OVERVIEW
The role of the National Technical Council (NTC) is to oversee the quality of Shintaido instruction in the United States. Specifically, they are charged with resolving technical questions, acting as a resource for local instructors, keeping track of the status of instructors on sabbatical, and disseminating information about SoA policy on maintaining instructional credentials.
– Membership in the National Technical Council is extended to all SoA members who have reached the level of Senior Instructor or that of Sandan, or above, in Karate, Bojutsu, or Kenjutsu. Full-time members agree to attend 75% of meetings, have voting privileges and can obtain funding for NTC projects. Observer members wish to attend periodic meetings, do not have voting privileges and cannot obtain funding for NTC projects. Observer members can request to become full-time members. A NTC member on sabbatical is an Observer member.
– The Council is coordinated by a Chairperson who is elected by the SOA NTC membership and then approved for board membership by the SOA Board. This is a two-year term that can be extended for additional terms..
CURRENT NTC MEMBERS (as of August 2024)
Robert Gaston, Chairperson: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Yondan, Karate Shodan, Kenjutsu Yondan
Shin Aoki: General Instructor, Bojutsu Yondan, Karate Godan, Kenjutsu Yondan
Connie Borden: Doshu, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Shodan, Kenjutsu Yondan
David Franklin: General Instructor, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Yondan, Kenjutsu Yondan
Margaret Guay: Senior Instructor, Kenjutsu Nidan
Lee Ordeman: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Shodan, Kenjutsu Sandan
Jennifer Peringer: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Yondan, Karate Nidan
Byron Russell: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Nidan, Kenjutsu Nidan
Lee Seaman: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Nidan
Mike Sheets: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Shodan, Kenjutsu Nidan
Jim Sterling: General Instructor, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Nidan, Kenjutsu Yondan
OBSERVER MEMBERS OF NTC
Sandra Bengtsson: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Shodan, Kenjutsu Sandan
Bela Breslau: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Nidan, Kenjutsu Sandan
Chris Ikeda-Nash: Graduate, Karate Sandan, Kenjutsu Nidan
