sensei8

JR137 makes some good points. I'm of the opinion that it could be good to review the appointed Kaicho every so often. After all if that person is in charge of and responsible for the student body, they have to be supported by the student body and represent their best interests. Though to me 2 years seems like a very short term. IMHO not long enough to effect any real change. Especially if the incumbent Kaicho cannot be re-elected, this 2 year turnover may stagnate change rather than promote it. I'm with JR137 in that it would be better to have any outgoing Kaicho available for re-election so that if they are doing a good job and are the best person for the job, they can serve another term. I too, agree, that JR 137 made good points. You can read my response in this thread. Check and Balances are redundantly throughout the entire SKKA/Hombu!! Everyone who's assigned at the SKKA/Hombu must have their annual reviews, and the Executive Team is even more so, must either meet or exceed expectations. If not, then they are placed on a PIP [Personal Improvement Plan] that covers up to 3 months long. Anyone on a PIP, has to pass monthly reviews before going forward up to graduating. Fail a monthly review, you're dismissed!! If anyone from the Executive Team is placed on a PIP, same thing, pass or fail. Pass, you remain in post...fail, a vote of no-confidence will occur, and that could lead to you being removed from post.

Funny I was just gonna ask the same thing regarding rank. I mean what rank is one considered to be put on the ballot? Nanadan is the most minimum rank requirement for any of the Executive Team. The Executive Team consists of Kaicho, Kancho, and Regents: that gives us 7.

Taking turns ISN'T going to work!! To help the Student Body and the SKKA/Hombu requires a dedication that means more than one just taking their turn to see what new life they can breath into either. At the moment, their are 7 who are qualified to become Kaicho. 5 of them are from the Regents, and then there's Greg, our Kancho, and myself. The 2 years term is to be determined at a much later date. This number was more of an "FOR EXAMPLE", so, for now, I'm not even dwelling on that for the moment. While it's important, it's really not important, at the same time. When I first heard the number, I felt that all that Soke and Dai-Soke worked to create were slowly being flushed down the drain. Whom would the SKKA/Hombu give more power/voice to?? If the Kaicho, is at the top of the food chain, how would giving more power/voice benefit the Student Body and the SKKA/Hombu?? Already in place, we've the Regents, which use to be called the Board of Regents, which had 12 elected members ranked from Godan to Hachidan. Whereas, now, the Regents is 5 elected members with a Hachidan rank, and no lower than a Nanadan, of which we've none. In a nutshell...The Regents responsibilities are to oversee the Student Body...first and foremost. Secondly, they are to oversee the SKKA as far as it's growth!! Remember, there are things that the Kaicho decides that are without contestation; once decided, that decision CAN NOT be turned over by anyone!! As a business, we vote over many concerns, and not every vote is favorable; can't win them all!! I agree! Remember, term length hasn't been decided, as of yet. I asked that we table that concern for the moment, and that we address that last. Why? Because I know the Regents and I know Greg and I know myself...this might take the majority of our time to finalize. I'm with you...5 years prevents many things, and that's what I'm pushing for, and not anything less!! The incumbent CAN NOT be reelected!! The incumbent must sit out ONE Ballot!! Having said that, nothings been determined on granite, as of yet. Rank ISN'T an issue. Forgive me that I didn't make that clear, and that's my fault!! The SKKA isn't going to be a ship of fools!! While the SKKA By-Laws require the Kaicho to be promoted immediately to Kudan, that will NOT work whatsoever!! I've placed this matter to the front burner for consideration to amend that particular By-Law. That By-Law had it's day in the sun, but, I believe that this By-Law needs to be pastured; the sooner the better!! Once rank is earned, it can't be taken away/back!! Here's what I'm proposing: 1) Kudan can only be earned through a TESTING CYCLE!! I fought to my dying breath against being automatically promoted to Kaicho. And only then, did I ask for, and receive, a Testing Cycle. What was good for Dai-Soke when he was promoted to Kaicho by Soke back in the day, has gone by the wayside, and when I fought against the promotion with the Board of Regents at tooth and skin, Dai-Soke, asked me once, and after I explained to him my reasons, he fully supported me. So much so, that he told the Board of Regents to shut-up, and to leave me at peace. Only after his passing, did they go back on the attack. The current system isn't broken. They're not trying to fix anything, but I believe that they're sincere in wanting to reinvent our brand, and sometimes, that inevitable change is that fresh voice. Time will tell!! Discussions have just begun, and we've other fires to put out first before Term Limits can be decided upon.

With the excerpt from my Golden Anniversary, I'd like to draw attention to the bolded type above, more specifically, concerning my Kaicho appointment(s). Within the SKKA By-Laws and the like, there's no existence with lifetime appointments. Two ways to rescind any elected appointment is either voluntarily or involuntarily with cause!! Supposedly, there's now a third way to rescind any elected appointment... Term Limits!! Thusly, I suppose that Term Limits might be under the same umbrella as voluntarily or involuntarily, depending on just how one might view either. Being put to pasture, isn't always a welcomed part of ones life, it being an involuntarily act. However, stepping down isn't always too welcomed either, it being a voluntarily act. Well, it's like my fellow upper hierarchy's have found that Term Limits might be the way for the SKKA/Hombu to reinvent itself. Change is inevitable, and albeit, needed from time to time. Otherwise, a willingness to refuse change, ushers in an untimed death to the entity. So, without speaking about the legalities and all in any great detail, after all, it came be quite boring, the legal language and such...so much so, that one would rather have a root canal without any anesthesia of any type. Let's speak very briefly about my elected appointment as Kaicho [President]. The By-Laws speak about the recipient of that appointment being automatically promoted to Kudan, without any delays, immediately!! I've never agreed with that, and I still don't agree with that, and that's why I refused that more times than I care to remember. My Kudan, was awarded to me, but only after I passed a Testing Cycle; HOWEVER, this was in the absence of Dai-Soke, due to him having passed away many years earlier. That still leaves a bad taste in my mouth...even now! Kaicho is in charge of everything, and anything, related to the SKKA/Hombu; the buck stops there, and at times, many decisions made by the Kaicho is without contestation!! Because the SKKA/Hombu is a business, daily operational concerns at the Executive Administrative level, are dealt with by the Kaicho. Kaicho's primary concerns are: 1) The Student Body 2) Business Success Kaicho's leadership role also entails being ultimately responsible for all day-to-day Management decisions and for implementing the SKKA's/Hombu's long and short term plans. Kaicho acts as a direct liaison between the Student Body and Management, and therefore, communicates to the Student Body on behalf of the SKKA's/Hombu's Executive Team, which is comprised of General Affairs Department, Instructor Department, Administrative Department, and Regents, as well as any/all sub-level departments. To the crux of the whole matter. I'm Kaicho until I'm no longer the Kaicho per the powers that be, of which, I'm at the top of the food chain. Term Limits!! Here's the proposal, as of this very mornings pow-wow, with the other food chain members. Tada...The Kaicho, for the moment, will... Hold said elected office for ONLY 2 years!! I've been Kaicho for 7-8 years, and guess what, if this proposal becomes a reality, I'll no longer be Kaicho, until I'm reelected at a future date, and believe it or not, I'm fine with that. Anything for the betterment of the Student Body and the SKKA/Hombu. Tricky thing is that as part of the proposal, once a sitting Kaicho is finished with their term, they can't be placed on a ballot for one full term. In short, once I've completed my current term as Kaicho, I can't be placed on the next ballot in any shape, way, and/or form. I'm fine with that too!! Idle minds and the like have nothing else to do with themselves, so, they come up with this, which I too, am fine with. Wondering out loud if this years POTUS election and the like in the USA gave them the idea. It sure wasn't my idea, but, I'm willing, for the betterment of the Student Body and the SKKA/Hombu, to accept and embrace the change. Continued meetings/conversations over this proposal will take us to and through this years Annual Testing Cycle this June/July at the Hombu. This will give us plenty of time to fine tune AND adopt the proposal, if it passes several key votes, that is. Any thoughts, or whatever else??

Thank you for your kind words, Brian!! More importantly, I thank you for your friendship, in and out of the MA. And more than ever before, now that the celebration is done, my goal for 2015 is... Sharing the floor with you once again because once, isn't ever enough!! So, hell or high water, I'll be coming to Hays, KS in 2015, God willing!! Your friend, in and out of the MA!! To the bold type above... Bummer...I messed that one up; sorry, Brian!! I'm STILL trying to work this out for us!!

If so, then he needs much better insurance!! When insurance plans try to dictate MA training, then it's time to shop for much better insurance plans, and they're there, gear for MA training. Imho!!

Solid post!! If she had anything to do with SKIF, and if the powers that be had got wind of this, someone would be called onto the carpet for some discipline faster than one can blink. You handled this excellently; way to go!!

This is appalling, to say the least!! This act negates the three K's completely, and this Okinawan Sensei should be ashamed and should close his dojo doors forever!! IMHO!!

Congrats, Ken on your being promoted to 2nd Dan! Hopefully, your pursuit for 3rd Dan won't keep you away from KF; I enjoy your inputs!!

Look for a martial arts club, go there, ask them to train, train. Solid post!!

Solid post!! What I do know about the ATA is that the GM for ATA IS the authority of their governing body; alas, they've had, up until 2015, one GM AT A TIME, as IcemanSK has pointed out!! Whenever one GM stepped down, another would be promoted to the GM mantle. I believe that Brain, might be able to shed some light on this because he once was part of the ATA.

Since I don't walk within the circles of the ATA, I hadn't heard about this until today. My post isn't to disrespect the ATA in any shape, way, and/or form!! For me to do that, would be cheap, to say the least, and that isn't my character. The ATA now has TWO Grandmasters...not one, but two Grandmasters CURRENTLY! In Ho Lee and now, Richard Reed. I'm not talking about successions, but I'm talking about, if I may, Co-Grandmasters. Why now? Why not later? Why ever? Let someone else speak about this, better than I can... "The Officiating Grand Master, In Ho Lee, announces an addition to the 2015 Masters’ Ceremony. We are excited to announce a very special, high rank advancement. On this historic occasion, Chief Master Richard Reed will receive his 9th Degree Black Belt and the title of Grand Master. Chief Master Reed was instrumental to bringing his instructor, Eternal Grand Master HU Lee to the United States in the 1960’s. Considered the very first member of the ATA, Chief Master Reed was instrumental in the startup of the first ATA school – which was called the Nebraska Karate Association in Omaha. He was an innovator of martial arts as a business which built part of the foundation for over one thousand ATA licensed locations today." As belated as this is, I extend my congratulations to GM Richard Reed of the American Taekwondo Association. I'd say, that this can be truly said that it's not ever been tried before, imho, of Co-Grandmasters, and the like. Will they both have equal authority as Co-Grandmasters? It could be that as their announcement starts... "The Officiating Grand Master, In Ho Lee.." means that In Ho Lee maintains the mantle of authority, while Richard Reed, just holds the mantle of GM. Please, be respectful to the ATA in your responses... Would this work in YOUR governing body?? Would you want this of your governing body?? I doubt that it would work in our governing body because the upper higher hierarchy aren't capable of sharing responsibilities. They're team players, but they all want to be the boss...the head honcho, therefore, my days as Kaicho are quite numbered!! I wouldn't want this of our governing body because I believe that it can be disruptive to the core of the student body. How? Following two Kaicho's, as it would be in our governing body, is akin to following two masters, whereas, one will be loved and the other hated. Two visions running to the same conclusions doesn't seem to be quite acceptable because one will want what the other doesn't.

Welcome back, Sentoka; glad that you've returned!!

Welcome to KF, Ingdow; glad that you're here!!

Happy Birthday, Noah...and many more!!

Didn't a white belt come with your gi? If so, then, for now, use that one.

Nice tutorial, Alex!! If it, whatever 'it' might be, is within reach, and it makes sense to seize it, and go from there, then I'll do such, and with such conviction!!

I saw this on FB, and commented as well. The boys have had a great season, and I still believe their continued success, however long that drive remains in them to continue to wrestle. After all, what I've seen, they've both got some serious mad skills on the mat, imho. GO KENNETH AND KENDALL!!

Marketing!! That might be needed for the new location!! Pass out more flyers and do more demonstrations...anything to get your name out there. If no one knows your there and what you offer, they'll never darken your door. Ask parents to be an advocate for the new location...word of mouth. Find a pizza joint that will allow you to put flyers on the pizza box...something...anything...trial and error. If you've not done so yet, do a Grand Opening; sign ups might be there!!

Again, Lex, looks great! You've done quite well with the space given. As your school grows, you'll have to figure out what to do with the seating space. However, it's an easy fix, or it seems to be from my point of view...add class times to accommodate growth.

Nice workable space, Lex; looking great!! Clean...bright...welcoming...AWESOME!!

Welcome to KF, Slab; glad that you're here!!

Welcome to KF, Matchu B San; glad that you're here!!

Solid post!! I'd only add, visit these schools first, as many times as needed, to give you a more clearer picture.

Solid post!!