People associated with the WKA, the only kickboxing body now legally allowed to have events in New York (ie a defacto monopoly, wonderful law!) are trying to urge people not to complain to the NYSAC about the current law. This is extremely self serving, the current state of affairs makes them the only game in town. For years no major promoter in NY used them but of course now several promoters are in discussions with them because, I repeat, they have benefitted by being the only group NYSAC has decided to recognize. Obviously, if the law is changed, and USKBA, IKF and ISKA were legal again, don't you think the promoters who have worked with these organizations for YEARS will go back to them?

These same individuals are also now saying that while they don't want anyone to protest, they are all in favor of changing the law or adding to the list. If this is true, I think it's pretty simple. WKA should write a letter to the NYSAC saying that USKBA, IKF and ISKA all do exactly the same sport, are as legitimate as WKA and thus should be added to the list

Of course, some say that a letter wouldn't change NYSAC policy, this is quite possible. But wouldn't it be nice if WKA was a class act and at least made the effort??

Who thinks the WKA, in a show of brotherhood and support for the sport, should make this public statement?

i don't.

we shouldn't expect them to do anything besides look out for #1.

have the other orgs applied for recognition yet?

applied and refused, even though the NY Dept of State is saying they SHOULD be accepted... it's a mess

Like I said before, the NYSAC doens't give a rats ass about what we think. Yeah its great people are taking the time to do a petition to voice your opinion, but honestly, I don't think it will change anything. Think patiently, and just throw your event as you did before with all the safety guidelines. Everything was fine before, so we can do it again. Take the chance because the NYSAC will just ruin our sport in New york. If I had the financial capability, I would throw an evnt myself, but you know those New York bills. JUST MAKE THE EVENT HAPPEN! Good luck to all you New York kickboxing promoters and fighters..

apply again and again. it seems there is no procedure in place for applications so no rule against applying and reapplying.

if you can find out who authorized the other orgs such as judo and the wka, you might have them write letters of reference.

rather than a petition. how about having every one you know start applying to sanction events? have them all first request information of applying. i guess it would bog down their office. apply to work in the office.

best of luck.

People have laughed at the petition but it got the attention of two newspapers and now a TV network... and we are still gathering signatures and will present them to NYSAC..

We have also gotten many organization to apply again and again, including the IOC recognized Karate group, AAU TKD and other mainstream sports who were omitted from the list, the pressure is mounting but it's damn funny that people associated with WKA are trying now to tell people not to sign the petition...

Where do you go to sign the petition?

Recent changes in New York State law have made ALL martial arts competitions which include any form of application event (point sparring, continuous sparring, kickboxing and San Shou) ILLEGAL! unless sanctioned by a small group called the "approved list"

The law is available online at:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?ul=11

The ammendment to the current law (Section 5A) states that the only legal "martial arts" competition will be ones sanctioned by organizations on the New York State Athletic Commission's (NYSAC) "approved list".

According to >Hudo Spindola, General Counsel for the New York State Athletic Commission, only these organizations can legally run events in NY State. Furthermore, the commission has not established any process by which other organizations can be added. If you are
not one of the above organizations, they will send police to shut your event down!

Voice your opposition to this ridiculous list and the fact the commission will not add any new martial art organization to the list. You can do any or ALL of the following.

Call and write the commission, including sending emails.

New York State Athletic Commission

123 William Street

20th floor

NY NY 10038

(212) 417-5700

fax (212) 417-4987

Email: >Hudo Spindola, General Counsel for the New York State Athletic Commission

Sign an online petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/sanshou/petition.html

Please be professional and factual when contacting NYSAC. Thank you!

In an upcoming article in a New York based newspaper, it is being said an official of the NYSAC will clarify the situation to the degree that they will now claim the law has no effect on amateur events. In the same article it also seems there is info about how a law deregulating all kickboxing may pass at the end of this year?

I would really welcome an official statement on the amateur issue.

Anything new on this issue?
I've noticed a few amateur san shou events being advertised in New York.
Are pro fights still illegal? What's the word?

Brian,
There has been NO CHANGE at all. There has not been a San Shou event in NY since Sept 8, 2001. We have moved our events to New Jersey... where the athletic commission is reasonable, helpful, intelligent and not corrupt. The Daily News ran a three page story on how corrupt the NYSAC is. And despite the fact that they now admit they were WRONG about amateur events, they will not put anything in writing to clarify this point.

Our last press release

Manhattan, NY - The last time New York City saw an event dedicated to the Chinese martial art of San Da was September 8, 2001. While we all know what happened to New York a few days after that, that tragedy wasn't what has killed the sport in the Big Apple. No, terrorists, hate and prejudice didn't stop America citizens from enjoying the best in Chinese martial arts action sports. Instead, it was the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), an organization that has failed to do it's primary job, promote revenue producing boxing shows (they sanctioned one boxing event in all of 2003), and continues to eat up $886,000 of tax payer money per year (source: New York Daily News, April 20, 2003). Former legal council to the NYSAC, Hugo Spindola (who made $90,000 a year according to he Daily News), for several years acted as a wall between interested parties (promoters, sanctioning body presidents, athletes and innocent tax paying citizens who wanted their voices to be heard) and the powers that be at NYSAC. Mr. Spiondola also spread a lot of misinformation about the law and how the NYSAC had interpreted it. Mr. Spindola told numerous parties that the NYSAC had authority over AMATEUR events as well as professional ones and that the NYSAC would close down any "unauthorized" amateur shows. Only under mounting political pressure and investigations of corruption and abuse within the scandal plagued NYSAC did one of the executive directors of the organization admit that the NYSAC has no authority over amateur events.

With this revelation, or rather official statement by an official within the administration, there has been talk about San Shou/San Da finally returning to New York. Certainly, it was an injustice that those who write the laws in Albany insured the freedom of Japanese Americans to practice Judo and Korean Americans to practice Taekwondo while ignoring the substantial Chinese population within the state. It became a true insult when people informed the NYSAC of this unequal treatment and they made no effort to correct the situation. Perhaps it should also be noted that Filipino, Russian, Brazilian, Thai, Vietnamese and even French martial arts were also similarly disregarded by the legislators in Albany. A number of observers also noted that the NYSAC closed down only certain events. Professional Karate events which were not sanctioned by orgnizations on the NYSAC's "approved list" were not shut down.

What will the NYSAC do now? Will they continue to mindlessly enforce racist legislation that they in fact have known for years they have been enforcing incorrectly to begin with? January 2004 wll be the first amateur San Shou/San Da event to take place in NYC since the "new people" at NYSAC took over and decided to enforce the 1997 legislation. Will they show up again, closing down the show, when they have now admitted publicly that for three years they were selectively enforcing the statute and incorrectly applying it to amateur shows? It waits to be seen but one thing is for certain, you can never predict what is going to happen in New York.

teh difference a few hours makes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST USKBA AMATEUR EVENT IN NY
On January 24, 2004, the first USKBA Sanctioned event to take place in New York in over a year will be held at NYKK Gym, located at 43 West 24th Street, 3rd Floor in New York City. This will be an ALL AMATEUR event and will follow the strict guidelines of the USKBA in accordance with the New York State Athletic Commission. Only amateur USKBA Licensed Fighters will be allowed to fight on these events. USKBA ACTION SPORTS Promoters Steve Ventura and David Ross (NYKK Gym/King of San Da:USA) will be hosting their "NEW YORK SHOWDOWN" series of events. These events may be scheduled once every month. This is a great opportunity for area amateurs to sharpen their skills and get ring experience. Any amateurs wanting to compete in the "NEW YORK SHOWDOWN" series should contact matchmaker David Ross at davidross@nykkgym.com



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DATES SELECTED FOR "2004 USKBA ACTION SPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS" TOURNAMENT IN THE USA

Saturday and Sunday, September 4-5, 2004 are the announced dates for the "2004 USKBA ACTION SPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS" being held in the USA. Theses dates coincide with Labor Day Weekend, a time when people are back from vacation and school is beginning. While we continue to work on adding countries that will be sending amateur teams to our tournament to compete, we also focus on competitors from inside the United States. This will be an exceptional chance to for American fighters to step up and compete on an International level.

The "2004 USKBA ACTION SPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS" is scheduled to take place at RexPlex Sports Complex in Elizabeth, New Jersey USA. RexPlex Sports Complex is conveniently located across from Newark Airport. Tournament hotels will announced shortly. The "2004 USKBA ACTION SPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS" is scheduled to include tournaments in Full Contact Kickboxing, San Da, Muay Thai, Continuous Contact and Submission Grappling and also include a full Martial Arts tournament. To add your name to our mailing list of updated information, e-mail tournament@uskba.com.

Good luck with your show Dave

David
Can you define what specifically defines an event as being amateur. What guidelines are used to make an event so, is it only the fact the ahtletes themselves are amateur?

Thanks