The Amateur Athletic Union’s Chinese Martial Arts Division looks for a clean start with a fresh set of member-friendly ideas.
The Amateur Athletic Union’s Chinese Martial Arts Division looks for a clean start with a fresh set of member-friendly ideas.
Interview by Dave Cater
“The AAU allows small backyard sifu as well as mega schools to experience Chinese martial arts.”
INSIDE KUNG-FU: When it comes to kung-fu, the AAU has had a less-than-stellar history. Why would anyone want to assume leadership?
DAVID PICKENS: The AAU, like any other organization in America or the world for that matter, finds itself at some period tied up in controversies. Back in the 1980s I found myself and several others staying out of the AAU for practices that we found controversial. However, over the last 20 years past AAU National Chairmen like Earl Portnoy have advocated getting the rules up to par with the international standards and Past National Chairman Nick Scrima (currently a district manager as well as a trusted senior advisor) has helped put the AAU back on sound financial footing. The bottom line is to give students a place where they can participate in district, regional, and national tournaments as well as offer workshops, and support other efforts related to Chinese martial arts such as World Tai Chi Qi/Gong Day. We offer an atmosphere that allows the small backyard sifu, as well as the mega schools to gain fellowship and experience the many faces of traditional as well as contemporarily Chinese martial arts. That is what led me, as well as an increasing amount of others back to the AAU.
IKF: What is it about the AAU that lends itself to controversy?
DP: What leads any group to controversy? Many factors contribute to accusations. Sometimes it is mismanagement, jealousy, or even apathy. I believe some have a hard time with the fact that we are the oldest and largest sporting organization in America, formed in 1888 with over 600,000 members. But we are just one small division of about 1,200 strong in an organization of 35 other sport divisions. Our CMA division may also possibly be one of the oldest Chinese martial arts divisions in America going back to Don Buck, who was AAU Chinese Martial Arts National Chairman before the United States Chinese Martial Arts Council was formed.
I am sure every major sporting organization or governing body has done things that, in hindsight, they would have done differently. The same holds true with the AAU CMA. As you know, the Chinese martial arts world is no stranger to controversy. World Tai Chi Qi Gong Day just occurred. We are celebrating a style with more than 400 years of history and yet there is controversy over the basic origin taijiquan.
IKF: How much credibility did Dug Corpolongo give the organization?
DP: Past AAU National Chinese Martial Arts Division Chairman Dug Corpolongo, has done more for realigning the AAU Chinese Martial Arts Division than anyone ever has done period exclamation point. Dug did it for one purpose (and that was) to set this organization up as a democracy. This meant: allowing the power of the vote to decide the next national chairman; the next national executive board members; how rules are to be amended; and how the organization would be run. Dug accomplished a list of short-term goals and left a long-range plan for transforming the AAU into an organization that is responsible to the entire membership.
IKF: The AAU has been rife with rumors of illegal dealings and underhanded practices. How can you change people’s minds about the current product?
DP: Rumors are just that. Many of the past problems involving the AAU CMA were matters of poor judgment, not illegal practices. Today, we have a monthly membership and finance reports sent to us from the home office. Our proposals for rule and by-laws changes are posted two years before a vote takes place. We have added a process where members in a specific region can petition for a vote of no-confidence regarding officers should questionable practices arise. By making all the board meetings a matter of open record, we have taken the biggest step toward creating an organization not only democratic but also totally transparent. We simply ask members to keep an open mind and become active with us. None of those involved in today’s AAU would tolerate such dealings. Changing preconceived attitudes takes time, but we feel that being open and not only talking the talk but also walking the walk will in time dry up many of the rumors. We have strived to act in the highest interest associated with the AAU motto, “All sports forever.” We also added the Chinese character wude to our logo, meaning we are keeping the true spirit of honor first and foremost in our approach to Chinese martial arts.
IKF: Most people only joined the AAU to take advantage of its inexpensive liability insurance. What other reasons are there to join now?
DP: The (WIIFM) or “what’s in it for me” was the first issue we as a National Executive Board tried to identify and address when we met in Albuquerque four years ago. You mention the AAU’s liability insurance as a big factor in joining. The AAU insurance is not only inexpensive, but also the most extensive in terms of coverage of any I have seen in my 35 years of teaching martial arts. We also are building a library of video and printed material that we hope will create a library of archives unparalleled in martial arts. We are also in the process of placing all our rules in a video format that features explanations in an easy-to-understand format.
Plus, we realize not everyone can travel to our National Championships, so we are attacking that on several fronts. One idea is to offer more Super Regional Events within a 300-mile drive of major metropolitan areas. Another idea is to award the National Championships to regions that show the biggest turnouts.
And this year we are kicking off a new format in our National Group Tai Chi and Kung Fu competitions by having schools submit a three-to-four minute long video of their performances on which they will be judged. This way, they can compete without having to spend the money for travel. Just show your AAU membership and you’re eligible. This can be accessed by visiting
www.aaunationalkungfuchampionships.com/docs/AAU_nationalaauregistraitonmaterial_2009.pdf
IKF: What does the AAU plan to do to make the AAU relevant again?
DP: As the first elected National Chairman I have several items that I would like to address. One is to set up elections for my replacement next year with an even broader voting base to elect the next National Chairman. I also would like to see the following amendments added in 2010:
- Presently, we are looking at our voting structure to make the AAU CMA more accessible to those wanting to be part of our growth. We will take recommendations and create amendments to take to the National Convention to have the National Executive Board vote in place for 2010.
- In Phase II we want to expand the electoral base of our organization, as well as implement some needed positions to greater serve our membership base. To review our current policies and rules visit: http://aausports.org/sprt_ChineseMartialArts.asp?a=sprt_ChineseMartialArts_Rules.htm
* In Phase II our proposed voting membership is to include:
10 Regional Directors, 8 National Executive Board Members, 1 National Chairman, 56 Possible District Managers, 26 Possible National Rules Committee Members, 50 Possible National Judges, 15 Possible National Advisors and 10 Possible Senior Advisors.
This will be voted on at this year’s National CMA Annual meeting and the results will be taken to the 2010 AAU National Convention for implementation.
IKF: If the AAU disappears why is kung-fu worse off?
DP: Kung-fu and Chinese martial arts have been around for over 3,000 years, so if the AAU and the rest of the organizations disappeared tomorrow the growth of kung-fu and tai chi will continue. That said, the importance of the AAU to the American kung-fu and tai chi communities is that we remain diligent in our attempts to preserve the traditional systems of Chinese martial arts and make them as fair and as unbiased as possible.
IKF: Since no one gets rich from this, what’s in it for you?
DP: For me, as it has been for our Nation Executive Board members, this is a labor of love and passion for the Chinese martial arts. The hours of work people on National Executive Board, National Rules Board, and Advisory Consuls and so many others have spent in this project allows us an arena for students to play as well as exchange techniques. We hold things such as round-ups to sign new members. We work to build tournaments, workshops, and promote demonstrations. We explore new ways to present the Chinese martial arts to the public. We have many hotel and convention bureaus across the country petitioning us to hold events in their communities based of the AAU name alone.
IKF: You, as much as anyone, have been a strong opponent of politics in kung-fu. Yet here you are leading one of the most political organizations in history. Do you see the irony?
DP: Yes, you have known for quite a long time where I stand on people with political agendas in the Chinese martial arts. If anyone would have told me five years ago that I would be in this position today, I would have asked them if they had a fever. I became involved in martial arts in 1961 and began teaching since 1973. And for many of those years I chose to train and teach rather than serve. In 2001 my views began to change after being the president of our local Lion’s International for a year and taking a second turn in 2004 where I learned that one of the most important things a person can do is to serve the needs and desires of the organization he represents.
When that challenge was posed to me with the AAU I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to come in and serve the cause we had started. We have been pumping new life into this organization for the past three years and I feel confident that from the ranks of regional directors, district managers, and national advisors will come a new generation of leaders who will continue to fulfill our vision.
IKF: Is your emphasis on internal, external, fighting or forms?
DP: We encompass all the Chinese martial arts, with the exception of san shou. The AAU pulled out of boxing as well as all full-contact sports in the interest of safety. Our continuous light-contact revolves around the basic principles of san shou rules without the lei tai and full contact. We also have shuai chiao, pushing hands, foam weapons, internal and external forms, and contemporary wushu.
Our tai chi category has the largest and most diverse pushing hands division of any organization (stationary step, fixed step, moving step, and freestyle push hands)—the first three being much like other associations and the new freestyle being along the lines of Chen Village style pushing hands.
IKF: How do your tournaments differ from say Nick Scrima’s or Anthony Goh’s?
DP: I have not been to those tournaments in recent years, however we support everyone in their efforts to promote the Chinese martial arts in a positive way. Many of our members support Nick Scrima’s and Anthony Goh’s events, as well as J.K. Wong’s tournament and the kuo shou events.
IKF: Where do you see the AAU in 10 years? Or do you see it anywhere at all?
DP: Our 10-year plan sees all 56 Districts holding events with 10 Super Regions developing events. From the activities at those events, our governing body will award National Tournament berths to those most active in promoting their region’s growth. This is a monumental job and will fall squarely on the shoulders of the people that become our Regional Directors. We allow districts and regions a certain amount of autonomy in developing programs and events that work best in their district and regions. All we ask is that they keep their tournament rules in line with our National Rules.
IKF: What group of martial artists most benefit from AAU affiliation?
DP: With the exception of full-contact fighters, we are offering an organization that features the best of what Chinese martial arts has to offer. For those hoping to become full-contact fighters, our shuai chiao and continuous light-contact divisions give this group the basic tools to develop their skills in a safe environment. The AAU Chinese martial arts division represents children from as young as five to adults as old as 60. Our events are safe, non-biased and open to all participants.
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