Rules and Regulations for Ashihara International Karate Organisation Dojos
POLITICAL STATEMENT
The Ashihara International Karate Organisation (AIKO) and its members are dedicated to serving our community and its community members by improve their state of health and well being, mental and physical fitness, self-confidence and sense of self-worth, with a commitment to personal dignity and respect for life through the practice of the Ashihara International Karate Organisation syllabus and training.
The following are the rules and regulations by which the AIKO is conducted.
1. HONBU
AIKO Headquarters shall, after this, be designated the HONBU. The Honbu shall be the covering organisation for all Ashihara International Karate Organisation branches under the leadership of the Ashihara Karate International Organisation and its Headquarters shall be in Zuidlaren Holland.
All branches of AIKO Dojo’s shall constitute the Ashihara International Karate Organisation.
Dave Jonkers Shihan shall govern said branches and make all the rules and promotion of students, or a board of black belts will be appointed by Dave Jonkers Shihan.
The Ashihara International Karate Organisation is a body which is independent of all other organisations. It was founded by Dave Jonkers Shihan, after this, be designated as style-leader. The grading syllabus, the text of the Kata and the training methods of the organisation are all the work of Dave Jonkers Shihan. The purpose of the Ashihara International Karate Organisation shall be the advancement of the skills and spirit of its members. The Honbu shall provide support, information and quality education, access to resources and training and advice and to its members.
2. BRANCH SCHOOL/REPRESENTATIVE
Only well organised dojo’s of good technical standard will be accepted. Each branch shall be headed by a “representative or branch chief” who shall be approved as such by the Honbu of AIKO, only after due application is made to the Honbu.
Recommendation from the branch office is required for the establishment of a branch dojo or the appointment to Branch Chief.
Before a dojo is accepted for membership, it is recommended that the instructor or representatives from the dojo in question visit the Ashihara International Karate Organisation Honbu, if possible, for a conversion training course, or one of the AIKO Honbu’s instructors will visit the dojo in question.
There is no set time for conversion to the Ashihara International Karate Organisation, Dave Jonkers Shihan will decide in this matter.
Two types of dojo memberships exist:
A: Affiliated schools are those schools which adhere to the teaching curriculum established by the Honbu of AIKO, its grade ranking and its testing procedures. All ranking issued by affiliated schools qualify for the Ashihara International Karate Organisation Honbu’s certification program.
B: Associated schools may teach Ashihara International Karate or incorporate some AIKO Karate in their own teaching program but do not follow the Honbu’s curriculum or testing procedure. Members of associate schools may petition the Honbu for rank recognition. Associate schools can upgrade their students by changing their teaching program.
C: Both types of memberships need to pay anual dojo contribution, if members from a associated school want recognition they need to register with a afilliated school and request a lifetime membership
3. QUALIFICATIONS:
A person must at least have the following qualifications in order to be considered for approval as a Branch Representative of AIKO:
- He or she must be ranked at least a Nidan . He or she must be able to document their progress in Karate, with valid certification.
- He or she must be the instructor of a well-organised dojo.
- He or she must be a trustworthy of good moral character.
- He or she must be able to teach the form of karate developed by the Honbu.
- He or she must submit a resume of their karate career.
4. AUTHORITY: Branch Chief is authorised to do the following:
A: He or she may recommend his or her students for promotion to the Honbu. Applicants for Dan ranking must take promotional examinations at the AIKO Honbu or at a major Ashihara International Karate Organisation training course or Summer Camp. Decision is taken by the AIKO board.
B: Branch Chiefs holding the rank of 1st Dan may grade students up to the rank of 3. Kyu Green Belt. Branch Chiefs holding the rank of 2nd Dan, 3rd Dan or 4th Dan may grade students up to the rank of 1. Kyu Brown Belt. Branch Chiefs holding the rank of 5th Dan may grade students up to the rank of Shodan Black Belt. All grades above Shodan will be graded by Shihan Dave Jonkers or a higher Dangrade who will receive authority by Shihan Dave Jonkers. The last is applicable only if he or she receives written authority from the AIKO Honbu. Also only if the examinee is registred through a “Please check this page >>” Higher Kyu or Dangrade Application then he or she may do an exam.
The Examiner must ensure that the student’s membership is current before the student may be allowed to test, this needs to requested through the “Please check this page >>” Student Membership application.
C: He or she may conduct tournaments, contests and demonstrations under the Ashihara International Karate Organisation banner. (Subject to his or her Regional Headquarters approval).
D: He or she may, subject to the approval of the AIKO Honbu, establish and enforce rules and guidelines for the preservation and enhancement of Karate. Each Branch dojo shall be subject to and must enforce all rules and directives of the AIKO Honbu.
AIKO Honbu rules and directives take precedence over those of Branch dojo’s.
5. STANDARDISED PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS
The AIKO has standardised Testing Procedures and Rank Promotion Requirements:
The Ashihara International Karate Organisation Student Handbook contains the requirements for every rank from 10th Kyu White Belt up to and including 3rd Dan Black Belt.
Requirements for 4th Dan Black Belt will be in the hand of both style-leaders aka the board members. The standardisation of Promotion Requirements helps to ensure consistency in what each student learns, what the instructors teach at each level, and maintains the standards of the AIKO. Though the “types” of techniques to be taught are outlined, specific techniques are up to School Instructors.
6. GRADING STATUS:
The success and development of the Ashihara International Karate Organisation depends to a great extent on the compliance to certain requirements and standards as laid down by the AIKO Honbu, for the standardisation of grades.
This is why the Honbu has issued rules and regulations to control the awarding of grades by AIKO Branch Chiefs with grading status. AIKO Branch Chiefs should always strive to improve the technical standard of their students. Promotions should be regarded as a reward for hard and diligent training on the path of the student. AIKO Branch Chiefs must take into consideration that Karate is a free time activity for most students. Karate, therefore must take second place to the basic responsibilities of life, such as education, work and even the family.
A: Grading Status is awarded to Branch Chiefs, who have proven that they have the technical knowledge and ability to assess the standard of students at a grading examination.
B: Branch Chiefs do not automatically receive grading status. Those Branch Chiefs with grading status are the only persons who are authorized to award grades within the organization.
C: The AIKO Honbu has set the promotional requirements and grading syllabus. All Branch Chiefs must adhere to these requirements.
D: The AIKO Honbu will monitor the promotions awarded by those Branch Chiefs with grading status to assure that the norm for grading standards is being adhered to. Any AIKO Branch Chief not adhering to the required standard, can forfeit their grading status.
E: Although the AIKO Branch Chief with grading status is solely responsible for the grades awarded on his/her name, it is preferred that tests take place before a panel at which the Branch Chief adjudicates. This is especially applicable to those testing for Shodan rank.
F: Due to various geographical and other considerations, the AIKO policy of Grading Status can vary from country to country, by always considered and discussed with the style-leaders.
G: Persons with Dan grades issued by organisations other than Ashihara International Karate Organisation, who wish to have their Dan grades recognised by AIKO, will be tested according to the current grading syllabus.
The aspirant must have been an active member of the Ashihara International Karate Organisation for at least two years. They must apply for permission to test in advance.
H: Persons with Dan grades issued by organisations other than the Ashihara International Karate Organisation , who have been accepted and approved by the style-leaders, will be eligible for testing to the next Dan grade, after two year’ active membership, provided that they have an active time in grade which exceeds the minimum time in grade requirements.
I: The official titles used within Ashihara Karate International Organisation is as follows:
Persons with a grade less than Shodan will be addressed as “Kohai” during the time that they are instructing a class.
Persons with Shodan or Nidan will bear the official title of “Senpai”.
Persons with Sandan or Yondan will bear the official title “Sensei”.
Persons with Godan or above will bear the official title of “Shihan”.
The official title of the Style-leaders can be “Kaicho”.
J:For every exam it is necessary that a student grows within his respective grade, that why a student cannot directly participate in to another exam, the Waiting Time differs per grade.
Please check this page >> AIKO Kyu and Dan grading Prerequisites
7. ACCOMMODATION:
The Honbu can arrange accommodation available for Students or Instructors in need of accommodation. Those wishing to make use of the accommodation must pay a nominal fee per day / week/ month for accommodation. Cooking utensils are provided for meal arrangements.
** It is expected of the student using this facility to keep both the dormitory and the dojo in a clean state
8. FEES:
A: Every dojo shall pay a anual Dojo Contribution fee. Every dojo shall perform the following anual payment, 80 euro’s or 90 dollars.
For this the Honbu will issue a anual license yearly to the instructor to operate an official branch in the form of mentioning the dojo on the website and supporting the dojo.
B: The dojo will ensure to pay a lifetime fee per each individual student. This fee is to register the student with the Ashihara International Karate Organisation and will recieve a membership number.
C: The dojo or the branchechief will execute exams according to the rules stated for performing an examination, any payment for these exams are fixed by the honbu and also a fee to AIKO Headquarters for support will be included in this payment. therefore a dojo or branchechief needs to register exams and the promotions for the honbu and make payment.
The fees are as per certification structure:
All Kyu and Dan certificates shall originate and be distributed from the AIKO Honbu.
(Due to fluctuations of the Euro /Dollar Exchange, prices may differ from those quoted).
- He or she, if they so want to have their current rank certified must send the following documents with the required certification fee.
- One copy of Black Belt Dan certificate.
- In case you cannot obtain a copy of your last Rank certificate, send documents supportive your rank such as a letter of recommendation from the Instructor or Authorised person who tested you.
- A resume including Martial Arts training history.
- 2 I.D. pictures.
- Rank Certification fees.
9. REPORTS:
Ashihara International Karate Organisation representative must send the following reports to the Honbu:
A: A quarterly report in which he or she registers all his or her new students.
B: An annual membership report listing each member, their rank and date of membership.
This annual report must be received by the Honbu each end of the year.
10. OBLIGATIONS:
The Branch Representative will where possible, purchase all training equipment bearing the logo, and Trade Mark of Ashihara International Karate Organisation, from AIKO Honbu or other authorised suppliers.
Foreign branches may produce T-shirts, etc. but must send samples of products to theAIKO Honbu. Representatives are not to enter any commercial projects involving Ashihara Karate without informing the AIKO Honbu and receiving its approval.
The Representative must at all times ensure that no unauthorised copies are made of any of the texts on the Ashihara International Karate Organisation as supplied by the Honbu.
AIKO Branch chief’ are allowed to copy any material – the only condition is to advise the Honbu.
11. GOVERNING BODIES:
In countries/regions where the National Sports Council or the equivalent recognises a National/Regional Karate Association as the official governing body of Karate, it is recommended that the AIKO Branch in question is a member.
12. GENERAL
Individually we have created a Code of Conduct that describes the way we would like Members, Dojo’s or Branche Chiefs to behave.
Code Of Conduct –> AIKO Code of Conduct januari 2019
Furthermore
All Ashihara International Karate Organisation Regional Headquarters and all AIKO Branch Chiefs are obliged to comply with the above By-laws. Failure to do so on the part of any Regional Supervisor or Branch Representative will result in a review by the Honbu.
Appropriate action will follow the review. The AIKO Honbu and all branches will co-operate and comply with all the regulations for the advancement of the skill and spirit of true Karate.This agreement is to give the licensee authority to operate as an Ashihara International Karate Organisation Branch Chief with an official Branch.The agreement shall remain in effect until AIKO Honbu issues a written notice of termination. Every year the AIKO Honbu will review the operation of the Licence, and if Honbu finds evidence of dishonourable conduct, the Honbu has the option of terminating this agreement.It is required of the Licensee to renew his or her Licence biannually.
NB. Any matter not specifically provided for in this agreement, shall be dealt with by the Style leaders.
Shihan Dave Jonkers
Zuidlaren , Holland 2016
Dave Jonkers Shihan
Zuidlaren , Holland 2016