Dear W.A.S.C.O. members,
The objective of this letter is to inform you or, perhaps, clarify beyond any doubt for you exactly what W.A.S.C.O.’S objectives are, what its function is and how it is organized.
As you well know W.A.S.C.O. is a world organization which deals with, organizes and promotes only the TOUCHSPARRING. We believe that this discipline can grow considerably because it is based exclusively on the principle of self control. During W.A.S.C.O. competitions, competitors are not allowed to injure each other. For 24 years our organization has been meticulously analyzing and fine tuning every detail in order that competitions produce high levels of technical ability, without ever degenerating into performances of vulgar gratuitous violence.
From 1989 to 2001, besides the TOUCHSPARRING, which was the discipline around which W.A.S.C.O. came into being, and which shaped it, W.A.S.C.O. began to promote all the other disciplines which exist under the broad spectrum of KICKBOXING, (full contact, low kick etc.)
Frankly, this was a big mistake, because it lost sight of the actual objectives which were the foundation stones of the organization.
Since 2003 all the original objectives have been at the forefront of our thinking. W.A.S.C.O. promotes, practises and deals exclusively with the TOUCHSPARRING. Whoever wishes to practise other fighting styles (full contact, low kick etc.) are welcome to contact the organizations/ federations which promote these schools of fighting.
Within W.A.S.C.O. there have always been national organizations whose affiliated clubs successfully practise, as well as the TOUCHSPARRING, various martial arts such as Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu etc.
I would like to state that this is a real plus both for W.A.S.C.O. and for international and national martial arts organizations. Furthermore, I would again like to emphasize that there are no restrictions in this regard. W.A.S.C.O., more than any other organization, wishes to promote all national and international Martial arts federations to be found on the world scene.
The function of W.A.S.C.O. is:
1. to promote the TOUCHSPARRING, utilizing the specific criteria for grading and working schemes.
2. to set up, as soon as possible, professional level instructors’ courses for all national delegations which request them, in order that they may work with their associated clubs using teachers who are trained and aware of the responsibility they assume especially when working with children and teenagers.
3. to be an amateur organization which works through instructors who are truly valid and professional.
4. to supply, free of charge to its members, all the necessary teaching materials which will be used by national organizations when holding instructors’ courses specifically for their own trainers, instructors and masters.
It is to be pointed out that the above mentioned teaching materials do not contain specific teachings as regards techniques of kicking, punching etc. but only information regarding:
Techniques and methodology of teaching
Age of development psychology
Age of development pedagogy/education
Basics of first aid
Basics of Anatomy, Physiology and sports medicine
The main objective of W.A.S.C.O. is without a doubt to offer all its members, through competitions, seminars and our other organizational activities, the opportunity to meet each other, to communicate, to exchange experiences, to fraternize and help each other with the intention, as far as is possible, of doing our small part in building a better world where differences of race, religion, political beliefs or sex, which although we recognize exist, may become reasons for enrichment and progress for everybody and not reasons to inflict suffering. All of us have something to teach. All of us have something to learn. ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERY WAY.
The President
Professor Gianni Sarritzu
Grand Master IX Degree
