USA Karate Announces 2026 Board of Directors Election: Call for Candidates for Athlete Director (10-Year) and Elected At-Large Director

Nominations open September 25, 2026 — eligible members encouraged to run or nominate a candidate

USA Karate (USANKF) is pleased to announce the upcoming election for two seats on its Board of Directors: the Athlete Director (10-year) position and the Elected At-Large Director position. This election gives qualified members of the USA Karate community the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth, development, and leadership of karate in the United States.

These positions will play an important role in shaping the future direction of USA Karate, supporting good governance, strengthening the organization, and advancing opportunities for athletes, coaches, officials, clubs, and the broader karate community.

USA Karate encourages qualified individuals who are passionate about the sport of karate and committed to serving the organization to consider seeking these positions. Candidates should bring a demonstrated commitment to:

• The growth and advancement of karate in the United States
• Strong governance, leadership, and organizational stewardship
• Athlete-focused decision-making
• Collaboration across the USA Karate community
• Integrity, transparency, and accountability
• The continued development of USA Karate as a national governing body

Open Positions

• Athlete Director (10 year) (1 seat) – currently held by Brian Hillard
• Elected At-Large Director (1 seat) – currently held by Senthil Thiyagarajan

Candidate Eligibility

In accordance with USA Karate bylaws and applicable election requirements, any adult USANKF member in good standing may run for these positions. Any adult USANKF member in good standing may nominate another eligible adult member, and self-nominations are allowed.

Candidate Requirements

Members interested in being a candidate for either role are encouraged to self-nominate and put forward their candidacy to be voted on by eligible members. Interested individuals should refer to USA Karate's bylaws to confirm eligibility, then email Elections@usankf.org to declare their candidacy.

To be considered for the Elected At-Large Director position, candidates must complete either Option A or Option B below, and submit a completed Conflict of Interest Disclosure, background check, and SafeSport requirements:

• Option A: Submit a written document listing at least 25 current adult USAKF members by name and USAKF membership number to Elections@usankf.org.
• Option B: Have 25 current adult USAKF members each send an email to Elections@usankf.org declaring their support for an eligible candidate by name, along with the supporter's legal name and USAKF membership number.
• The deadline for candidates to submit their required signatures or emails via either Option A or B above is 5pm PST on Monday October 12, 2026 (10/12/2026)
• The requirement for submitting signatures applies only to the candidates for the Elected At-Large Director seat.Candidates for the Athlete Director (10 year) seat need only self-nominate or be nominated, provided they meet age and competition requirements.

Voter Eligibility

• Must be a valid member of USA Karate as of 9/11/2026 in the applicable voting class.
• Must be 18 years of age or older as of 9/11/2026.
• For the Elected At-Large Director, any USA Karate member who meets the first 2 requirements listed above is eligible to vote in the election for this seat, EXCEPT the 10-year athletes.10 Year athletes are eligible to vote in the Athlete Director (10 year) only, and must meet the membership requirement listed above.

Nomination Period: September 25 – October 12, 2026 | Election Date: November 3 – November 24, 2026 | Results: December 2026

Usa Karate

• Review: The Nominating and Governance Committee and Ethics Committee validate candidate eligibility and disclosures.
• Ballots: All eligible candidates are placed on the ballot; eligible adult members receive voting instructions through a third-party election service (Election Buddy).
• Results: A candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote is elected; otherwise, the top three finishers advance to a runoff election to determine the winner.

To ensure a fair and well-governed process, USA Karate staff and committees follow a defined internal review procedure:

• The Nominating and Governance Committee (NGC) monitors and responds to all emails sent to elections@usankf.org.
• Staff maintain a nomination database using Sport80 data and verify signatures, membership status, Conflict of Interest forms, SafeSport status, and background checks.
• Staff flag each submission for review: green = complete; yellow = needs review; red = does not meet criteria.
• The CEO and staff provide the candidate database to the NGC for validation, and Conflict of Interest disclosures to the Ethics Committee.
• The Ethics Committee reviews disclosures and sends direction letters through DocuSign or a similar platform.
• The NGC builds and approves the eligible voter pool using Sport80 data provided by staff.
• The CEO and staff send the approved candidates, and voter lists to Election Buddy or a similar third-party election service.

Additional information regarding eligibility requirements, the nomination process, election procedures, and voting will be available at: Information will be coming soon.

USA Karate encourages members of the karate community who have the experience, perspective, and commitment to help lead the organization forward to participate in this important process.

Your voice matters. Your leadership matters.

The future of USA Karate depends on strong, engaged leadership.