Until recently, Arizona’s karate community operated in an unorganized and fragmented manner. There were no programs to help disadvantaged youth get into “traditional karate” and the competition level was so poor as to be irrelevant at the national level. Although Arizona had produced great athletes who succeeded at the national and international level, there wasn’t a format in which the majority o
f Arizona athletes were able to strive, hone skills, compete in properly sanctioned events, and get on the path to national success. In 2009, a group of karate school owners, all from different backgrounds and organizations, started discussing a vision to create opportunities for Arizona athletes to compete and succeed at the national level. In addition, they discussed the need to develop a program to help disadvantaged youth benefit from life skills learned through the teachings of Traditional Karate. In 2011, Ray Hughes, Doug Corlew, Patrick Martin, and Bobby Walden started to formally adopt a business model and form the non-profit corporation USA Karate Arizona A*O. In 2012 USA Karate Arizona A*O became the approved sports organization of USA KARATE in the state of Arizona. USA KARATE is the national governing body for both the United States Olympic Committee and the World Karate Federation (WKF). Also in 2012, USA Karate Arizona held its first Arizona Karate Championship and USA National Qualifier. With mandatory preregistration, never before done in Arizona, attendance was expected to be fewer than 100 competitors. Surprisingly, attendance hit 250 and instantly became Arizona’s largest traditional competition. In addition, six $250 scholarships were awarded, by drawing, to competitors who were to participate in the upcoming USA Karate Nationals; another first in Arizona. The numbers have grown ever since. In 2014, with three extremely successful annual state championships under its belt, USA Karate Arizona turned its attention to developing a program for disadvantaged youth. With the intentions of developing the best program in Youth Development in the United State, funds needed to be raised. In order to raise funds from the corporation and philanthropy communities, statistics need to show the benefits youth experience from the teachings of Traditional Karate. Even though these benefits have been known for hundreds of years in the martial arts field and surrounding communities, documentation has to be developed. Currently in the planning stages and with expectations of starting by the end of 2014, a pilot program is in development to gather these statistics. This one year pilot program will record life skill improvement data from ten students. With the statics from this small sample group, funds are hoped to be secured for another one year pilot program with a much larger sample pool. The statistics from this pilot program will help in the securing of funds to implement a state wide program to help, mostly economically challenged, youth participate in pre-screened traditional martial art schools. The infrastructure and implementation of the Youth Development Program will be handled by Marlon Moore and Ray Hughes. The statistical system and documentation will be handled by the Oversight Board of Dr. Anne’, Dr. McCall, and Dr. Sterk, all psychologists with youth development backgrounds. Also in 2014, a National Advisory Board will be formed. This National Advisory Board will oversee all Youth Development and competition programs. The best minds from around the United States in Karate Youth Development will be recruited to overview all youth programs. Though they will not have any voting power in youth development or competition decisions, their insights and advice will be critically reviewed and considered in all decisions. Another program being developed in 2014 is the Arizona Budo Preservation Society. This program will be administered by senior karate martial artists to show respect to those pioneers who have been instrumental in the development of karate in Arizona. Showing respect to seniors is an important cornerstone of Martial Art philosophy. This society will show our youth that these philosophies are upheld and not simply talked about. In closing, USA Karate Arizona’s mission is to do whatever is in our power to help the youth of Arizona. Though these are lofty goals, we will be successful. However, we need your help financially. Please contact us for more information in this area. Domo Arigato Gozaimash*ta (a very polite thank you.)
