Insights
Politics or Rules!
WKF’s Statute 21.9 - Politics or Rules?
Many people feel that there are more faces within Karate politics than a dodecahedron. However, the situation
with regard to the vastly unpopular Statute 21.9 does not, I believe, fall into a political element but a rule
that must be adhered to as in respect to being a member of the WKF & IOC.
I don’t think I know anyone in
the Karate fraternity who has looked upon this statute in a favourable light. AIWa itself was forced to evict
many good friends from Wado membership, due to this ruling, in order to become part of the English Karate
Federation. Additionally, British Wadokai was also forced to restructure in order to be able to continue in EKF
membership. However, it’s NOT, as people think, a ruling that evolved out of Karate, the EKF or the WKF.
I believe that the IOC implemented this ruling, and like other sports within the IOC, there must be a 'single'
World Body for the representative sport within the IOC. There is only one world body for
boxing, Judo, cycling, tennis, etc., recognised by the IOC, and all National Members must
be part of that specific NGB in order to be part of the IOC. This IOC ruling forbids interaction
with ANY other Governing Body related to the sport/activity and so ‘persuades’ organisations
and members to be unified under ONE NGB for that activity if they wish to
consider themselves worthy of IOC Membership - So much for “Sport for All”.
However, the WKF took on the role as the World Governing Body for Karate and therefore had
to have the implementation of the said Statute 21.9 in place to correspond to their own membership
requirements within the IOC. Likewise, all Karate National Governing Bodies representing the WKF
world-wide are also under the same rulings. Those organisations who do not conform to the WKF Statutes will
be asked to leave and another NGB would replace it if they wish to be part of the IOC through the WKF.
The English Karate Federation (EKF) joined the WKF and have to conform to these rules like everyone else,
and likewise all members of the EKF must also follow suit - this is not politics, but the rules of the club.
I have heard people exclaim on many occasions that the Statute 21.9 is ‘Restrictive Practice’. If this is so then
we must ALL be accused of ’Restrictive Practice’... British Wadokai Competitions, open ONLY to BWK members
would then be considered ’restrictive’. British Wadokai Advanced Courses open only to British Wadokai members
- would this not be ‘restrictive’, as we only allow our own members to participate? Some associations go
further by not allowing their members to participate in any event outside of their own group - Is this not’Restrictive Practice’? Of course not, these are just the rules of the relevant associations that all members
must abide by if they wish to remain members - again, not politics, just rules!
So, in light of this, we all have our own forms of Statute 21.9! It cannot be considered ‘restrictive’ if people
have a choice, we all have a choice to leave what we don’t like and join something we do to get what we
want. Both the British Wadokai Karate-do Federation (BWK) and the Alliance of International Wado-ryu
(AIWa) are members of the English Karate Federation (EKF), as both these organisations wished to be members
of the WKF recognised National Governing Body of this country. All the time the EKF are members of the
WKF (and in turn members of the IOC) these 'world' rulings have to be followed. For all members of the EKF
there are no longer 'grey areas', we are either in the EKF - WKF - IOC or not (again, not politics but rules). If/
when the time comes that things change, we’re stuck with it - we may not like it, but (for now) it’s the rules
of the club!
As you can see, our position is quite clear in that we must not get involved in any organisation considered by
the EKF as 'dissenting' to the WKF. As you may remember, this implication caused a huge backlash of problems
at the last Wado World Championships, by non-WKF organisations being invited, and in turn many WKF
organisations not being able to attend due to their presence.
British Wadokai and AIWa must be very careful as to who we involve ourselves with, as any infringement will
result in suspension/expulsion from the EKF - and we have to tread very carefully and 'police' our own membership
at every level to keep our lineage at ‘world level’ recognition.
As many can understand, although outside invitations in themselves may be very honourable and generous
we must decline, at this time, for the benefit of all concerned.
Hopefully people will understand the position of this situation if we have to refuse participation in Courses and
Competitions, etc. Alternatively, maybe down the road a way, the WKF may feel that the IOC is a bridge too
far and decide to consider another means to an end. Until then...
Gary E Swift Kyoshi.