My Last AOK Tournament Experience – Another Low Blow to the Spirit of the Martial Way

It was Saturday, June 2, 2012.  Japanese rock music played loudly on my car stereo and the wind blew onto my face as I drove to Abel Villareal’s Karate Tournament at the Givens Recreation Center in Austin, TX.  I had just finished Enshin training in Pflugerville and was eager to see Mr. Alvarado (whom I still think of as Alvarado Sensei).  I thought perhaps, if it wasn’t too late, I’d enter the sparring competition as well.  It would be my last chance to compete in a point sparring tournament before I left for Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of karate. 

I have a brown belt in Soryu Karate, which makes it difficult to find other women to spar.  At the last two tournaments, I fought in the black belt division because there were no other available opponents.  I embraced this opportunity with enthusiasm and gained a great deal of knowledge from it.  The women I sparred were quick and they hit pretty hard.  This time around, I felt more prepared and confident.  I had done my homework and was ready for the challenge. 

Nelda Edwards, Secretary for the AOK, told me that I would be able to fight in the black belt division after I had registered.  I confirmed this with her before I paid the $50 registration fee.  I went to my designated ring to inform the referees that I would be fighting up in the black belt division.  They all confirmed this and also asked me if I would like to fight and exhibition match as a favor to a fellow green belt, who was also in a similar situation.  I happily agreed to fight her, but asked three of the referees if it would affect my ability to compete in the black belt division.  They all said that it would not, and reassured me that everything would be fine.  And so I fought my match and won.  When I went to turn in the form to Nelda Edwards, she told me that I was not able to fight up anymore, due to the fact that I just fought and exhibition match. 

“No ma’am, I’m sorry,” I protested.  “That is not what I was told by the three referees in that ring.” 

“Oh, well.  They don’t know the rules,” she said.

I again protested and this time was directed to Abel Villareal, the director of the tournament.  I explained the situation to Mr. Villareal, and asked that he either allow me to compete, or give me half of my money back ($25).  Mr. Villareal refused to give me my money back and refused to let me fight.

By the way, here's a video of Mr. Villareal fighting, in case you'd like to view.  I think this is him winning the World Kickboxing Title?...yeah.  He's on the left:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC_q-OXq12s

As I watched the female black belts spar, something became unmistakably clear to me.  I was being cheated.  It is the AOK’s responsibility to make sure their referees are well informed of the rules, regulations, and procedures of the tournament.  I deserved to get my money back, but more than that, I deserved a chance to fight. 

I even spoke, again with no solution or success, to Bob Beasley (whose official title is Member at Large...$$?).  Mr. Beasley also stated that competitors were not allowed to fight up into the next division, yet I was permitted to do so twice before.  Had I not fought the exhibition match, I would have been allowed to do it a third time.  These are severe inconsistencies.

I wondered, “Why would a group of martial artists want to stop an eager competitor from embracing the spirit of challenge?” 

The fact is, this was no longer about keeping the true spirit of martial arts alive.  This was about keeping the AOK’s pockets fat.  They did not care that an enthusiastic fighter was walking away with a bitter taste in her mouth, that they had lied to her, that they refused to take responsibility for not educating their referees and judges.  They cared more about a measley $25 in their bank accounts. 

Why has it come to this?  Because no one is saying anything.  I spoke to a few others that day who had also felt cheated by the AOK in one way or another.  This is going to stop.  The AOK’S unethical actions are, in no way, justifiable.  Is this what we are going to teach our children in martial arts?  To cling for dear life to our own egos, even when we know we are wrong?  I am not going to be quiet about this anymore.  There are people who will use martial arts solely for monetary gain, without understanding its true essence.  But as for me, I am promptly disposing of all point sparring gear and will seek truth in the heavy bag, in full contact training, and kumite. 

I ask you, AOK, do you have what it takes to meet in the ring, full contact?  You won’t have anywhere to hide.  Are you ready for the truth to be revealed?  Ready or not, here it comes.  People are becoming aware now, of what you hoped they would never realize.  We are witnessing the de-evolution of martial arts, and practices such as yours are primary contributors.  Evolution can only occur when we are ready to face our weaknesses and start living a life of rigorous honesty.    

I will be back, AOK.  Be ready for the wake-up call of a lifetime.  

OSU!    

Let Me Introduce Myself, I'm Kalia...

So, here it is.  I want to tell you a story.  But, first, let me introduce myself.  My name is Kalia and I am a 30 year old woman who absolutely loves martial arts and the way of life that it promotes.  I began practicing Soryu Karate about two and a half years ago, in January of 2010, in the gymnasium at Rosedale School on 49th and Burnet, in Austin, TX.  I trained under four different Soryu karate instructors over a span of two years.  Each of them had a unique approach to their practice of this style and I did my best to absorb everything I could from each of these men.  Some of these relationships, however, could not last.  Personalities differed, misunderstandings and disappointments occurred, and at times I became hungry for something more.  I constantly yearned for a challenge.  I developed an addiction to the bare fist and I longed for the stability of a unified organization.  But perhaps, most of all, I yearned for a more powerful connection with the Japanese way of karate.  I give many thanks to Sensei Joe Alvarado, the man who brought Soryu to Texas, for inspiring me to push the boundaries, follow in his footsteps, and seek training in Japan.

In January of this year, I began training in Enshin Karate with Sensei Andrew Budd.  I could not be more fortunate.  The first thing anyone ever told me about Sensei Budd was, "If you don't train with this man, you're crazy."  


It's true.


Sensei Budd, at one point, lived and trained with Kancho Joko Ninomiya, winner of the 1978 All-Japan Tournament and founder of Enshin Karate.  In 1999 and 2002, Sensei Budd competed in the Sabaki Challenge, a full-contact karate tournament held annually in Denver, CO, and won the Spirit Award. To learn more about the Sabaki Challenge, click here.  It does not disappoint:


http://sabaki.enshin.com/rules.html


Sensei trains hard and does not waste much time talking.  I like this.  We stay focused and get a lot done this way.  Classes have a set format and there are very clear expectations.  We follow a specific etiquette when we are in the dojo and maintain the integrity of our training space by giving our full attention to our time here.  Our warm-up is always the same and we have a curriculum with each technique building on the one before.  This is what I know so far, but I have so much to learn.  This is our Dojo Kun:

1.  We will always be courteous and show respect to others.
2.  We will strive to be our best and pursue it with patience.
3.  We will develop the mind and body to enhance the spirit.
4.  We will always keep an open heart and mind.
5.  We will accept the spirit of challenge.  (My favorite)
6.  We will follow the meaning of Enshin in both our training and our daily lives.

I leave for Okinawa, Japan on July 28th, 2012.  The hardest thing to leave behind will be the Enshin Dojo, as I believe I have found what I had been searching for, for quite some time.  I can only hope that I will be lucky enough to find a new dojo that will bring about a similar experience. 

My relationship with karate has marked the beginning of a new era of self-discovery and strength for me. In a nutshell, karate has significantly changed the way I think and has helped define the kind of person I strive to be.  It is within this practice that I find a vital part of what I can define as a life truly worth living.  

I want to tell you what it was like for me these past two years, and I want to share my new Japanese training experience with you, too.  I think you will relate.  I may say some things that you don't think I should say, but I will say them anyway.  Not because I want to make anyone angry, but because I believe in looking at things honestly and evolving.  I believe that deep within each of us, there is a voice that longs to speak the truth.  Maybe you'll find yours here.  Or, best of all, maybe you will be inspired to begin the journey of uncovering your ultimate truth.

OSU!