have been treated very well, both in America and Japan. It is because of this knowledge we get from overseas that we must, as instructors of students, get out there and swallow our pride/ego and help others.
It is a fact that in America martial arts is slowly becoming an art that is looked upon as a profession, someone who caters for the individual needs of each student.
I have spent two years of my life learning and training at the Olympic training centres in America, so I can pass this onto karate kas in Australia.
Karl: You have got some big names involved in the U.S.K.A., could you tell the readers about them please?
Kancho: Yes, Karl, in America, backing the U.S.K.A. is Hanshi John Pachivas, 10 Dan (world president) who replaced O'sensei Trias when he died on July 11th 1989. O'sensei Trias was the person who was the father of karate to the United States, and was the person who introduced karate to the USA.
Then we have Shihan Ridgely Abele, 7th Dan, who is very well known in America, Japan and Europe.
The most respected name I feel backing the U.S.K.A. is Hanshi George Anderson, 9th Dan. He is in charge of all the traditional styles in the U.S.K.A. around the world.
So as you can see, we have some of the biggest and most respected names in the martial arts world behind us.
Karl: And in Australia, who have you acquired?
Kancho; One of the biggest names in Australian martial arts is Kyoshi Tino Ceberano, who as you know is a founding member of the AKF, known as F AKO in the early days. Tino is also a recognised world WUKO referee and has accepted the positions of Victorian State President and Australian Chief Referee.
In Queensland, we are again fortunate to have the loyal services of Sensei Garry Wooler, 4th Dan, exQueensland AKF President. Garry is the USKA President/Secretary of this state and was offered the Australian vice president position. Thankfully for us, he has accepted this valuable position. We also have in Queensland, Sensei Lindsay Anderson, 4th Dan, who will be taking up the position as our state referee. In the ACT, we have obtained the services of Kanoho Keenan, 5th Dan, who will only bring goodness and a true heart to the U.S.K.A.
I am at present negotiating with a fine karate-ka in South Australia and in New South Wales to take over the positions of state presidents.
Karl; Will there be monetary rewards for joining the U.S.K.A.?
Kancho: They will get a monetary return, and they will get satisfaction from belonging to such a universal structure. I think there is something we all, especially the professionals, can share in sentiment about how much reward we should be getting out of what we are putting into it. I know for myself I wouldn't be doing anything for free any more, I've done that many times over.
I think that's what we are all cheesed off with really; we are sick to death of getting used for nothing.
What we have got to sort out is that martial arts instructors are professional instructors. A doctor goes away and earns $100,000 a year and yet if a karate person earns $10,000 a year he is considered a crook, and yet we put in 20, 30, sometimes 40 years. I have put 27 years of my life into karate, why shouldn't I get something back for those years?
We are all professionals yet when I try to make a living out of it I'm seen as a crook. The attitude of people has got to change. If you want to become a doctor you've got to do seven years, come back then earn all this money. We train all these years and if we are seen to be doing anything for a profit we are frowned upon and seen as a shark. Those days have gone.
You walk into a dojo in Japan and you know it costs you $100 as soon as you open the door. You come into a dojo here, and we get complaints for charging $30 or $40 a month, and yet you would have no worries about paying $60 for a plumber to knock on your door to fix your tap, and he is only there for five minutes. Yet we are more professional than that plumber.
Karl: The AKF runs as an association and, as such, has a constitution which is basically the same for most organisations around the world. The U.S.K.A. is different?
Kancho; The way we have set the Association up is that it's going to be one of the first non-political associations in martial arts. And that is what we aim to have, no people in there with big egos all they are interested in is the Budo spirit.
Any amateur organisation is doomed to fail. It doesn't matter how long it takes, it will fail. This is a company and, as such, is controlled by the company laws of Australia. We have directors controlling the company and that is how we shall be operating; there will be no elections, we are appointing people and that is their job.
Karl: What you are saying is that the committee won't change?
Kancho: The only way a person can leave is by: 1. dismissal by the Board of Directors, or 2. by resignation. They cannot be replaced by you and me getting together trying to kick someone out.
Karl; Will the U.S.K.A. be holding regular seminars for its members? And will you operate within the guidelines of W. U.K. O.?
Kancho: Yes, there will be regular seminars covering all aspects of tournaments, such as kata, kumite, coaches' course, sports medicine, plus more.
Karl: Kancho, are there any final thoughts on who you would like to see applying for membership of the U.S.K.A.?
Kancho: Karl, the U.S.K.A. is open to all Karate-Ka in Australia irrespective of their previous affiliations. We want to see all styles recognising that there is a need to change, and this Association will be the largest in the country. With it comes opportunities to represent Australia at international tournaments here and overseas.
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