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About the SMAA
We are dedicated to the recognition,
advancement and acceptance of all styles of martial arts. What makes us
different from many other martial arts associations, organizations,
federations, alliances, and governing bodies is the open minded policies used to provide the services that practitioner from all martial
arts require. The SMAA, has a solid
administrative and command structure,
with dedicated senior practitioners from many diverse styles of martial
arts. We invite individuals from all styles – whether classical or modern,
traditional or contemporary – to experience what our martial arts
association has to offer.
You may ask, “Sounds good, but what do you have to
offer?”
First and foremost, we are not and never will be a
martial arts association that is driven by money. We are NOT a diploma mill and it is
not possible to simply "buy" rank, certifications, or other services no
matter how much money is on the table. The martial arts are often corrupted by
this sort of thing in the 21st century and we wish to distance
ourselves from these questionable practices as much as possible.
Additionally, we have a
belt rank system that we recommend using, but of course each club
instructor is free to use the belt rank system he feels is most appropriate for the art he teaches.
You may be thinking, “Wow, that sounds even better, but
how will you accomplish this?”
The SMAA
was formed as a
not for profit corporation with
the goal of providing the international martial arts community with the
training,
certifications and
rank testing and
rank credentials
that all GENUINE and LEGITIMATE martial artists require. How do we define
GENUINE and LEGITIMATE? Quite simply, a genuine and legitimate martial
artist is one whose abilities have been verified and documented by either
live evaluation or video evaluation. In some cases submitting
previous certifications that were made through a major martial arts
association, governing body, federation, or martial arts organization that is legitimate
and is widely known and accepted in the martial arts community is
acceptable. These are the only means
that we deem acceptable as a basis on which to grant recognition for rank,
instructor, rank examiner, or other certifications.
Some may consider this verification process unnecessary, but nothing could
be further from the truth! No legitimate martial arts association or
instructor would promote or certify an individual without actually
seeing them perform, and we are in the very same position. If some feel
this process is unwarranted, then clearly they are not the type of
martial artist the SMAA is looking for!
It is our sincere hope that each and every
SMAA member understands the
reason for this…it is not meant to doubt an individual’s ability or question their integrity…it is merely to confirm the ability of those
individuals that the SMAA are not familiar with. If we document their
skill level in person or on video, then our martial arts association is 100% justified in
certifying that individual at the appropriate level and NO ONE can ever
question our motives or integrity, or the credentials that we have
awarded. This is quite different from many other martial arts associations,
federations, and organizations where it is possible to just send in money to get whatever rank
is desired...usually with no form of verification of that individual’s ability
level.
You will note that we have
reduced many of the fees for
certifications and promotions...we don’t ever want money to be a factor in
how our martial arts association administers services to the martial arts…quite a change from how
things have been done in the past.
Please refer to the appropriate
section in this website and complete the
membership form to secure your place with the
SMAA. Once complete, send it to the address on the form and your membership will be
processed and certificate issued shortly thereafter.
It is our honor to serve you, the
GENUINE and LEGITIMATE martial artist in your quest to be recognized for
your accomplishments and to ensure that the SMAA
member’s ranks and
certifications awarded have integrity and can stand up to the most intense
level of scrutiny.
We thank you for visiting our site and look forward to
serving you.
Donn Schucker, Executive Director
P.O. Box 2171
Florissant, MO 63032-2171
Phone: (314) 606-7306
Email: ds@smaa-martialarts.com
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