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MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING

    Sometimes you can talk until you are blue in the face and it still doesn't accomplish what you hoped it would. Perhaps it is because people will only believe what they want to, or perhaps normally credible people are saying things that others don't know any better than to believe.

    For the people who read this, will you just take my word for it? If not; just consider me a lying SOB and stop having anything to do with me. I don't know what else to tell you.

1) We are not in competition with the IIKA. We do two separate things. I have said repeatedly that we don't care how many associations you are with. This is a training alliance. It is not even a formal association. I am still a member of the IIKA. I will be until I decide or they decide, it is not a good fit. A good number of our members (a term used for lack of a better one) are IIKA members and even board members. As far as I know, I still have close friends on the IIKA board and in its membership. Yes, there are some strained or busted relationships with me and some IIKA members. But apparently those were never very strong to begin with. They are purely personal and have nothing to do with the IIKA or its doctrines. If the IIKA or anyone feels differently than I do, that will be for them to tell you, as I am telling you what I perceive our relationship to be. We also have people from other associations and people who even head up other associations. This is not just to be about me and the IIKA (sounds like a country music song)(but seriously folks), the IIKA comes into play more due to the inbreeding we have done down through the years. (thought I'd use a southern term). Or in other words; the closeness of all of our personal association with each other.

2) Will we ever become an association? The answer is probably. The alliance is growing and when that happens, progress makes these decisions for you. If it develops that it needs some structure to grow more or in other directions, then the organizational structure will naturally follow.

3) What is the mission of the ICA? It presently exists for two reasons only. The first is to be a financial fund raiser for the Harold Long Foundation. I am on the board of the HLF and thought this would be a good idea. It is as simple and uncomplicated as that. This decision was helped along by reason number two. People were getting more and more interested in cross training and had no where to go other than paying big seminar bucks to learn it. Then they had no one to follow up with them. I was doing a cross training jam every year and it had more attendance than some of the tournaments. I would like to think this was due to my outstanding and lovable personality, but it is not. Well maybe a little lol! The fact is, is that it was a popular concept whose time had come. Even in my own dojo, I lost some people to MMA trainers that offered the total package. So I started it and it was the best thing to happen in my dojo that we had to date experienced. I naturally figured that if it helped me, it would help others. So with the motivation to fund the HLF, I gathered the best people I could to train others on an assortment of martial arts, with Isshin-ryu as it's center piece. I must say, that while we were cross-training in our dojo, we were winning kumite and kata grands as well. The bottom line is; it was never supposed to be for people that were not interested in the first place. It is not a party or guest list of cotillion clubbers. That has never blown my skirt up any how. I felt it could help my dojo and some others felt it would help theirs. So talking someone into what they are not interest in or judging them for not being interested, is not on the radar. Maybe there is a third reason. I love to train this way. It has rejuvenated me and given me another alternative. I can't match foot and hand speed with the young better people any more. And I could tell that my guys were letting up on me and having to carry me a bit. That isn't necessary anymore, as our street practice has taken on a new dimension that I can hang with. So I just love the training........end of story!!

4) Did I leave the IIKA as an advisor to the board because I was mad at them? The answer is no! I wrote a very open and forthright resignation as to my reasons, in hopes that they would not be misunderstood. I wanted them to allow me to do what I am doing now (with the cross training) within the IIKA and they said no. They have it in the bi-laws that nothing but Isshin-ryu can be taught in the IIKA. I also asked them to officially support the HLF and they declined that also. Let me make it clear that this is their right as an association. This is what is believed and this is how it is done. I had told the Long family that I would be on their board. They had asked others and had politely been turned down. They were disillusioned and needed some help. I made some recommendations that I felt would cause people to be more supportive and they followed them. After that, it began to develop at a rapid pace. It was then I made my decision to leave the IIKA and devote my time to the HLF as well as develop a cross training group. If I wasn't to be allowed to do it within the IIKA, it only followed that I would have to do it apart for the IIKA. None of this on either side was personal. It was the way it was. I admit I leaned on some people within the IIKA and tried to make them feel guilty if they didn't support the HLF. But not the ICA!! I feel they should support the HLF as I feel it does some things the IIKA is not doing on behalf of Mr. Longs memory. Just as they are doing some things that we are not capable of doing. They felt their reasons not to, were justified. I felt they were not. That is why we are on different teams today. Maybe if I had not pushed so hard they would have come around. But that is my nature and I am an impatient organizer. So it didn't turn out that way I had hoped and I'll take the hit for that one. And no, I am not against an organization I helped to start. It has stood the test of time and served Isshin-ryu greatly down through the years. Do I disagree with their present position on the HLF and ICA; yes! But can't we disagree without becoming disagreeable? I hope so because we are all competitive and protective of our beliefs and it could get ugly if the leadership of our two factions do not govern with mutual respect for each other. I'm sure we will. We've been friends for almost a half century.

5) Are we out to steal or influence any ones members? Certainly not. But changes do happen. I have just accepted a prominent dan as a member of my dojo. I would do that if the person making the request has a justified reason for the change. I didn't suddenly invent that. I changed dojo's to be with Mr. Long. With in our ICA and IIKA organizations, several people have switched from one place to another. I'll bet that those of you who are reading this have had one or more people switch from one person's dojo to yours. Often you just inherit the other guy’s problem. But more often if you screen the person well, you'll find that the change is good for all involved. We have made a couple of promotions but that is very secondary to our purpose. The facts remain that we have with in our group, more than enough rank and credible masters to give rank to anyone who deserves it. Although some may want to question the credibility of a promotion, it would be foolish considering the people who will participate in that decision. Rank will never be used as a carrot or incentive to attract people. And here is a word of warning. Anyone promoted within the ICA had better be prepared to continue or accelerate their training. These promotions will be based on merit not popularity. So if you are looking for one of those “gee you've been here forever so it must be time to promote you.” or, “you have been a good boy or girl and served me well so here is a promotion.” If that is your perception on how to get promoted you'd better keep kissing up where you are. We will promote those who deserve it, have lost their sensei or for what ever reason, can not get a fair shake where they are. We will also pay close attention to people deliberately held back because they are associated with the ICA. I doubt that it will ever come to that, but if it does we are prepared to step up.

(6) Bottom, bottom line. This is a bottom as whale dookie. We are competing only with the challenge to learn more of what interest us and helps our students the most. We are going to put the best martial arts product out there for all of us who are interested to study. We are going to remember and value our Isshin-ryu heritage and surround it with some additional tangible assets. We will work with anyone or any organization that wants to work with us. We will respect those that do not and work with in our own program.

   We will continue to grow proportionate to the interest. We will not become our own punch line and out stay our usefulness. We will continue to channel every penny to the HLF until further notice. When and if that further notice comes it will be because the HLF is self supporting and/or the ICA has assumed the role of full martial arts association. My pledge to you, is that I personally will let you know when and if that happens.  Perhaps some would say; that would be only the business of the HLF and ICA members. But what would it hurt? “He who has nothing to hide, hides nothing.”

   Now when I say, “can't we all get along?” I am still taking to the people who want to get along. Not join forces, just get along. Those who do not, ok, just don't keep running that mouth. There is an old saying. "rave on cat s----t". "Somebody’s going to cover you up."

For the sake of mutual respect and in the unified memory of Mr. Long,

Denny