Some of the many benefits of joining SOMA include:
- Meeting and associating with like-minded people with common goals,
- Being a part of a prestigious martial arts organization,
- Cross-training and gaining experience at other member clubs,
- Possibility to upgrade in rank after qualifying conditions are met (*),
- Possibility to upgrade in title after qualifying conditions are met (*),
- Ability to serve on sub-committees or the Board,
- Enjoying relationships with positive, progressive martial arts people,
- Advice, mentorship and experience of more senior martial artists,
- Being represented by a strong, united body,
- Participating in tournaments, training days, seminars etc.
At SOMA there is NO ‘political interference’ with the running of individual member clubs. ALL clubs remain autonomous.
A MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION BOOKLET IS AVAILABLE FOR PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS. Click HERE or on the cover below to download the PDF.
RANKS and TITLES:
(*) From above: SOMA recognises that grades and titles are some of the most misunderstood subjects in the martial arts. To that end, we have provided a comprehensive explanation of this subject on this site under the tab marked ARTICLES >>> Special Reports and Documents >>> “A Guide to Understanding Karate’s Myriad of Grades, Belts and Titles” which is a 15 page PDF that will tell you most of what you want to know and probably a lot that you do not know.
We will soon be releasing information on how SOMA can award grades and titles to those instructors who, for various reasons, find themselves stranded. This may be because they have lost contact with their teacher or they have had a major disagreement and separated from them or, in quite a few instances, their teacher has passed away. Look for ARTICLES >>> Special Reports and Documents >>>“SOMA Requirements to Upgrade.” (coming)
NOTE: If you are the senior instructor at your club and you have nobody above you to give guidance and no association or other organization to bounce ideas off then talk to us. We can give you guidance on how to structure your club to move forward.
Email us: budo @iinet.net.au for an obligation free chat.