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.
– 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 a two-year term that can be extended for additional terms.
CURRENT NTC MEMBERS (as of May 2023)
Robert Gaston, Chairperson: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Shodan, Kenjutsu Yondan
Shin Aoki: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Yondan, Karate Yondan, Kenjutsu Yondan
Sandra Bengtsson: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Shodan, Kenjutsu Sandan
Connie Borden: General Instructor, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Shodan, Kenjutsu Yondan
Bela Breslau: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Nidan, Kenjutsu Sandan
David Franklin: General Instructor, Bojutsu Sandan, Karate Sandan, Kenjutsu Sandan
Chris Ikeda-Nash: Graduate, Karate Sandan, Kenjutsu Nidan
Lee Ordeman: Senior Instructor, Bojutsu Shodan, Kenjutsu Sandan
Byron Russell: 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
