General Information To support longtime teachers of Japanese budo and their students, rank and teacher certification is available. Fully qualified members of the SMAA can earn kyu, dan, and teaching certificates. At the same time, rank requirements are strictly regulated assuring that rank cannot be purchased or illegitimately obtained. This serves to insure that you will not be embarrassed by another SMAA teachers lack of competence or integrity. The SMAA goes to great lengths to support its certified instructors. Members that have earned teaching certification can recommend their students for promotion to ranks within one of their own. In other words, a fifth dan with an SMAA teaching license can recommend his or her students for promotion in the SMAA for ranks up to and including fourth dan. Plus, each SMAA certified instructor sets up his or her own teaching curriculum. As long as this instruction adheres to the basic spirit and ethics of traditional budo, the SMAA will not be involved in the running of your dojo. SMAA members need not purchase dojo charters, there are no SMAA franchises, and the SMAA does not take a percentage from members schools. The SMAA has no district directors, regional directors, or national directors. Every SMAA member deals directly and personally with our headquarters. This streamlined approach makes it much easier to do business with the SMAA. There is no need to go through layers of bureaucracy to pay membership fees, register students, or apply for promotions. It is possible to bring SMAA Directors and Advisors, some of the highest ranking and most knowledgeable budo experts in Japan and the West, to your dojo for instruction. We can also help you to visit some of them for training. This is a rare chance to learn more about authentic Japanese budo and koryu bujutsu from top authorities, most of whom possess a superb command of English and understanding of the needs of Western students. Since many of our leaders have close ties to Japan, or live in Japan, we can offer members advice about traveling to this country; and in some cases, we can help you to make contact with legitimate dojo in Japan. In general, the SMAA works to further friendship and understanding between Western and Japanese martial arts enthusiasts. SMAA leaders are friendly and accessible. Send your questions about budo to our headquarters, and we will forward them to some of the most senior martial artists in and outside of Japan. Membership in the SMAA is an excellent way to make new and knowledge friends that share your interest in the traditional martial arts of Japan. Perhaps this is the associations greatest value. Join today at smaa-hq.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:43:03 +0000
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