AAU Takes Position on USTU Decertification
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18, 2003
The following excerpt was taken from the official paperwork submitted to the USOC Board of Directors today.
The Membership & Credentials Committee, Chaired by Mr. Thomas L. Satrom have determined that in addition to other deficiencies, USTU has failed to meet the responsibilities of an NGB relating to its managerial and financial capabilities to plan and execute its obligations as an NGB, as is required by Article IV, Section 4 (C) of the USOC Constitution and Section 220522 (a) of the Act. Specifically, USTU’s governance structure results in representational disputes and control issues that are disruptive to the governance of the sport and prevent sound management practices. Also, USTU is unable to effectively manage its sport on a day to day basis, including the inability to adopt administrative controls and procedures, to put together a sound short and long range operational plan, and to function in a businesslike manner that is necessary for the operation of an NGB. Further, USTU has failed to operate in a fiscally sound manner with financial controls and accountability, including the failure to devise a budget and to execute a plan to ensure financial well being. These problems have led to mismanagement, serious financial difficulties and the potential loss of opportunities for athletes to obtain the support needed for them to compete at their highest levels.
The official action:
USOC Executive Committee and Board of Directors have approved a resolution to initiate action pursuant to Chapter IV, Section 5 of the USOC Bylaws to revoke U.S. Taekwondo Union’s membership in the USOC and recognition as a National Governing Body.
Many of the USTU die-hard members and more specifically the Board of Governors (BOG) are/were hoping that the process of revocation would afford them the opportunity to change the by-laws and leadership such that the USOC would reconsider the decision to decertify. As of this writing, this is NOT going to happen.
Unfortunately, the structure of and governance of the NBG was a process the majority of the BOG members participated in from the very beginning however reluctant they may have been. Many of the key pieces of legislation that ultimately brought about the dysfunction and decertification were items they voted in favor of. Ultimately the decertification sits squarely on the shoulders of all who simply ‘went along’. Granted, President Lee appointed several of these people, but there were still enough votes available to the duly elected and the AAC to overcome these bad decisions. It’s a little late to claim it was all President Lee’s fault. The only way for President Lee to control the destiny of the NGB was for the BOG to allow him to.
The quality members of the USTU and its’ BOG, regardless of who the NGB is, will maintain their position and influence in the Taekwondo community. They will re-surface again in a new structure and become the leaders of the future NGB.
The AAU Believers:
There are a handful of individuals who were insightful enough to join and support the AAU TKD program long before the latest USOC action. To them we say “Thank You”. Your support has contributed significantly to the tremendous growth our Program has seen in just the last three years.
Jean Lopez: Current AAU National Team Head-Coach, Commonly known as “The Finest American TKD Coach in the United States”, is now looking like “The Smartest TKD Coach” in America. Although many of the USTU hard-liners did not like his actions he was willing to put his knowledge and reputation on the line for his belief in the AAU TKD program.
Terry Gautraux: Current AAU National Team (Women’s) Coach, former Olympic Team member, and 1992 Olympic Medalist, also choose to put her fine name and reputation in the hands of the AAU TKD program. In addition to being the Missouri Valley Chairperson, she consistently delivers high quality and quantity to the AAU National Championships. Terry was also awarded the 2003 David G. Rivenes Award, which is the highest award presented to anyone in the AAU TKD program.
George Weissfisch: Former USTU National Team, Arguably the best TKD heavy weight ever, has been supporting the AAU program by sending his elite athletes to the AAU for some time now, including 2003 AAU National Team Member Christopher Salinas.
In addition to these and many other great TKD leaders, there were many NGB athletes that chose the AAU as a viable vehicle to their success.
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A lot of rumor and innuendo has been bantered about on the internet these past several weeks regarding the AAU Taekwondo Program and exactly what its intentions are regarding what is happening between the USOC and the current NGB for Taekwondo, the USTU.
Will the AAU Taekwondo Program split from the AAU and make a run for NGB status? Will the AAU Taekwondo Program throw its support behind any one of the many new Taekwondo organizations being formed to do just that? What role is the AAU Taekwondo Program trying to play in the larger scheme of things? For the direct answers to these questions and more, read on.
Considering the fact that the AAU has gone from a new startup group in 1991 to the nearly 15,000+ membership, national Program it is now is a measurable and tangible endorsement of the quality and integrity of the AAU Taekwondo Program and its leadership.
Where is the sport of Taekwondo headed and what role will the AAU Taekwondo Program play?
First and foremost, everyone simply needs to take a deep breath and relax! Nothing, I mean nothing of consequence, is going to happen with the sport of Taekwondo at the US Olympic level in the immediate future.
The USOC must first, and WILL, complete the decertification process. When the USOC says it will pursue this goal aggressively I assume that means by year end—a lot faster than most expected. The USOC will then do everything within its power to insure that our elite athletes are qualified for and participate in the Olympic Games this summer in Athens.
Somewhere between the decertification of the USTU and the Athens Games they may begin to start looking at viable alternatives to fill the vacant NGB spot. It is my belief that this will be a very slow and deliberate process. The problems, just now being settled by the USOC, have been around and festering for some twenty (20) years! I’m sure the USOC is not about to jump right back into the fire. They will NOT want to be in a similar situation five or ten years from now.
The new NGB will be the very best that the USOC can put forward—and not just on paper. Its structure will be constitutionally valid and strong. Its leadership will only be of the highest caliber and ethical standards. I would also place a bet that Taekwondo rank will play less of a role than business acumen in the overall management of the Program. ALL interested parties will have a bone fide role, voice, and representation on the NGB. AND, the USOC will oversee the operation of the new NGB for quite some time to insure that ‘things are done right’.
The winner in all of this, of course, will be the athlete--the true athlete who is in the trenches every day training to achieve his/her goal of becoming a Taekwondo Olympian. The playing field will become more level. Team Trials will become more open and inclusive. Favorites will have to work just as hard as the long shots to make team—no more special privileges!
Between now and then, it is the responsibility of every Taekwondo instructor to open his/her eyes anew. And with a fresh perspective ask “what is in the best interest of my school and my students—and, all my students, not just the handful of athletically gifted super-athletes that comes through the door every once and a great while.
Where can I continue to grow as an instructor and Taekwondo student myself? Where can my students and I be judged solely on who we are and how well we perform as opposed to our rank and who our Master Instructor is?
What kind of events does this organization I am considering offer its members? Is there competition offered at the local, regional, and national level? How often, if at all, are there non-championship, non-qualifying events being held? Are there tourneys that are hosted just ‘for the fun of it’; kids only events, non-sparing events? Or must I settle for the lone, single, state championship as my sole benefit of membership?
What about my elite athletes? How far can they go and how well supported will they be by this new organization? Does this organization recognize a National Team? Is it just for adult athletes or do juniors share in the opportunities as well? How are these teams chosen and is everyone on equal footing in the trial process?
Does the organization I am considering offer any other benefits to its members other than eligibility to participate in tournaments? Does this organization offer any kind of medical insurance benefits to the athlete? How about liability insurance for the instructor and his dojang? As a member school can I also sanction and host events or is that privilege limited to state presidents and the like? If I do host events will I be able to purchase the generally required liability insurance for that event at a price I can afford (less than $100.00)? What about Black Belt certification, Official’s and Coaches certification? Can the parents of my students become legitimately involved in the Program in ways other than simply writing checks?
These and many more questions need to be asked NOW! The chaos that seems to be running rampant throughout the Taekwondo community at this time is also an opportunity. An opportunity for all of us to take a step back and rethink our goals and objectives and only then, as knowledgeable consumers, make the right choice for our future and the future of each of our students.
The leadership of the AAU Taekwondo Program believes that the future is bright for both United States Taekwondo in general and our Program specifically. We’ve already endured the pains of starting anew (in 1991). We have the proud heritage of a 115-year-old amateur sports organization with an impeccable reputation to support and guide us.
We have a full-blown, truly national program in place with nearly 15,000 athletes and coaches and officials representing most, if not all, 50 states. We can offer local, association (state), and National Championships NOW. We participate in the AAU Junior Olympic Games—the only true National Junior Olympics in this country with nearly 14,000 athletes competing in 25+ sports over a two-week period!
Youth Membership fees are just $12.00 AND include medical insurance coverage for all sanctioned activity including class work! Adult membership fees are only $22.00 and carry the same benefits. Club membership is tiered with the opportunity for school owners to choose exactly what kinds of benefits they need and want—including participation in the AAU’s 501(c) (3). For less than $100.00 per year Clubs are eligible to host, as well as participate in AAU Sanctioned events and share in the most generous liability insurance available in the sports market—bar none.
The AAU Taekwondo Program offers both an Official’s AND Coach’s Certification Program. And the Coaches Program is open to parents as well as instructors. We recognized long ago that having mom or dad ‘in the chair’ was much more important and beneficial to a 6-year-old novice than having Sabumnim there. (Sabumnim belongs in the ring--insuring that all athletes receive the very best officiating that can be offered.) Since 1996 the AAU Taekwondo Program has also offered a National Dan Certification Program—something we took an awful lot of heat about from the NGB when we first initiated it and now something practically demanded by the USOC of any future NGB! And, for our AAU Dan holders, the Program does provide the support for WTF/Kukkiwon certification as well—for those who want it. Dan certification is also more than reasonable. Our fees are purposely posted on our web site for all to see in order that students (and their parents) are not unduly ripped off in the name of the AAU as has happened all too often in the past with other organizations. How many horror stories have you heard of $350-$500 1st Dan fees? Or international Dan Certification fees that were paid only never to have received the certificate?
We’re also the only national program to offer both Point and Olympic style competition.
In the first place, not everyone is cut out for, nor desires to be involved in, Olympic Style sparring. Olympic style competition when done according to the rules and standards of the WTF is an extremely demanding and sometimes damaging full-contact sport. There are tens of thousands, if not millions, of Taekwondo practitioners in this country who desire all the many benefits Taekwondo has to offer, but for whom full-contact sport is not a consideration--for just as many reasons. Point sparring provides these students with the opportunity to participate fully (competitively) in their art without hesitation. On another note, does anyone remember where one of this country's first Olympic Style competitors came from? Chinese martial arts—the point circuit. Point sparring can be an effective lead-in to the more demanding aspects of Olympic Style. But, the point sparring competitor has to be exposed to it somehow. Within the AAU Program both aspects of competition are featured side by side.
For the Olympic style enthusiast, AAU Taekwondo provides the opportunity to train and compete at the highest levels including working under the direction of Jean Lopez our National Head Coach whose reputation is above reproach. For the past three years our National Team Members, both Youth and Adult, have had the opportunity to compete internationally. This year’s Team Members will most likely be traveling to Brussels for the Belgium Open.
Our officials program is also receiving the assistance of people like Masters Steven Dring and Chuong Pham of PATU fame. Ours will be the best Officials Program this country has to offer. Our athletes deserve it and we intend on providing it through whatever means (or outside help) is necessary.
At this moment, the AAU Taekwondo Program is the only National Program in place offering all of the above. Of course that will eventually change when the USOC does in fact choose the new NGB. Is it the intent of the AAU Taekwondo Program to seek NGB status? Only if we are forced to, in order to insure what rightfully belongs to our athletes. It was never the intent of this Program to somehow, somewhere along the line, become the NGB. The AAU Taekwondo Program chose, a long time ago, to position itself as the very best GRASSROOTS program in this country. By that is meant a program open to ALL Taekwondo players regardless of local school, national or international affiliation. A program designed and built around the majority of practitioners in this country—not simply the elite, Olympic stylist. A program where the athlete would receive unbiased judgment of his/her performance and the outcome of competition would be decided solely on the performance of its competitors. We believe we are accomplishing this.
It IS our goal to insure that our Program seek out and receive whatever funding is available for player development and team travel as well as direct access to US Team Trials for our elite players. This is the reason (and was promised) we sought out Group membership with the USTU. The USTU, thus far, has failed to meet that obligation. We would support ANY organization that can guarantee these needs within the framework of the USOC. We will do whatever is necessary on our part to insure these needs are met up to and including seeking NGB status ourselves if no other means is available to us.
Whether or not the AAU chooses to do what the USTU did 20 years ago (i.e. declare its independence from the AAU, form its own 501c3, and seek NGB status), or simply remain a ‘player’, rest assured it will play a much stronger role in the US Olympic Program, with greater voice, and much more to offer its members than ever before.
TIME WILL TELL