2024 AKANA Family Reunion

American Karate Academies National Association (AKANA) is a national karate organization founded by GM Jerry Piddington in 1976, first known as the National Karate Association (NKA). It evolved into the American Karate Academies in 1991 and now has AKANA chartered schools, individual black belt members, and individual kyu-rank members across the nation.  AKANA is a gathering place for everyone who is a part of the history and lineage of O'Shihan Piddington from the beginning to the present.  AKANA is a family of like minds that are bonded together for the purpose of supporting and encouraging each other. 

An AKANA Family Reunion is a gathering of AKANA family members who gather together in a relaxed family environment to celebrate our past, present, and future. Our East Coast Members will meet our West Coast Members. We will train and share old and new methods of our art with 15 seminars on Friday and Saturday. It will be an opportunity to learn from the pioneers that paved the way along with the younger teachers who will carry us into the future. Members will learn about our rich history from the Grandmasters who made it all happen with a rare opportunity to see them perform their art. Black Belt Members will be given the honor of receiving rank and titles from our peers along with special awards and recognition.  We will unite as one body encouraging our leaders to continue spreading good karate throughout the world.  We will honor our heritage and move forward with new ideas.  We are AKANA and we are family! 

The 2024 AKANA Family Reunion & Seminars will be held the first weekend of August on Thursday, August 1st, Friday, August 2nd, and Saturday, August 3rd. AKANA Board Members and Advisors will arrive on Wednesday, July 31. Early arrivals are welcome to join the SideKick Dojo Classes on the afternoon of Thursday, August 1st. The seminars and actual events are Friday, August 2nd, and Saturday, August 3rd. The AKANA promotions are Friday afternoon on August 2nd and the Ceremony Awards Dinner will be Saturday afternoon on August 3rd.

The 2024 AKANA Reunion will be held at the Fruitland Grange Event Center in Puyallup, Washington. The AKANA West Coast Director, CJ Mayo, along with his students, will host this event. Website: Fruitland Grange Puyallup

The host hotel for the 2024 AKANA Reunion is the Best Western Premier Plaza Hotel & Conference Room in Puyallup, Washington. There is an AKANA block of rooms for August 1, 2, & 3. The hotel is minutes from the Fruitland Grange. Website: Best Western Premier Plaza Hotel & Conf Center | Hotel Rooms

Travelers will fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) which is about 30-40 minutes from the host hotel. Website: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Home | Port of Seattle (portseattle.org) 

Anyone! All are welcome, although some scheduled events will be for AKANA Black Belt Members only.  AKANA Members and School Charters receive a significant discount, along with perks for the event, so we invite you to consider joining.

Must pre-register by June 1, 2024, to receive this discount price along with a free 2024 AKANA Family Reunion T-Shirt (value of $30) and a seminar certificate that will be signed by seminar instructors of each class completed. For non-AKANA members, please join here to receive an AKANA patch and certificate or add $150 to the price. All new AKANA members will receive an AKANA membership certificate honoring their existing rank at the Awards Banquet. There will be no refunds. After the June 1st deadline, add $100 to the price.

AKANA Member Price: $195

(Includes all seminars with lunch on both days and banquet dinner along with special AKANA meetings and events with special access to AKANA VIP Room)

Non-AKANA Member Price: $320

(Includes all seminars with lunch on both days and banquet dinner along with events)

Friday Seminars Only: $100 for members/$150 for non-members

(Includes lunch)

Saturday Seminars Only: $100 for members/$150 for non-members

(Includes lunch)

Kata Competition and Dinner Banquet Only: $60

(Kids under 12 yrs. old: $30)

Due to space, Martial Artists who are just spectators must pay the same fee.

(No Filming)

O'Shihan Jerry Piddington (our founder), O'Sensei Robert Bowles (chief instructor under Robert Trias, founder of American Karate), along with Sijo Joe Martin, and Hanshi Danny McCall, will offer their knowledge. Hanshi Ricky Smith, Kyoshi Randy Smith, Robert Taylor, Troy Price, CJ Mayo, Sam Hyatt, and Brandon Bennett are scheduled to share their respective arts.  Sensei Alex Stephens, Garrett Collins, Daniel Warren, Josh Cook, and Polly Cook will also offer their skills.

Dates:

Thursday, August 1 - Saturday, August 3, 2024

Thursday, August 1 (Kiai Martial Arts, Puyallup, WA)

10:00 am: Meet at the Hotel Parking Lot (Best Western Premier Plaza Hotel & Conf Center)

10:15 am: Leave to visit Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee’s Gravesites

11:15 am-12:00 pm: Visit Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee’s Gravesites

12:00-1:30 pm: Depart for Lunch (TBA). Not included in the price.

1:30 am-2:30 pm: Visit Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park for pictures (tacomachinesepark.org) 

2:30–3:30 pm: AKANA Board Meeting (Board of Directors)

3:30-5:00 pm: Seventeen Kata Tomoe Warrior/Kobudo Warrior (Kiai Martial Arts)

5:00–7:00 pm: Depart for Dinner (Roundtable Pizza). Not included in the price.

7:00-8:30 pm: Differences in Sparring Styles: (1) Hanshi Smith/Kyoshi Taylor & other AKANA Instructors

Friday, August 2 (Fruitland   Grange, Puyallup, WA)

8:00-8:55 am: Registration and Packet Pick-up

9:00-9:55 Kyoshi Mayo: All AKANA Members Meeting: Discussion on AKANA and By-Law Updates

10:00-10:55 am: (2) Tashi Alex Stephens

11:00 am-12:00 pm: (3) Kyoshi Sam Hyatt

12:00 pm-1:00 pm: Catered Lunch

1:00-1:55 pm: (4) Sijo Joe Martin

2:00-2:55 pm: (5) Sensei Daniel Warren 

3:00-3:55 pm: (6) Sensei Josh and Polly Cook: Power of X: Properly Defending Your Centerline.

4:00-4:55 pm: (7a) Kyoshi Brandon Bennett (ALL CHARTER SCHOOL OWNERS): How to remain profitable and gain students / (7b) Kyoshi Robert Taylor

5:00-5:05 pm: Opening prayer by Pastor "Dr. Phil" Aguilar

5:05-5:30 pm: Vision Message by AKANA Board of Directors/Advisors

5:30-6:55 pm: (8) Grandmaster History Presentation of AKANA (Question and Answers)

7:00-8:30 pm: Black Belt Promotion Exams 

8:30-9:00 pm: Depart for Dinner (TBA).  Not included in the price.

Saturday, August 3 (Fruitland Grange, Puyallup, WA)

8:00-9:00 am: Fellowship Time - Get to Know Each Other Better

9:00-9:55 am: (9) Hanshi Danny McCall

10:00-10:55 am: (10) Kyoshi Robert Taylor

11:00-11:55 am: (11) O’Sensei Robert Bowles (White Crane 1)

12:00 am-1:00 pm: Catered Lunch

1:00-1:55 pm: (12) O’Sensei  Robert Bowles (White Crane 1 Testing)

2:00-2:55 pm: (13) Bassai Sho Kata and Bunkai by Kyoshi Robert Taylor

3:00-3:55 pm: (14) The Gold Dust Twins: Hanshi Ricky Smith and Kyoshi Randy Smith 

4:00-4:55 pm: (15) O’Shihan Jerry Piddington

****GROUP PHOTO***

Setup for Dinner

5:00-6:40 pm: Trained crew will help set up for dinner.

Main Event (Dressy Casual)

6:45 pm: Doors Open for Dinner & Awards Banquet

7:15 pm: Welcome and Prayer by Pastor "Dr. Phil" Aguilar

7:30 pm: East Coast vs. West Coast Team Competition

8:00-10:00 pm: Presentation of Awards and promotions, Demonstrations, Fellowship, Memorable Pictures, and Lots of Fun!

Aftermath Festivities

10:00-12:00 am: Aftermath Festivities: (TBA)

Register right here.

If you are not an AKANA member and would like to join, AKANA would love to bring you into our family. Plus, all new AKANA members will receive an AKANA certificate honoring their existing rank at the Awards Dinner. Click on the application link provided here.

AKANA Membership Form (Black Belt or Below Black Belt Individual Membership)

If you would like to register for the AKANA Family Reunion, please click on the payment link provided here. These pre-registration prices are available until June 1, 2024. Please register one person per form for the event. Thank you.

2024 AKANA Family Reunion Payment Form (AKANA Member Registration, AKANA Non-Member Registration, Seminars, Events, Promotion, Awards Banquet, & Additional Family Reunion T-Shirts)

Seminars

There will be a total of 15 Seminar classes taught on Friday and Saturday with some of the greatest masters of our time including our founder, O'Shihan Jerry Piddington, Hanshi Danny McCall, Sijo Joe Martin, Hanshi Ricky Smith, Kyoshi Randy Smith, Kyoshi Troy Price, Kyoshi Robert Taylor, and many more.

• Everyone must be registered and stamped to participate in the seminars
• Due to space, everyone must pay, whether you watch or participate
• May participate in all of the seminars of your choice
• No filming will be allowed during seminars
• Must wear an appropriate martial arts uniform unless it is a combative or MMA seminar

Awards Banquet

The Awards Banquet is a way to honor individuals in front of all Board of Directors and Senior Level Black Belts. Examples of Awards that will be presented are the following:

• Proclamation/Head of System of Study Certification
• Yudansha Rank Certification
• Teaching Title Certification
• Honored Title Certification
• Pinnacle Award Recipients 
• Team Kata Winners Certification and Plaque
• Special AKANA Awards
• AKANA Hall of Fame Inductee from the East Coast and West Coast

Dress Code: Dressy Casual Attire

Black Belt Promotion Review

All AKANA Yudansha Members that wish to be reviewed and recognized with a promotion in rank during the AKANA Reunion will need to complete the following:

• Be a current AKANA Member in good standing
• Be recommended for promotion by their instructor
• Be approved to go in front of the promotion board by AKANA Board of Directors
• Pass a normal rank exam by their instructor
• Information for AKANA paperwork must be sent by email to the AKANA Hombu Dojo at least 30 days prior to AKANA Promotion Recognition
• Complete the Promotion Order Form from the AKANA website
• Complete payment for rank
• During the AKANA Promotion Review, each member will perform 6-8 minutes of techniques that highlight the exam they passed by their instructor. For example, they might perform a kata with bunkai, a weapon with application, self-defense techniques, or fighting/sparring techniques
• Once the rank examination is complete, the members will be presented their rank certification during the Awards Banquet

AKANA Board will wear formal uniforms.

TEAM KATA COMPETITION 

The Team Competition will be an Annual Competition. The rules are as follows:

• Each team member must be an AKANA member in good standing
• Each team (East Coast and West Coast) will have five (3) members. 
• Each team must have at least one (1) Male and one (1) Female
• All ranks are allowed to compete
• Traditional Katas Only (no screaming and yelling allowed)
• Teams will be selected by the Coast Director
• Five (5) Officials will be selected by the Board of Directors
• A member from the East Coast Team will compete against a member from the West Coast Team
• The team that wins that round will receive one (1) point
• The team that receives the most points will win the competition
• Each member will receive a certificate acknowledging their team won the AKANA Battle of the Coast and will be awarded during the Awards Banquet
• A plaque will be kept at the Hombu Dojo stating the YEAR and COAST of the winning team