IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!

I fully support this Petition. As a former athlete on the Provincial and national level, i have seen the decline of performance and proper management in the province of Karate Ontario. Now as a coach, it is stressful seeing many of my students and other dojos giving it there all to the best ability but get thrown into the garbage because the team is not managed properly, or the lack of care. In addition, all these price increases over the years and empty promises must come to an end.

May 26, 2016: Press-Release Karate Ontario Declares War on City of Toronto and Low-Income Families! Karate Ontario Sabotages Toronto Citywide Children’s Tournaments In the beginning of 2015, Toronto City Council approved funding for the Toronto Karate Kids League (TKKL) (https://www.torontokaratekidsleague.ca/) project under the Game On Toronto grant stream. TKKL is a series of city-wide Karate tournaments held each year for non-elite athletes. The tournaments are friendly and provide heaps of motivation for children to practice karate. (http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=4811d90fd205a410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=d8caf1c37607b410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD) Important for Both the Economy and Community Each TKKL tournament creates a minimum of 20 paid working places. One of the major advantages is that TKKL tournaments are affordable for competitors and easily accessible by public transit. Also, these tournaments are open to all karate schools and styles. All events are properly insured and organized accordingly to WKF rules (the World Karate Federation is recognized by the International Olympic Committee) and are carried out with all safety requirements; such as experienced judges, mats on the floor, safety sparring gear for each competitor, and a paramedic is always on-site. Accordingly to current Ontario legislation there is no distinction between contests organized by Provincial Sport Organizations or any other organization – all TKKL tournaments are sanctioned through City of Toronto "Game On Toronto" initiative and completely legal. Misleading and Misinformation of Karate Practitioners Suddenly, Karate Ontario decided that only Karate Ontario's tournaments should be available in Toronto. Karate Ontario membership consists mostly of GTA clubs that practice sportive karate. Karate Ontario has decided to fight against affordable karate tournaments just to increase its own revenue. Recently, Karate Ontario sent a

I have been a member of Karate Ontario since 1982...and it has gone down significantly. We need better Refereeing, KOA Support Back to the Dojo's; Cost Keep going up with NO Additional Value for being a member. If things don't change - more and more people will be leaving KOA.

I join karate Ontario some years ago with my karate club and my students, we competed in the kyu belt and black belt divisions. It was the most disappointing three years of competition there as all of my students including myself felt disrespected in many ways every time we competed. Honestly, it felt like an old boys club. This incident was quite appalling as it was during a team kata black belt event when we were doing exceptionally well against the favorite team, the head referee and then decided to change the rules mid competition giving their favorite team the advantage. Another big accident happened during one of my sparring matches against the Canadian champion. He kicked me so hard in the face that he broke my nose and I have blood all over my uniform I was unconscious for a few seconds and eventually ended up with a concussion. The four corner judges disqualified him yet the head referee tried to bully them into changing their decisions. He was eventually disqualified from that match and placed fourth. When are the medals work handed out he grabbed the metal from the presenter and threw it across the floor. This is not what karate do is about.In traditional karate Styles competition he would be kicked out of the tournament and suspended for at least a year and he would have to apologize to his dojo and sensei. There are a lot of examples that are personal and of my students but I think and the point is made.

At the end of the day, those with a good conscience only want what is in the best interest of the athletes who train their hearts out for the Province. Our Karate athletes in Ontario deserve an exemplary association. One that represents fair play, a desire to always be better, and the love of the sport/art. I support any movement or cause to that effect.

I am a Sensei and have athletes that have competed in the Karate Organization grand prix. This organization has a very political feeling, could be more welcoming and inclusive of new membership and in general, much more thank it is. I welcome any opportunity to help with reform of the current administration or support of a new one.

Fully support a major change for the betterment of Karate in Ontario

Many of the best sensei quit KO over the last 20 years, now imagine if you could interview them?

I'm a mom of green belt karate kid (12 years old). I'm totally disappointed in PSO. Also, I'm an Independent Journalist and Film Director of INVISION PRO. I worked tirelessly on the documentary titled ‘The Uphill Battle’ during the years 2015 and 2016. This project is dedicated to the Karate industry in Ontario. During the production period of The Uphill Battle I attended many meetings, interviews, and events; and personally interviewed a number of Karate experts in Ontario – these included coaches, elite athletes, referees, promoters, and parents of these elite athletes. I very quickly realized that almost every member of Karate Association of Ontario is unhappy about the current state of affairs of KAO and feels threatened by the situation they find themselves in. In fact, some people are bitterly disappointed by the entire KAO organization. I’ve also video-shot a few tournaments in Ontario and personally spoken to many spectators at these events. All the people I’ve spoken with are very concerned about the actions of the KAO Board of Directors, and many shared their disappointment with me. For me personally the strangest thing is financial situation mostly because KAO chooses not to share its audited financial activity. In fact, even members are not able to access KAO’s audited financial statements. A former employee who was familiar with the financial activities of KAO pointed out that there’s no transparency in this organization. I did my own research and I realized that PSO have enough financial resources to support athletes and couches. In my humble opinion, I believe that KAO in its current situation should be thoroughly investigated. I understand from some karate practitioners that many complaints were submitted directly to the Ministry of Sport, but nothing changed because, as officials told them, ‘The directors of KAO always have an answer to their questions’. At the very least, this is a strange situation, and the future looks hopeless. These issue

I'm a mom of green belt karate kid (12 years old). I'm totally disappointed in PSO. Also, I'm an Independent Journalist and Film Director of INVISION PRO. I worked tirelessly on the documentary titled ‘The Uphill Battle’ during the years 2015 and 2016. This project is dedicated to the Karate industry in Ontario. During the production period of The Uphill Battle I attended many meetings, interviews, and events; and personally interviewed a number of Karate experts in Ontario – these included coaches, elite athletes, referees, promoters, and parents of these elite athletes. I very quickly realized that almost every member of Karate Association of Ontario is unhappy about the current state of affairs of KAO and feels threatened by the situation they find themselves in. In fact, some people are bitterly disappointed by the entire KAO organization. I’ve also video-shot a few tournaments in Ontario and personally spoken to many spectators at these events. All the people I’ve spoken with are very concerned about the actions of the KAO Board of Directors, and many shared their disappointment with me. For me personally the strangest thing is financial situation mostly because KAO chooses not to share its audited financial activity. In fact, even members are not able to access KAO’s audited financial statements. A former employee who was familiar with the financial activities of KAO pointed out that there’s no transparency in this organization. I did my own research and I realized that PSO have enough financial resources to support athletes and couches. In my humble opinion, I believe that KAO in its current situation should be thoroughly investigated. I understand from some karate practitioners that many complaints were submitted directly to the Ministry of Sport, but nothing changed because, as officials told them, ‘The directors of KAO always have an answer to their questions’. At the very least, this is a strange situation, and the future looks hopeless. These issue

The dojo "sensei" is suppose to be a respected leader in his or her community and not afraid to speak up for what he/she believes in and not afraid to do the right thing. Why are so many "sensei" allowing themselves to be bullied? Your master and grand-masters of the past in this great art did NOT allow people to bully them and are you not teaching your students to not be bullied? Yet you as a black belt and has a "sensei" are being bullied yourself. So yes it is time for a change and time for you black belts to stand up for yourselves

I am honoured to represent Team Canada for the last 4 consecutive years. I feel the complete opposite for the people who currently run KO. We need change and we need it now.

We need to work as a team for the best future of our athletes.

Fully support this as a long time athlete !

I do agree mostly on developing and improving Recreational Karate for an older audience. I would like to know the name list of the people involved in CDOO, since I do not twitter nor facebook. Is it possible to have it sent to my email? Thanks, and please let me know the date of the next elections. Thank You, Sensei Patricia Wollesen

Looking forward to building a better PSO!

It's time for change!

Chief instructor SSU Katana karate club Pickering

To all, Couldn't agree more with the need for this petition. This 'cancer' has been present for decades and accounts for why Karate Ontario represents less than 5% of provincial dojos. I encourage all Yoshukan teachers, students and colleagues to take the 2 minutes and sign this. Osu, KANCHO Earl Robertson 905-601-2880 Canada [email protected]

I am a concerned dojo owner. As anyone who does this knows, it’s hard work, having a volatile business model and many hurdles, not to mention the sheer physical effort associated with being this kind of leader, as it includes teaching, training and coaching. I believe that the Provincial Sport Organization should be a support to those who support it, dojo owners like myself, yet it’s not clear to me that this is the case. I am especially concerned at what I have seen during this past year, with respect to sanctioning and suspensions. Given that we are a community that includes many leaders and schools with associated networked relationships, I believe that it can be offensive. Especially disturbing to me were the publications made by KO with respect to the Shivafighters tournaments, which seemed to me to be very reckless, and their stated position which was to punish members who participated in them. I corresponded these concerns to KO diligently and with no effect, receiving inconsistent and marginal response or accountability from them. I also came to respect and admire Shivakumaar Vadivelu for his work as former Executive Director with KO and his ongoing current works with our community, only to be completely disgusted with the recent news of his suspension and the reasoning cited. I understand there is hard work involved with running this organization, and have immense respect for the volunteers that spend long hours doing so. Nonetheless I now find myself in a difficult position, as I want to continue to support our community organization but have an ethical problem with doing so, given all that I have witnessed, and only during this past year. I wish there were better alternatives than this. This is what I have to say.