JKFW Overseas Regulations

—Table of Contents—

1.Purpose

2.General Rules

3.Organization and Constitution

4.Admission Procedure

5.Resignation Procedure

6.Privileges and obligations of members

7.Standards for establishing branches

8.Function and duties of branches

9.Standards for establishing the country headquarters

10.Function and duties of the country headquarters

11.Standards for acquiring Dan grades, Titles and other qualifications.

12.Procedure for conducting examinations for Dan grades, Titles and other qualifications

13.Registration and renew responsibilities

14.Functional Authority of Instructors, Referees and Qualification Examiners

15.Prohibition of exercising power beyond the scope of a country headquarters' authority.

16.Exemption Clause

17.Retroactive Application

18.Amendment of Regulations

19.Action regarding the interpretation and doubts concerning the regulations

20.Revocation of Prior Established Rules

Supplementary Provisions

Purpose

Article 1

These regulations are based on the bylaws of the WADO-KAI rules Article 6, 3rd revision. and are written for the WADO-KAI members who reside outside of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "overseas members"). The purpose of WADO-KAI Overseas Regulations is to address the following issues:

1.1

Requirements and standards for acquiring various ranks, licenses and titles.

1.2 Defining the procedures for establishing a branch and/or a country headquarters. The ultimate objective is to create a viable international organizational system that will contribute to the global promotion and development of Karatedo.

General Rules

Article 2

These regulations shall apply to the overseas members with the exception of specific provisions that are otherwise indicated.

Organization and Constitution

Article 3

The organization consists of individual units of branches that are created in accordance with Article 7 and a country headquarters, that is established in accordance with Article 9. Both of these entities are subject to the authority of the WADO-KAI Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as "the Headquarters").

Admission Procedure

Article 4    

4.1 Individuals wishing to be overseas members of WADO-KAI must complete a membership application and submit it along with the required application fee to either a branch or a country headquarters. The application and fee will be sent to the WADO-KAI Headquarters in Japan for review and approval    

4.2 The Headquarters will issue a membership card upon approval of the application.    

4.3 When neither a branch nor a country headquarters has been established, the application must be sent directly to the Headquarters.

Resignation Procedure

Article 5    

5.1 Those wishing to resign from the organization must submit a letter of resignation to the Headquarters through a branch.    

5.2 Individuals who resign automatically forfeit their rights and privileges as members.

Privileges and obligations of members

Article 6

Members shall be granted the following rights and privileges.

6.1.1 Participation in any athletic meets, competitions, seminars, training camps, and/or any other events that are sponsored by the Association ( these activities include those held in countries and districts outside of Japan).    

6.1.2 Acquisition of dan grades, titles, instructor certification, referee certification and other such qualifications issued by the Association.    

6.1.3 Receive priority distribution of bulletins, newsletters, instructional videos and other such articles made by the Association.    

6.2 Members must abide by the agreement and regulations set forth by the Association.

Standards for establishing branches

Article 7

If a member wishes to establish a branch, the following procedure must be followed:

7.1.1 In principle, a branch should consist of at least 10 members, one of whom must hold a dan grade.    

7.1.2 A facility for regular training must be secured or owned.    

7.1.3 No concurrent membership in any other style association or involvement with other styles of karate is allowed.    

7.2 Those satisfying the above criteria who wish to establish a new branch in accordance with the provisions stated above, shall petition for registration by submitting the designated form to the Headquarters through their country headquarters.
When a country headquarters has not been established at the time of application, such petition shall be sent directly to the Headquarters.    

7.3 When a petition for a new branch establishment is accepted and recognized, the Headquarters shall issue a Certificate of Branch Recognition.    

7.4 The branch name cannot contain as a prefix, or as any part of its name or description, the name of the country in which the branch is located.    

7.5 Individual branches will be responsible for its own regulations regarding the organization and operations of its routine business.

Function and duties of branches

Article 8

The branch will have the following functions:

8.1.1 To conduct Kyu gradings and award the achieved grade to its members.    

8.1.2 To participate in group competitions or meets.    

8.1.3 The branch representative being the branch leader, must be registered with the Headquarters.    

8.2 The branch representative must observe the regulations and any other agreement@with the Association and also diligently provide guidance for its members and supervise their technical instruction.

Standards for establishing the country headquarters

Article 9    

9.1 Any country containing more than two branches may establish a country headquarters.    

9.2 The establishment of a country headquarters shall require a written petition to the Association and the Association will make the final decision regarding approval of the request.    

9.3 With respect to the organization and operation of the country headquarters, each country may establish its own regulations based on the consensus of its branches and within the scope of the rules and regulations of the Association, and within the laws of that country governing such activities.

Function and duties of the country headquarters

Article 10

The country headquarters will have the following functions:

10.1.1 To conduct dan examinations for both practical and recommended grades up to and including 5 dan.    

10.1.2 To recommend suitable candidates for titled positions    

10.1.3 To conduct examinations for 2 and 3 kyu instructors and also for 2 kyu referees.    

10.1.4 To conduct examination for 2 and 3 kyu examiners.    

10.1.5 To hold seminars on techniques and officiating, athletic meets and any other events.    

10.2 The country headquarters to maintain a roster of all registered branches within that country, collect annual membership dues as appended and forward payments to the Headquarters by the due date.    

10.3 Each country headquarters shall appoint a General Manager as its representative.

Standards for acquiring Dan grades, Titles and other qualifications.

Article 11

Members wishing to acquire dan grade, titles or other qualifications must satisfy the prerequisites stipulated in the tables below:

1. Dan Grades (Practical and Recommendation)

2. Titles

3. Instructor Certification

4. Referee Certification

5. Qualification Examiner

Procedure for conducting examinations for Dan grades, Titles and other qualifications

Article 12

When a country headquarters decides to exercise the rights granted in the first paragraph of Article 10 (items 1 thru 4), stipulations regarding the board of qualification examiners provided below must be followed regardless of whether the candidate is undergoing a practical examination or is being recommended for a grade or title. The Headquarters has established an official "Dan examination procedure system" and a "Title acquisition procedure system" that must be followed.

1. Dan Grade Examination Procedure

2. Title Acquisition Procedure (Done through recommendation)

3. Instructor and Referee Examination Procedure

4. Qualification Examiner

Registration and renew responsibilities

Article 13    

13.1 When a decision has been rendered regarding candidates who have been examined by the procedures dictated in the preceding articles, the applications must be promptly sent to the Headquarters. If the application is not received by the Headquarters then the grade or license acquired by the candidate will be considered null and void.

13.2 A Qualification examiner certification is valid for a period of three years. After three years, the certification is no longer valid. However, the certification can be renewed and in the instance where the certification is renewed in each country, this provision does not apply.    

13.3 The renew policy for an instructor's certification or a referee certification will be determined by each country. If a country decides to have an expiration policy then they must have a renewal examination or technical course where the candidates can renew their certification.

Functional Authority of Instructors, Referees and Qualification Examiners

Article 14

The following table lists the authority and term limits of the Instructors, Referees, and Qualification examiners.

Prohibition of exercising power beyond the scope of a country headquarters' authority.

Article 15    

15.1 A country headquarters may not engage in any activities outside the scope of the first paragraph (items 1 through 4) of Article 10.    

15.2 If a country headquarters engages in any activities that are outside the scope of their authority, the central Technical Committee will oversee an investigation of the activities of that country headquarters.

Exemption Clause

Article 16    

16.1 Regulations concerning the election of Standing Directors, Directors and Branch Representatives, as well as "Principles for Branch and District (Prefecture) Headquarters establishment and regulations on registration of members" established by the Association do not apply to Overseas members who are subject to the rules and regulations stated in this document.

Retroactive Application

Article 17    

17.1 Any qualification or certification acquired by a member prior to the implementation of these regulations is deemed to be acquired in compliance with these regulations. However, with respect to the status of 1 and 2 kyu Qualification examiners, the Central Technical Committee reserves the right to hold a separate review and evaluation of the Qualification examiners.

Amendment of Regulations

Article 18

Once in force, these regulations supercede the following:

E Regulations in other countries regarding officially recognized technical instructors and applicants for promotion@(October 1, 1993)    

E Certification standards of qualifications for official WADO-KAI instructors and referees (August 26, 1994)     

E Foundation standards for WADO-KAI branches and headquarters in foreign countries (August 26, 1994)

Action regarding the interpretation and doubts concerning the regulations

Article 19    

19.1 Any issue that cannot be resolved by these regulations or any doubts that surface regarding any of the information contained in the articles will be resolved by the Headquarters.    

19.2 If a discrepancy arises in the text between Japanese and English version of the regulations, the Japanese version and its interpretation will supercede the English version.

Revocation of Prior Established Rules

Article 20

20.1 These regulations may be amended or modified only when General Meeting is convened by the Headquarters and a majority decision is reached to do so.

Supplementary Provisions

(Enacted) August 26th, 1999 These regulations will be implemented as of July 27th, 2002