Grand Master Don Nagle’s

AOKA, Inc.

Parameters

This is, in effect, a newly minted Mission Statement for the individuals and dojo's of the Don Nagle AOKA, Inc. The Board of Directors will ensure that the following tenets are carried out, in order to ensure that every school under our banner will be teaching Traditional Isshin-ryu Karate and excel under our guidance.

A.             The AOKA, Inc. exists to honor the First duly appointed American Grand Master, Don Nagle. His legacy must not be forgotten, for that would be a true loss to all martial arts. We will ensure that “The Living Legend,” will stay alive forever. If there is a karate-ka who does not know what Sensei Don Nagle, among the very first Americans to be taught Isshin-ryu at the very time of it’s creation. In visiting the dojo's of other Sensei's on Okinawa and challenging their black belts to kumite, while Sensei was still a White Belt, climaxing these victories by winning the Annual Okinawan Karate Championships. Upon his return to America, he opened the first dojo to teach Isshin-ryu in our nation. He became our Grand Master, primarily because he was the best fighter in the country and turned out the most second generation of Sensei's who turned out Championship fighters, as well. He was the best of the best in our nation for forty-three years and his legacy must live on. We are therefore, pledged to keep his memory alive through our writing, web sites, tournaments, Hall of Fame Dinners. Master Ralph Passero, who will continue to present these events to memorialize our mentor, has fostered much of this, for decades.

B.             Education of Leaderless dojo's:

which is not to say there, is not an accomplished Sensei at these schools, but they are unaffiliated. As stated prior, our Association will give these dojo's all of the help that we can to ensure that they are recognized for the teaching of Traditional Isshin-ryu as created by Shimabukuro Tatsuo Soke and taught by Grand Master Don Nagle. We will promote unity through seminars on weapons/fighting/kata/bunkai/self-defense/Isshin-ryu History and lastly business acumen. There are too many dojo's closing their doors.

We will provide areas of opportunity to increase the dojo's revenue. One method would be to “hire” seminar speakers, giving them the opportunity to create revenue for themselves and the fees paid to the speakers go directly to the speakers. All scheduling will made by the AOKA, Inc. so that we are aware of which dojo's are trying to advance themselves.

C.             Eliminate Political Hassles:

It is time to get to know the rest of the martial arts community. The leaderless dojo's represent the majority of the Isshin-ryu dojo's out there. They are looking for recognition an the AOKA, Inc. can supply that element to them. It will also give them unity of purpose and teach in the same manner, thereby creating Isshin-ryu karate-ka who can step into the kata tournaments and display the kata's correctly. This will also strengthen the Sensei's of these dojo's.

D.             Membership:

Create a membership that requires a single payment of annual dues per dojo. All Dans and kyus associated with the registering dojo are automatically members of the AOKA, Inc. An exception will be made with 7^th Dan and higher will maintain an associate membership; their Sensei will hold the full membership, which will ultimately be the “VOTING” membership. One vote per dojo.

E.             Ranking:

Head Instructors can rank up to 5^th Dan, but any Dans holding 6^th Dan or higher or scheduled to be promoted to 6^th Dan or higher will have to be certified by the AOKA, Inc. along with their home dojo certification. Ranking can be done without the presence of AOKA, Inc. members present.

F.              Dues:

Four tier policy:

$250.00 dues per year for all dojo's having over 25 Isshin-ryu students.

$150.00 dues per year for all dojo's having less than 25 Isshin-ryu students.

$100.00 dues per year for all dojo's having 10 or less Isshin-ryu students.

$50.00 dues per year for “Associate Membership.”

G.            Basics/kata/self-defense/weapons/kumite:

No changes in what you are doing within your dojo for two (2) years, while we build up membership.

H.            Meetings:

The Board, comprised of 8^th Dan and above will meet twice a year.

A general membership meeting will take place once a year.

                                                       Ed McGrath, Ju-Dan

                                                       Grand Master, Isshin-ryu