During the WC&GA 2012, we got for the first time in the history 6 African participating countries which met together and discussed about "JJAFU/African Ju-Jitsu" development and future.
- The participants are the following:
- Nabah Abdelhamid (Algeria), Seck Abdoulaye, Giancarlo Bagnulo (Senegal), Nuvin Proag (Mauritius), Makrem Saânouni (Tunisia), Dr. Tsegaye Degineh (Ethiopia) and Colince Tatsa Tchinda, Major General Pierre Samobo (Cameroon)
- The following orientations and resolutions were commonly discussed and taken:
- The stabilization and unity of JJAFU and its members/board should be given the highest priority at this moment if we would like to continue to grow faster than now; it is also necessary to improve the communication system inside the JJAFU. That is why it was loudly expressed by almost all the members that the JJAFU board is already elected for the next four years; they also sub lined the necessity to reinforce that board for a better efficiency. In that way, they really appreciated the action of the board (considering the vacancy of the general Secretary, the newly appointed one should confirm his availability to fulfill the task and will be exclusively elected among others candidates at the next JJAFU GA; unless the board should appoint another one). All the JJAFU's committees and their responsible should be also renewed depending on their previous activities and role inside the JJAFU's development process.
- About the important matter of sponsoring and financial strategies to be jointly solved by JJAFU and JJIF, the attendees advised to: discuss with JJIF, set up official JJAFU's documentation (licenses, sports passports for athletes,...), emphasize on countries' contributions as adopted during the JJAFU Extraordinary GA in Cameroon.
- Algeria confirmed its candidature to the organization of the next JJAFU African Championships; however, they would like it to be scheduled in the 2nd part or the end of the year 2013.
- The actual JJAFU statutes should continue to be used as ever done; however, all the improvements which could be proposed by members and judged necessary by the majority will be studied, adopted by the next JJAFU GA.
- About the communication aspect, it was advised the use of TV Channels, advertisement and news papers among many others ways. It is important to mention that the JJAFU Executive President during his official report to the JJIF GA, presented the possibility to use the Self-Defense teaching at the television for the development worldwide (as already started in Cameroon). We cannot end this section without thanking the African reporter came from Canada for completing his Ju-Jitsu/Self-Defense documentary through several interviews and films.
- As already done in Tunisia, Makrem Saânouni proposed the idea of the official integration of Ju-Jitsu/Self-Defense teaching in schools; such a plan is also in project in Cameroon. Makrem Saânouni being actually the lonely officially known in Africa with a special master in Ju-Jitsu domain, it would be very interesting to exploit his expertise.
- As requested by JJIF (following the discussion between the JJAFU President and the JJIF board as well as the JJIF Special Advisor for African development Eugene DOMAGATA), we should urgently make a formulary (set of questions) to forward to all our African members in order to have a real idea of the development level (administrative, technical and referee) inside each country (very important for setting a better strategy for JJIF assistance).
- The JJIF technical congress held on the 28/11/2012 in Vienna maintained both the JJIF technical and referee Directors at their positions for the next four years (Joachim THUMFART and Henrik SANDBERG).
During the JJIF GA held the 29/11/2012, the development program officially proposed by Africa through our JJAFU Vice-President (Dr.Tsegaye DEGINEH, from Ethiopia) was appreciated, approved and adopted. The JJAFU report was made by our Executive President Colince TATSA TCHINDA, who also presented a set of programs already started in Africa, like the use of "Conflicts Management" as a development vector for Jiu-Jitsu/Self-Defense (applied to civilians, Army/Police). The results of the JJIF board elections held at that occasion will be forwarded through the JJIF official report (the President, General Secretary, Treasurer and few others were maintained at their positions).- The Technical participation of JJAFU to the WC2012 through the competition was judged honorable despite the lack of medals. All our JJAFU's participating countries requested to officially raise up the very important problem of refereeing which stopped the way to several of our efficient African athletes. We remain very thankful to JJIF for the special allowance given to the majority of our members without JJIF affiliation payment.
I seize this opportunity to wish to all of you and your respective families, on behalf of the JJAFU Board, a "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2013"; may this New Year bring to you Peace, Love, Prosperity and more creativity, innovation, devotion and unity in our hard duty of Jiu-Jitsu/Self-Defense development in Africa and Worldwide.
