British Kendo Association

Gary O’Donnell is standing for the Chair of the Kendo Dojo Representatives Committee.  His candidates’ statement can be found below.

The Kendo DRC meeting, and the election for its’ Chair, will be held on 18 October 2009 at Mumeishi (across the road from the dojo at the BA Concorde club), during lunchtime.

If you are interested in standing, more information can be found here.

Statement by G. O’Donnell

I have been a member of the BKA since joining at the age of 16 in 1980. During this period I have grown as a kendoka and more importantly a person in no small part due to interacting with some very fine people that I have shared the kendo, Iaido and Jodo journey with. The example shown and advice given both freely and with good intent of some of our more senior and experienced members has been instrumental in this and I thank them for help in this regard.

I have also however experienced on occasion the harsher treatments that are occasionally meted out to members who raise their head above the parapet in our association, but have I believe been able to turn these experiences into positive attributes in my personality.

Over the period of my membership I have been involved in British Kendo at all levels and have travelled very widely throughout the country.

I have assisted in organising events, such as competitions, seminars and gradings, and have frequently acted as an officer of the association: grading panellist, referee, teacher and general supporter. Most recently I was a kendo representative on the constitution working party.

It is my belief that the creation of the DRC is the most important new aspect of our constitution. In the discussions that were held I championed this aspect of the association and I think had an influence in increasing its scope and powers.

The DRC if effectively steered has the potential to motivate and inspire those people who are at the root of our association; the dojo leaders. By giving this group an effective voice I believe that we could perhaps usher in a new era of increased cooperation and initiative that may allow all the members across all the regions to contribute and participate fully in the BKA.

I would like to offer myself as the chair of this group for the following reasons:

• I have been a dojo leader for some 20 years (Do Shin Ken Yu Kai). Whilst I did not found this dojo I would like to think that I have steered it well over this period (DSKYK was founded in 1980, the year I started kendo).

• I have also I would like to think, inspired a number of other kendoka who have trained at DSKYK over the years to go on and found their own dojos (some of these are also called Do Shin Ken Yu Kai).

• I am fair minded and able to communicate and listen effectively. I already have good relationships with a large number of kendoka across the country and believe that I have the trust and respect of both other dojo leaders and association officers.

If elected I would of course maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the workings of the DRC and am keen to champion all causes that are democratically arrived at by the DRC.

I would vigorously pursue all such causes at whatever level necessary in order to ensure that the will of the membership prevails.

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