WORDS FROM THE FOUNDER - GRAHAM SLATER
Over the years I have literally spoken to, met, interviewed, trained / travelled and partied with thousands of martial artists. I've witnessed so many of them doing an amazing job sharing their knowledge and enriching peoples’ lives. It’s those contributions, their personal sacrifices and accomplishments that I feel should be recognised.

I feel that our industry and the community at large, should know about their great work and this can be done through this award. It seems a fitting project for MAA/AMA to acknowledge these great leaders for their personal endeavours and their contributions through what will be deemed, a prestigious Industry Award.

This award will be unlike any other before it. All inductees will go through a vigorous vetting process adding to its credibility. By pulling together as an industry we have something positive and special to look forward to. We don't have to wait for this award, I encourage you to start conversations and get back to interacting with each other, whether it’s a seminar, tournament, fight show, luncheon, conference or in this case, an awards night.

An Industry Masters Award Event, it's something we have missed and waited a long time for, so join us in this celebration.

In 2019 MAA sent 32 Special Awards to noteworthy martial artists inducting them into the converted Black Sash assembly. The recipients of these awards were especially selected by Graham Slater as gesture of solidarity a number non-member instructors, being included in the selection.

These next awards could be just for MAA members because there are thousands of them, but in the spirit of solidarity again, it’s open to everyone. 

The only different will be, MAA receive additional benefits.

I have been told the Olympic Committee encourage athletes to use their medals to enhance their career professionally, because they understand they have a high commercially value. This is exactly what we are putting forward, in respect to our awards. Students, friends and family will love to brag about your award. When people Google search you / your club, the bragging will be validated and convert into more students.

We know we have a lot of work to do across multiple mediums, for an extended period of time showcasing everyone and not to mention the broadcast itself.

 The reason we don’t have continuous Industry Awards is because someone has to foot the bill, take the risk and is always left out of pocket.
Things do need to change!

Graham Slater has attended a number of similar award nights both in Australia and around the globe, they need to make money. Most of the time after the costs are taken out, there is often a donation to a charity. That said,  its fine for an organiser to make a profit as well, they would have earned it.

There has been many comments in numerous blogs about awards nights that question:
- Why do they charge for an award?
- Aren't the inductees just buying their award?

Of course they charge for an award, who would want to put up the money to pay for the event, if it wasn't appreciated and there wasn't an exchange of energy. Is it that some people expecting to receive an award, think they are so important, they are simply entitled to it.

An inductee is not paying for an award, they are being honoured after being nominated by their peers, meeting a set criteria and being voted for.

MAA pledge that 100% of the nomination revenue is going to the Australian Martial Arts Advertising Campaign project to get more people into martial arts. MAA will pay for this event out of membership fees and profits from our other products that you purchase (eg insurance, websites etc).