In 2010, Mr.Walt Missingham, President of the AKWF, brought defamation proceedings against a former member, Dr. Larissa Koroleva, in relation to material she had published in the course of an internal process within the AKWF. The proceedings have now been settled on terms agreed between Mr. Missingham and Dr. Koroleva. The settlement is confidential. In addition, Dr. Koroleva and her husband, Mr. Alex Shamin, have agreed to remove the website www.awhlp.net from the internet.
The kick boxer Mark Fowler died following his participation in a kick boxing event held on Saturday the 13th of August at ‘Fontana Amorosa’. The event was conducted by Taipan Promotions.
The death occurred after Mark sustained a head injury in the weekend bout.
Mark Fowler, who held British citizenship and was the World Boxing Council Muay Thai Lightweight champion for New South Wales, collapsed after a match on Saturday night and failed to regain consciousness. He died on Monday afternoon.
It is understood that Fowler, 35, who lived in Sydney, fought five rounds against his opponent before being knocked down.
New South Wales Sports Minister Graham Annesley has ordered an inquiry into the death, which occurred after a NSW World Muay Thai Council event, and will be investigated by the coroner.
“I have also instructed the Office of Communities to implement any additional precautions considered necessary to ensure all similar upcoming events fully comply with current legislation and safety requirements,” he said.
MAIA President, Walt Missingham, has commented that: “the death is both tragic and avoidable as the MAIA has provided numerous reports to the State and Federal Governments as well as SCORS (Standing Committee On Recreation and Sport) advising them of the need for greater controls and in fact warned them of the potential for a fatality, clearly these warnings were ignored.
Administration and event officials need to be accredited by either the Australian Sports Commission or the Martial Arts Industry Association.
Failing this the MAIA is of the view that if our recommendations are not implemented we can expect further fatalities”.
The MAIA has today announced a new Awards scheme for Regional/Country Martial Arts Schools to be known as
The award is an annual award to a single schools in a regional area or country town that has met the following criteria.
The school/academy will:
* be an MAIA member School
* be fully insured
* only utilise accredited instructors
* abide by the National Code of Practice for Martial Arts Instructors and Centres
* abide by the Martial Arts Industry Risk Management Policy
* abide by the Martial Arts Industry Child Protection Policy
* will have contributed in a significant way to their local community
Further enquiries can be directed to admin@maia.com.au
The awards will be made annually per region or Town
Only one award per region or town will be made per year
MAIA President Walt Missingham has advised that effective from 1 July 2011 the MAIA will no longer recognise any Martial Arts qualifications issued by a Victorian RTO.
Walt commented: “There have been increasing concerns about the over usage of RPLS in the issue of Qualifications by Victorian RTO’s to the point that a situation of qualifications that are paid for but not earned has emerged, the MAIA has not and will not be a party this and hopes that the Victorian government Essential Services Commission review of VET fees and funding in a report due in August would lead to Victorian RTO’s governance standards being brought into alignment with those of the other States. ”
Walt noted the recent news item in ‘The Australian’ that reported:
“A SURGE in government-funded enrolments at private providers in Victoria’s open-market training sector has raised concerns that the expansion is financially unsustainable and that “dodgy” courses may be emerging.
The Victorian TAFE Association and the Australian Education Union have complained of increasing hard-sell advertising in parts of the private sector.
Victorian TAFE Association chief executive David Williams said while such courses could be legitimate, it was an area open to potential rorting. “It is imperative that the government satisfies itself that the increases in fast-track courses with very limited exposure to formal learning – whether in a workplace or training facility environment – is closely monitored,” he told The Australian.
AEU TAFE secretary Pat Forward said the open market was driving down costs, but also quality. She feared a rerun of the problems that had plagued the international student market”.
The MAIA will review its position on this matter in September.
MAIA President, Walt Missingham, recently presented Hetty Johnson (Executive Director Bravehearts) with a cheque for one thousand dollars. Walt commented: “I have long been a supporter of Bravehearts and the vital work that it does. Hetty’s vision, commitment and drive are inspirational. The MAIA Accreditation program is committed to providing a percentage of its income back to Bravehearts and I will be proposing at the AGM of the Australian Kung Fu Wushu Federation that they do the same. Greater levels of Child Protection mechanisms within the martial arts industry is something that I have been advocating for the last ten years and this donation today is a tangible indication of our support, I am confident there will be many more such donations in the future”
Walt Missingham has advised of the sad news of the death of actress Ahna Capri, co star of the Bruce Lee epic ‘Enter the Dragon’.
Ahna was killed in a car accident on the 19th of August in Los Angeles.
Walt commented: “I have known Ahna for almost twenty years and we become quite good friends, I am saddened by her passing she was a wonderful person with a successful and long career …I will miss her.”
Capri was born Anna Marie Nanasi in Budapest, Hungary, but moved to the United States at a young age. By age 11, she was scoring roles on hit TV programs like ‘The Danny Thomas Show’ and ‘Father Knows Best.’
The buxom actress continued to work steadily in TV and film throughout the 1960s on shows such as ‘The Mod Squad,’ ‘I Spy, ‘Ironside’ and, later, ‘Kojak.’
By the 1970s, she had changed her name to Ahna and starred as a wildlife photographer in ‘Piranha’ and a country singer in ‘Payday.’ In 1972, she landed the role of Tania, the secretary of Han, in Bruce Lee’s smash hit ‘Enter the Dragon.’
She last worked in Hollywood in 1979 on an episode of ‘Mrs. Columbo.’
MAIA President today announced that the new MAIA insurance policy, effective from 1 July, has been confirmed at a $20 million public liability cover. The policy is the highest level of cover available within the martial arts industry and is underwritten by QBE, Australia’s largest insurance company.
Walt commented that
“over the last 12 months many members have provided feedback and made suggestions as to how we can improve our insurance service. Firstly an increasing number of venues, particularly Government venues, are asking for a $20 million Public Liability cover.
Over the next 12 months most Local Government halls and community centres are increasing their required Public Liability cover to a twenty million dollar requirement; many members have already advised that they will need this level of cover and there have been a number of court damages awards that have exceeded $10 million. It is a sad fact that many martial arts schools run the risk of being locked out of their venues due to insufficient insurance coverage. Accordingly we have negotiated to double the coverage of our policy from ten million to twenty million dollars and we have done this with no increase from the premium our members paid last year”.
Any questions or information you need about this policy can be directed to: insurance@maia.com.au
Dear David,
Thank you very much for your words of sympathy. We are following the relief very closely in the hope that loss of lives be minimized.
Please find below the information about the relief fund the Chinese Embassy has established at the requests of Asutralian communities and friends.
EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN AUSTRALIA
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND
BSB:352-000
A/C: 126512
BANK OF CHINA, SYDNEY BRANCH
Best regards,
LI Hong
Cultural Counsellor
Chinese Embassy
VALE – LARRY HARTSELL
(15 August 1942 – 20 August 2007)
Larry Hartsell, world renowned grappling authority and JKD instructor passed away during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Larry had been battling cancer for several years.
Larry Hartsell was the founder of the Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling Association and was an authentic original student of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do.
Larry was already a black belt in Judo, when he began the study of Kenpo karate under Ed Parker, the “Father of American Karate.” While training with Ed Parker, Larry first met a young karate instructor named Dan Inosanto. After receiving his Kenpo black belt, Larry Hartsell became one of the original students of Bruce Lee. After a tour of duty in Vietnam , Larry continued his studies with Bruce Lee as a private student at his Bruce Lee’s home in Bel Air, California . In 1969 Larry became Bruce Lee’s first full contact fighter.
Later, under the tutelage of Dan Inosanto, he became the acknowledged master of the grappling arts of Jeet Kune Do. According to Dan Inosanto, “Larry Hartsell is one of the premier Jeet Kune Do fighters of our time.” After Bruce Lee’s death, Larry received certification in the Jeet Kune Do Arts and continued to study with Dan.
Long before the Gracie’s and Machado’s made grappling popular Larry had developed and promoted the grappling arts as an essential part of the martial arts.
Hartsell’s research of techniques resulted in additions and innovations to the grappling that now forms the core of the Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling system.
He obtained a degree in criminology as well as years of law enforcement experience. This, combined with his notoriety had put him in wide demand as a professional bodyguard for celebrities (such as Mr. T ), and also as a trainer for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers .
Larry taught self-defense and combat courses for the Navy Seals and police officers through various colleges, agencies and law enforcement training programs.
He co-authored or authorized several books on Jeet Kune Do and has released seven videotapes on the grappling and combative arts. These books, videotapes and his skill in the grappling arts have resulted in Hartsell being listed in the “Who’s Who in Martial Arts” and cover shots with numerous feature articles in Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt Magazine , Martial Arts Training, Inside Karate, Australian Fighting Arts, and many others.
A frequent visitor to Australia during the 1980’s and 1990’s
Larry shared his tremendous skills with many thousands of Australian martial arts practitioners. Larry was an approachable and generous man who gave greatly of his time.
Our thanks to you Larry; you will not be forgotten.
Walt Missingham
President
Australian Jeet Kune Do Association
The IWUF Secretary General Mr Wang and two staff of the IWUF Secretariat visited Melbourne – the Commonwealth Games from March 12 to 16, 2006. Secretary – General Wushu, Han Jin Song, hosted their visit on behalf of the AKWF.
The MAIA offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Halpin who passed away on the 22nd of January.
John was the Vice President of the MAIA as well as the President of the Australian Karate Federation, President of the Oceania Karate Federation, Treasurer of the World Karate Federation and Head of Style of Seikukan Karate-do (Australia).
MAIA President, Walt Missingham, commented that “John was one of the most respected members and leaders in the martial arts community, I worked with John, in his capacity as MAIA Vice President for about ten years during that time John and I became good friends-he was a quietly spoken man of great integrity and vision – I could not have asked for a better Vice President his support, counsel and insights were a great part of the success the MAIA has achieved – Thank you John you will be greatly missed”