National Governing Bodies (Karate/Taekwondo)

CIARAN_BOYLE

For those who don't know me here I'm a shotokan practitioner whose been training for almost 6 years. As was discussed on the MMA forum a few months ago its impossible for a martial arts club to get insurance without being affiliated to a the Irish Sports Council in some way shape or form.

Most martial arts have to affiliate through the Irish Martial Arts Commission. Karate clubs and Taekwondo clubs have the option of affiliating through IMAC sub organisations Karate Ireland or the Taekwon-Do Advisory Board or through completely non IMAC related organisations ONAKAI for Karate or the Irish Taekwondo Union for Taekwondo.

Why do these sports have the option, while MMA can't get one national body recognised. Also does affiliating to one organisation or the other have benefits? Does switching have any effects?

SVJKarate

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

As was discussed on the MMA forum a few months ago its impossible for a martial arts club to get insurance without being affiliated to a the Irish Sports Council in some way shape or form.

Are you sure about that?

We've been insured for 15 years without needing to be affiliated to Irish Sports Council. Does the restriction only apply to MMA organisations?

cletus

Pretty much applies only to mma.

From imac's website

"IMAC registered Coaches are required NOT to....

... engage in any activity or behavior that could bring Martial Arts into disrepute

...engage in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Ultimate Fighting or other combat focused activities."

http://www.imac.ie/2011-06-15-16-20-28/membership.html

And here is a statement from Sport Ireland explicitly stating they do not recognise mma in any form

http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Media/Latest_News/2016/April/Sport_Ireland_Statement_.html

CIARAN_BOYLE

SVJKarate wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

We've been insured for 15 years without needing to be affiliated to Irish Sports Council. Does the restriction only apply to MMA organisations?

You are affiliated to the ISC by being affiliated to Onakai which is affiliated to the ISC.

http://www.onakai.org/clubs.html

You could also affiliate to the ISC through IMAC. What I'm asking is, is one method better than the other?

laoch na mona

cletus wrote: »

Pretty much applies only to mma.

From imac's website

"IMAC registered Coaches are required NOT to....

... engage in any activity or behavior that could bring Martial Arts into disrepute

...engage in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Ultimate Fighting or other combat focused activities."

http://www.imac.ie/2011-06-15-16-20-28/membership.html

And here is a statement from Sport Ireland explicitly stating they do not recognise mma in any form

http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Media/Latest_News/2016/April/Sport_Ireland_Statement_.html

whats the logic behind that

Dyr

laoch na mona wrote: »

whats the logic behind that

IMAC being run by a tree hugger and populated by groups who are using "recognition" to protect their little silos

CIARAN_BOYLE

laoch na mona wrote: »

whats the logic behind that

Well here is what they say on the MMA forum about it. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056796865
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=65937321
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057584926

Another opinion would be that imac consider themselves for traditional mma and don't want to get into the mess regulating mma is going to be, and its going to be a mess.

cletus

Ciaran, imac have held this stance long before regulating mma hit the headlines this year.

I don't know why a government approved body responsible for overseeing martial arts in this country are llowed to make decisions like this, but I can only assume it is some form of protectionism of the status quo of martial arts here, or some misguided beliefs held by the upper echelons of the organisation regarding mma (especially as the refe to it as ultimate figting, which would be akin to asking a boxer if they do WBA)

CIARAN_BOYLE

cletus wrote: »

Ciaran, imac have held this stance long before regulating mma hit the headlines this year.

I don't know why a government approved body responsible for overseeing martial arts in this country are llowed to make decisions like this, but I can only assume it is some form of protectionism of the status quo of martial arts here, or some misguided beliefs held by the upper echelons of the organisation regarding mma (especially as the refe to it as ultimate figting, which would be akin to asking a boxer if they do WBA)

Cletus, I'm well aware that IMAC have held this stance long term. Quiet frankly they don't want to regulate MMA and they haven't wanted to do this for a long time. If their members coach MMA and hold up IMAC coaching certs they will be wandering into that area so they ban it. MMA should be able to get together a national governing body of their own and get themselves affiliated to the ISC.

After all Karate have Karate Ireland which is a subgroup of IMAC and Onakai which is completely separate. Obviously the ISC doesn't have a requirement that IMAC is the only martial arts national governing body that can affiliate with them.

SVJKarate

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

You are affiliated to the ISC by being affiliated to Onakai which is affiliated to the ISC.

Only since last November, which was the first time we joined. Prior to that there was still no problem getting insurance cover. We were never asked.

I think the problem you refer to might only relate to MMA?

CIARAN_BOYLE

SVJKarate wrote: »

Only since last November, which was the first time we joined. Prior to that there was still no problem getting insurance cover. We were never asked.

I think the problem you refer to might only relate to MMA?

ok, we've been told that we need to be ISC affiliated through either IMAC or Onakai before,

If you werent affiliated what made you decide to, and why did you choose Onakai over IMAC?

SVJKarate

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

If you werent affiliated what made you decide to, and why did you choose Onakai over IMAC?

To get Garda Vetting arranged, and support courses on Child Protection.

It took forever to get the vetting done, and no help with Child Protection training, yet.

CIARAN_BOYLE

SVJKarate wrote: »

To get Garda Vetting arranged, and support courses on Child Protection.

It took forever to get the vetting done, and no help with Child Protection training, yet.

Thanks, IMAC do garda vetting and child protection too, any other benefits for onakai.