The AYSMA is trying to bring the best to our children. We are following all the steps to enable corporate America to become involved with Sport Martial Arts in such a way that has never been seen before by the "American Martial Art Community". Keeping this in mind we have made some tough decisions regarding the martial arts and tournament competition. First we will be on the cutting edge, through a myriad of "form" divisions and offering our children college scholarships. Second we will adhere to our "founding fathers" by maintaining "traditional empty hand form divisions" and by maintaining tough standards for our tournaments, judges and competitors.
The AYSMA must show corporate America an organized effort that considers safety for the competitor and excitement for the spectator. We must also demonstrate where ever possible how the martial arts mirrors other mainstream sports across America.
As soon as the AYSMA is able to produce several events across America we will have a rating system for our competitors. We will rank all the Brown and Black Belt competitors from age 3 through 18. The AYSMA will not rate the beginner and intermediate belt rank competitors.
The AYSMA believes that it is the responsibility of the "state and regional" sanctioning organizations to rank the under belt competitors. These organizations and associations have existed since the 70's and 80's and have strong "rating systems". Here in Texas there is the Amateur Organization of Karate; they sanction over thirty tournaments around the state. They have the state split up into regions and they award regional and state awards for the various ages and belt ranks, from beginner and intermediate through Brown and Black Belt.
The United States Karate Alliance is another example they sanction tournaments across America and have their own state and national champions. The USKA is the oldest school/belt/tournament sanctioning organization in America to my knowledge, their champions include; Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Billy Blanks and Tokey Hill. The AYSMA respects organizations like the USKA, AAU, WTF and the various sanctioning bodies. The AYSMA does not want to compete with these organizations. We know we are in a unique position, we produce tournaments for children only, and we are a non-profit corporation. Our ultimate goal is to produce eight to twelve events around America and offer quality events, quality judging and of course college scholarships. We do not intend to produce several events in the various "regions" across America. We know we will not have "enough" competition to warrant "rating or ranking" under-belts.
The AYSMA is also aware that having a single event in a given area of the United States will not be a proper "gage" of the competitors in that region. The AYSMA will offer the Brown and Black Belts a simple "ratings or ranking" system to tell America who the children are that are winning our events and receiving scholarships. We will continue to offer a wonderful day of competition to the beginner and intermediate belt ranks. All the competitors will enjoy quality judging, excellent facilities and the myriad of awards, free T-shirts and free dinners the AYSMA is already known for. Our main purpose is putting our children through college as this is accomplished the AYSMA will continue to offer our children the best.
There was a magazine back in the 70's and 80's, Karate Illustrated Magazine; later it became Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated Magazine. They maintained a rating system for the top Black Belt State and National competitors. The magazine helped to back a national championships the National Karate Circuit Finals produced by Jim Butin and held in Oklahoma back from around 79 through to the mid to late 80's. The AYSMA is going to mimic this fine publication and the Black Belt competitors that filled its pages. Not by producing a magazine but by giving the recognition to our top competitors. The Brown Belts, these young men and women that are so close to their goal. The Black Belts who have trained and worked and sweat for their "Belt", deserve something more than is currently being offered to them.
The AYSMA likes to consider the Brown Belts like "college football" where the players are seeking to impress a pro-team. We also consider the Black Belts the "pro's". The young men and woman that are the "Michael Jordan's and Serena Williams" of our sport. We will give them an accurate scoring system. Eventually we will put them through college. This is the goal. To make our children and AYSMA events as mainstream as the children involved in USA Gymnastics or AAU Track and Field or "college football".
We encourage our beginner and intermediate belt competitors to keep working; soon you will be a Brown Belt. Persevere just a little more work and you will wear a Black Belt and have a chance at a scholarship from the AYSMA just like all the other children across America involved in the other mainstream sports.
Yours in the Martial Arts,Covert Blackledge