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 that the Olympic Committee encourages 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.

The reason we don’t have continuous Industry Awards is because MAA has paid for them and the only thing has changed for 2023 is it was heavily subsidised by MAA to covered national and international guests and entertainment.

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).