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ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY
ASSISTANT ADVISORS CHOSEN
The ICA board of advisors chose their assistants this past week. The purpose of assembling this under board, is to encourage more participation from the younger Dans, for the benefit of future leadership. Their duties will not be just symbolic. They will plan activities, attend senior board meetings in the absence of a senior board member, assist in training instruction, and keep the senior board apprised of the affiliate dojo needs for visitation and instruction. Each board member selected his own assistant with some going outside their own dojo for a specific need. There are still three board members who have yet to select an assistant. If you are interested you may contact this person and tell them why you would like to be an assistant. Butch Hill sdi@bellsouth.net Tony Williams tony939500@charter.net Jerry Lewis jlewis777@excite.com
I’m sure they will be glad to tell you if they have already selected someone or if they would consider you. The following are the Assistant advisors presently serving and who selected them.
Denny Shaffer / Jason Anzur: Jason has been my go- to- guy for years now. He is an excellent instructor and my dojo Renshi. He is a go dan in Isshin-ryu and ni-dan in Dragon Seni-jutsu. He handles the web page and teaches the Thursday night class. There is no job that he can’t be counted on to do.
Joe Laney / Nick Barringer: Nick, through thick and thin and a knee operation, has been Joe’s best, up and coming leader. He has been a stand out at all cross training jams, providing the secondary leadership we are all looking for. Being selected out of Joe’s dojo is a compliment in itself. Nick will serve Joe and the ICA well.
James Ogle / Jason Vance: This big guy is the atypical James Ogle product; tough, knowledgeable, dedicated and a fierce competitor. Jason has been of immeasurable assistance in the training sessions. He splits his time from sparring with the best students to working with the most inexperienced. His experience in the world of MMA will be a resource to anyone else interested.
Clyde Stanley / Leon Scott: Due to the distance from Minden La, Clyde opted to choose someone closer to our meetings and sessions. His choice of Leon was his own idea and a good one. Leon is “Mr. Everything”, with a full resume of accomplishments and leadership experience.
Wayne Wayland / Theresa Barnette: With the full blessings of her instructor Master Kelly Markham, Wayne went the way of Clyde Stanley and chose someone local to represent him. It was a great choice. Theresa is a nationally known Isshin-ryu competitor and a shining example to all. She is also working on her cross training skills and will be invaluable in her recommendations for more *female oriented training. *note: Theresa may be asked to pull double duty as an all women’s board will be forthcoming also. This has been needed in Isshin-ryu for a long time, as our progress in developing women leaders has been very poor. There are presently women leaders that we hope to integrate with the future ones selected.
Dennis Thomas / Dann Comerford: Dann is in the mold of all people who are right arms to their sensei. Dann has been interested from the start in helping Dennis adopt a new ideology and well as a system(Dragon Sen-i) in their dojo. I know Dann will bring the same energy and dedication to the board that he has in his dojo. He is an eager student and a mature leader in his dojo.
Ron Honeycutt / Wade Honeycutt: This is an opportunity to have the Honeycutt family around for a long time. Ron has already established himself as one of the pioneers of Isshin-ryu. It is only fitting that he is giving his son a chance to follow in his footsteps. They are big footsteps but Wade is a willing young man who has already made a place for himself in Isshin-ryu.
Cas Cox/ Jason Cox: Another father/son combination securing the past and future of Isshin-ryu and the HLF/ICA. Jason has grown up in the Isshin-ryu family and now has an opportunity to be a governing portion of it. He is a chip off the old block in all the good ways and is a welcome addition to the boards youth movement. Having learned all his kata from Cas, he gives us a ready reference in keeping the originality of Mr. Longs kata in tact.
Two additional positions have been promised when the people’s time allow: Master Sandra Strong and Sensei Anston Wilson. At this writing the others are up for grabs. If I don’t hear from anyone I will make my own selections.
Due to construction problems, the Jam and board meeting for February 21st has been moved to Joe Laney’s dojo. Hopefully we will be able to participate in Dennis’s dojo in our May Jam (exact date later).
As time passes, I hope all the time and effort applied will represent the kind of progress I anticipate. Time makes all things obsolete sooner or later. There is nothing that has endured this test of time without being augmented in some way. Our method of instruction is not going to be the same bell and whistles. Some bells and whistles are there forever and irreplaceable. Others must be replaces by new and more functional bells and whistles. So who is to make the decisions on retainment or replacement. Let it be the people in the arena of experimentation and practice. Our group will not lead you in the path of preconception and isolation. Over the coming months and years, the ICA will give you a chance to see demonstrated; all that you know, didn’t know, would or would not like to know. It will give you an educated, diverse, opportunity to chose for yourself. These are exciting times we live in with the winds of change blowing faster and faster. You can either set your sail to go with, or against the wind. It is great to have a choice and fellow envelope pushers to discover the yet undiscovered with. Welcome to the Isshin-ryu Cross-Trainers Association; People training for the future! All this Compliments Harold Long, who was the original push the envelope guy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to all our HLF/ICA members and friends. 2009 should bring dynamic results! |
