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**Elisabetxxx** · 09-01-2007, 02:09 PM

Maybe not disturbing but should be cause for concern by the AUSKF membership because this new group will be a regionless regional federation. All KKA dojang will make up this new AUSKF member federation.

So it strengthens the AUSKF's move toward non-geographic based regions for member federations. Any group with dojo(s) located in any state can form a federation and join the AUSKF. A string of affliated dojo are now possible.

No longer are regions forced to be based upon US geography. You simply put together enough people from anywhere in the US and that is a federation.

In my opinion, this move further fractionates (is that a real word?) the AUSKF instead forcing people to work together. We now have multiple federations in California, in Colorada, on the East Coast that overlap geographically which does not help strengthen the US kendo skill pool.

It seems to me that if the AUSKF forced people to join a single federation and insist that they work out their political differences and cooperate that would strengthen kendo in the US more than adding federations on top of federations.

What motivation is there for this new group to simply join in and become a part of the existing kendo federations in each of their respective states? If you want to strengthen US kendo the federation should be building larger regional groups that are expanding and supporting kendo in their geographic region, this will give member kenshi more opportunity to practice. How do you practice when others in your same town are in a different federations and holding different events, etc?

The term Western in Western Kendo Federation refers to the western united states or no overlap with the east, there is an eastern KKA that may or may not join depending on its membership votes and much like the other AUSKF federations. I cannot commit on the regional arguments, but from my read of the AUSKF bylaws, that was never intended to occur but was an effect that occured due to the requirements of at least 10 dojo's and 100 members, (see SOCAL which has two "regional groups". With regards to memberships and "how to tell" if they are or are not a member, AUSKF bylaws require a membership number, so in theory, one could represent themselves as someone else, just as it could occur with any dojo in AUSKF, but to participate in bi-regional tournaments and the national championships, one must present your AUSKF card with your number. My understanding is AUSKF wishes to form the strongest national team, regardless of nationality or other such constraints, look at the last team which had US Citizens and non-citizens on it.

This new federation should be looked upon by all AUSKF member as a good thing as the reality, if the requirement was to join one of the other federations, it just would not of happened. A large number of their students are first generation and have difficulty with english and or japanese, giving them a place to collect and practice with like minded and language compatible groups seems like a good idea to me. Over time and generations the issue of national origin fad away, we can see this demonstrated as 2nd, 3rd and more generations take the leadership positions across the country.

I say lets welcome them and focus on good practice, leave the politics and such to the old men who can't practice anymore. Lets focus on taking the WKC next time and in the mean time, practice the diversity that makes this country so great.

09-01-2007, 02:09 PM	#35
Elisabetxxx Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 541 Senior Member	Maybe not disturbing but should be cause for concern by the AUSKF membership because this new group will be a regionless regional federation. All KKA dojang will make up this new AUSKF member federation. So it strengthens the AUSKF's move toward non-geographic based regions for member federations. Any group with dojo(s) located in any state can form a federation and join the AUSKF. A string of affliated dojo are now possible. No longer are regions forced to be based upon US geography. You simply put together enough people from anywhere in the US and that is a federation. In my opinion, this move further fractionates (is that a real word?) the AUSKF instead forcing people to work together. We now have multiple federations in California, in Colorada, on the East Coast that overlap geographically which does not help strengthen the US kendo skill pool. It seems to me that if the AUSKF forced people to join a single federation and insist that they work out their political differences and cooperate that would strengthen kendo in the US more than adding federations on top of federations. What motivation is there for this new group to simply join in and become a part of the existing kendo federations in each of their respective states? If you want to strengthen US kendo the federation should be building larger regional groups that are expanding and supporting kendo in their geographic region, this will give member kenshi more opportunity to practice. How do you practice when others in your same town are in a different federations and holding different events, etc? The term Western in Western Kendo Federation refers to the western united states or no overlap with the east, there is an eastern KKA that may or may not join depending on its membership votes and much like the other AUSKF federations. I cannot commit on the regional arguments, but from my read of the AUSKF bylaws, that was never intended to occur but was an effect that occured due to the requirements of at least 10 dojo's and 100 members, (see SOCAL which has two "regional groups". With regards to memberships and "how to tell" if they are or are not a member, AUSKF bylaws require a membership number, so in theory, one could represent themselves as someone else, just as it could occur with any dojo in AUSKF, but to participate in bi-regional tournaments and the national championships, one must present your AUSKF card with your number. My understanding is AUSKF wishes to form the strongest national team, regardless of nationality or other such constraints, look at the last team which had US Citizens and non-citizens on it. This new federation should be looked upon by all AUSKF member as a good thing as the reality, if the requirement was to join one of the other federations, it just would not of happened. A large number of their students are first generation and have difficulty with english and or japanese, giving them a place to collect and practice with like minded and language compatible groups seems like a good idea to me. Over time and generations the issue of national origin fad away, we can see this demonstrated as 2nd, 3rd and more generations take the leadership positions across the country. I say lets welcome them and focus on good practice, leave the politics and such to the old men who can't practice anymore. Lets focus on taking the WKC next time and in the mean time, practice the diversity that makes this country so great.
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