Joomla! site syndication http://www.aoka.org 2010-09-09T16:26:30+01:00 http://www.aoka.org http://www.aoka.org/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2009-09-19T11:44:59+01:00 http://www.aoka.org http://www.aoka.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=59 In conjunction with the new member management system, the AOKA will be offering a premium membership package that will be a small monthly fee. The members enrolled in this program will have access to scheduled video broadcasts of taped seminars and workshops for free or for very minimal charges. A schedule of broadcasts for each month will be available on the new member site beginning later this year. Premium members will be given access to view the broadcasts via the internet. This will allow many members located in remote locations to experience the training activities that go on throughout the world. It will also give participants that attended the live event an opportunity to review materials that are often forgotten. Additionally, we are going to be archiving very short clips of specific training techniques, drills, bunkai, tournament performances, etc. that will be available on demand for premium members. Building the archive for this project will take time and we will be asking for video clips from all Isshinryu practitioners in the near future. Over time, we hope to establish a categorized database of informational training tips for all levels of practitioners. More information will follow on the video clip needs. text/html 2009-09-19T11:44:08+01:00 http://www.aoka.org http://www.aoka.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=59 The AOKA recently acquired a new system to help keep member information up to date. It will also be a focal point of what is going on in Isshinryu Karate. The system allows members to update their personal information by logging on to the system and will allow a much better information flow about what is going on in the AOKA and in Isshinryu Karate. Blogs, member directories, forums, event registration and much more will soon be part of the new system. To gain access: 1. Go to aoka.memberlodge.org 2. Use your email address that is on file with the AOKA for your user name 3. Request a password reset. You should then be able to log in and take advantage of the system. If you have any problems logging in please contact me at aokanew@comcast.net (mailto:aokanew@comcast.net). In order to be on the new system and take advantage of the many new features, you must have a unique email address. Many members have not supplied an email address and their information was not loaded. They will need to register from scratch with a unique email address (in other words three members of the same family or dojo cannot share an email address.) Email accounts are free at Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail and many other places should you need to acquire an address. text/html 2009-02-23T05:48:01+01:00 http://www.aoka.org http://www.aoka.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97 The AOKA Board of Directors voted 4 to 1 in favor of cancelling the 2009 AOKA World Championships due to the current economic crisis. While this is disappointing to many, the board felt that it was unfair to ask members to spend the money necessary to participate in, and travel to, the event for this year. We plan to continue with the event next year provided the economy has not further deteriorated. I'd like to thank Terry Creamer and Jill Bingham for the work they did in securing a facility for the event. St. Louis would have been a great location for us to meet! Alternate regional events that are more cost effective are being planned and will hopefully be published shortly. Master Steve Young Chairman CEO American Okinawan Karate Association text/html 2008-09-02T20:32:42+01:00 http://www.aoka.org http://www.aoka.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=81&Itemid=39 AOKA PROMOTIONSby Grand Master Steve Young As Chairman and CEO of the American Okinawan Karate Association for the past few years, I have had several discussions with our Board of Directors regarding the AOKA's position on rank and testing. In general, I do not want the AOKA in the business of rank testing. By this, I simply mean that it should be the member's instructor that promotes an individual to a given rank. As we all know, everyone does things a little different, and everyone is doing it the right way , so it doesn't make a great deal of sense to me to usurp an instructor's right of promotion. Now, having said this, there are always going to be situations in which individuals need an avenue for advancement. In some situations, individuals my also want the AOKA's endorsement of rank and thereby submit themselves to our testing procedures. I am not advocating that we (the AOKA) discontinue testing, but I want to make it clear that individuals may join the AOKA and become active members irrespective of their rank. As a member, the AOKA does NOT endorse, refute or have anything to do with your rank. We have no position at all on the rank you hold. Only if you test before the AOKA do we issue you a rank certificate. As the current head of the organization, my vision is to make the AOKA an educational organization that provides benefits well in excess of the membership costs. I want it to be a source of information for our members, and to work with other organizations for the benefit of Isshinryu Karate throughout the world. This takes time and effort from many people. I already know that Isshinryu Karate is a GREAT system. Working together, we can expand our art and improve ourselves even faster.Yours in Isshinryu,Grand Master Steve Young Master text/html 2008-02-24T11:39:38+01:00 http://www.aoka.org http://www.aoka.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69 2008 AOKA World Championships The weekend is behind us, but what a great time! The 2008 AOKA World Championships was hosted by Master Mitch Kobylanski and his dedicated students. They did a great job in putting everything together . . . Thank you! I would also like to thank the seminar instructors, the officials and tournament support, and everyone else instrumental in making our event a success. Many old friends were present at the event. Many thanks to all of you for your ongoing support. We will soon have a decision on next year’s event, so keep watching our website. Yours in Isshinryu Karate, Steve YoungChairman CEOAmerican Okinawan Karate Association