Constitution
COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE TRADITIONAL AIKIDO RYU
December 2004
OBJECTIVES
1.1. The organisation will be known as the Traditional Aikido Ryu (TAR)
1.2. The object of the TAR is to be an organization which provides collective support activities for Ashford Aikido Club (AAC) and Brookwood Aikido Kai (BAK)
1.3. The management of TAR will be by an Executive Committee (EC)
1.4. The EC will consist of two senior Dan Grades and the Secretary/Treasurer from BAK and two senior Dan Grades and the Secretary/Treasurer from AAC.
1.5. The EC has the power to appoint officers as required.
1.6. TAR represents both clubs as a means of identifying the style of practice.
1.7. TAR represents both clubs for the purposes of:
- a common identifying badge
- membership book issue
- joint collection/distribution point for insurance covering both Professional Indemnity (green slips) and Registration Certificates (brown slips)
1.8. TAR monitors the requirements for renewals of:
- insurance
- coaching qualification
- first aid certification
1.9. TAR oversees the organisation of training courses and seminars
1.10. TAR maintains a Joint Web Site for both clubs and acts as an additional reference point for email and telephone enquiries
1.11. TAR advertises on behalf of both clubs via the press and/or directories
1.12. TAR sets out a Grading Syllabus Common to both AAC and BAK
1.13. TAR will hold gradings at the discretion of the Senior Dan Grades of AAC and BAK for both Kyu and Dan Grades
1.14. TAR will appoint Coaches having achieved the necessary BAB coaching and First-aid training
DEFINITIONS
2.1. 'TAR' means Traditional Aikido Ryu
2.2. 'The Constitution' means the Constitution of the Traditional Aikido Ryu which has been agreed by the EC and may not be amended other than by the agreement of the EC
2.3. 'The EC' means the Executive Committee of the Traditional Aikido Ryu
2.4. 'Aikido' shall be deemed to refer to the martial art Founded/Derived by Morihei Ueshiba
2.5. 'Rules' means the rules made by the EC
2.6. 'The Register' means the Register of Members of the TAR and their information
2.7. 'BAB' means the British Aikido Board
2.8. The 'Secretary' means the secretary of the AAC and the secretary of the BAK
2.9. The 'Treasurer' means the treasurer of the AAC and the treasurer of the BAK
2.10. 'Honorary' Membership means lifetime membership of TAR without subscription but does not give the right to practice or vote on the committee
MEMBERSHIP
3.1. A Register shall be kept containing the name and last notified address for all members of TAR
3.2. The privileges and obligations of any member shall be those assigned in the Register
3.3. It is the duty of each individual member to notify the Secretary change of circumstance e.g. injury, address, marriage, next of kin, contact details
3.4. All persons who wish to join the TAR are required to complete the appropriate form of application for membership.
3.5. It is the duty of each individual member to adhere to the etiquette of the Dojo that is published in each TAR Membership Grading book, and on the TAR Web site.
GRADE OF MEMBERSHIP
4.1. Dan Grade Members shall be persons who have reached the age of 18 and:
- fulfilled the requirements of a Grading Examination for a Dan Grade, or
- qualified for Dan Grade by reason of outstanding contributions to the practice of Aikido
4.2. Senior Kyu Grade Members shall be persons who have reached the age of 16 and:
- fulfilled the requirements of a Grading Examination for 1st and 2nd Kyu grade
4.3. Lower Kyu Grade Members shall be persons who have reached the age of 16 and:
- fulfilled the requirements of a Grading Examination for 3rd, 4 th or 5 th Kyu grade
4.4. Honorary Membership shall be awarded by the EC and will be persons who have either:
- distinguished themselves in the practice, organisation or administration of Aikido
- have given distinguished service to the TAR or the achievement of its objectives.
4.5. The EC shall have the power to vary the condition of entry to any class of membership in any case where they consider it appropriate to do so.
4.6. A member of any class may, by notice in writing to the Secretary, resign membership of the TAR after payment of all sums due in respect of subscriptions or otherwise.
AWARD OF HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
5.1. Honorary Membership shall be awarded by the EC of the TAR.
5.2. Nominations for Honorary Membership may be forwarded by any member of TAR
5.3. In recognition of long and distinguished service as retired Heads of the TAR Aikido clubs, the EC may from time to time at its discretion, award the honour of Past Master.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6.1. The EC shall call an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at which fully paid up and active Members of the TAR will be invited to vote on matters tabled on the agenda.
6.2. Matters raised by TAR members must be formally passed to the Chair for his consideration to be added to the agenda of the AGM
6.3. Matters so added to the agenda of the AGM will be held in open debate and decided by TAR membership vote
6.4. The EC shall determine successor nominees from qualified members to stand for vacant EC roles. The nominees shall be put to the TAR membership for a vote. The nominee with a simple majority will be so appointed to serve on the TAR Committee.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
7.1. The Membership fee (levied by the TAR) shall include cost of the BAB Registration fee insurance.
7.2. The Membership fee may be altered only by a unanimous vote by the Executive Committee.
7.3. For current members, all annual subscriptions shall be due and payable on the first day of June each year.
7.4. A fine of £1 for each month subscriptions are paid in arrears, will be levied against Members up to a maximum of £5.00.
7.5. For new members, membership fees are due on the date of joining and renewal on the first day of June.
7.6. Members in arrears will not be permitted to practice except in cases of hardship to be decided by the EC.
7.7. In cases of hardship, to be decided by the EC, the EC will cover the necessary payment of insurances for the member
7.8. Members in arrears in cases of non-attendance may rejoin at the same grade at the discretion of the EC
GRADING EXAMINATION
8.1. The Committee shall cause Grading Examinations to be held for members
8.2. Dan Gradings shall be held at least once a year at the place to be decided
8.3. The Committee shall frame and publish the syllabus for the various Kyu and Dan Grade examinations, defining the periods that must elapse between successive gradings and the grading fees payable
8.4. The EC shall have the power to recognise, in general or in specific instances, grading of members of the TAR by other organisations or persons as being equivalent to passing a Grading Examination of the TAR; and may in such cases register the grade of a member without requiring him to pass a Grading Examination of the TAR
8.5. The EC shall have the power to vary the requirements for any Grading Examination in any case where they consider it appropriate to do so.
EXPULSION
9.1. If any Member shall refuse or wilfully neglect to comply with the constitution of the TAR or the opinion of the Committee is that the member:
- shall have been guilty of misconduct
- shall have been rendered unfit to remain a member of the TAR
- shall be injurious to the TAR
such a member, may by a resolution of the EC, be expelled from membership of the TAR and forfeit any fees paid in advance.
9.2. The name and recorded address of a member expelled under clause 9.1 shall be published in such a manner as the EC may decide.
PROCEDURES POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
10.1. The EC shall meet at a venue to be agreed, as required but at least once each year and may regulate their own procedure
10.2. The EC meeting may, at the discretion of the EC, be open or closed
10.3. Only members of the EC may vote on the EC
10.4. At EC open meetings, TAR members may speak only at the invitation of the EC
10.5. The EC shall cause to be kept proper and sufficient account of the capital, funds, receipts and expenditure of TAR and shall cause such accounts for the past year together with the report of the Treasurer thereof, to be presented at each EC Meeting
10.6. The CHAIR of the EC must be an active member of the TAR and a member of the TAR Committee. The Chair will be nominated and seconded by members of the EC and voted in by a simple majority of the EC
10.7. The position of Chair will be an annual appointment decided by the EC
10.8. The duties of the Chair shall be:
a) to call, at His/Her discretion for date/time and venue, meetings of the EC
b) preside over meetings so called
c) attend BAB or Shinwakai Committer meetings as requested
d) act as TAR representative and advocate at such meetings
e) to prepare an agenda for meetings
10.9. The TREASURER of the TAR will be nominated and seconded by members of the EC and voted in by a simple majority of the EC
10.10. The position of Treasurer will be an annual appointment decided by the EC
10.11. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
a) responsibility for the management of the financial business of TAR
b) the preparation of the annual accounts of the TAR subject to the direction of the EC
10.12. The SECRETARY of the TAR will be nominated and seconded by members of the EC and voted in by a simple majority of the EC
10.13. The position of Secretary will be an annual appointment decided by the EC
10.14. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
a) Responsibility for the administration of TAR
b) Responsibility for conducting the correspondence for all matters relating to and the keeping of minutes of meetings of the EC
c) to act as directed by the EC
10.15. The MEMBERS of the TAR EC will be as stated in Clause 1. 4
10.16. The duties of the members of the EC shall be:
a) attendance of meetings of the EC of the TAR
b) such duties as directed by the EC
c) to adhere to the Constitution
AUDITORS
11.1. The appointment of Auditors will be determined by the members of the EC when the funds of the TAR warrant such.
PROPERTY, ASSETS AND INCOME
12.1. The income and property of TAR shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of TAR.
12.2. No member or officer of TAR shall have any personal claim on the assets of TAR; nor shall they receive, directly or otherwise, any financial gain by virtue of their membership of the TAR.
12.3. Clause 12.2 shall not preclude payment for professional services to the TAR (including where appropriate, payment for Aikido Instruction), or full reimbursement of any expenses incurred in conducting the business of the TAR
12.4. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the TAR shall be disposed of equally between the AAC and BAK
INDEMNITY
13.1. Subject to the exclusions hereinafter set out, every member shall be indemnified out of assets of the TAR against any loss suffered in the course of the execution of the business of the TAR; provided that:
a) the acts leading to the loss shall have been approved by the EC
b) are ruled by the Committee to have been acts performed in good faith as a consequence of the members responsibilities to the TAR
13.2. No indemnity shall be afforded against any loss sustained as a consequence of any negligence of the members; nor against the loss of any personal belongings or effects, nor against any injury sustained during or through the practice of Aikido.
13.3. Every practicing member of the Club must be in possession of a British Aikido Board Registration Certificate.
13.4. All Dan grade or Senior Kyu grade members of the TAR wishing to qualify as Coaches must do so through the British Aikido Boards Coach Award Scheme or NVQ and hold Professional Indemnity Insurance and recognized First Aid training.
PERSONS QUALIFIED TO GRADE WITHIN TRADITIONAL AIKIDO RYU
14.1. 1st Dan - Is authorised to grade members of the Club from 6th Kyu to 3rd Kyu inclusively.
14.2. 2nd Dan - Is authorised to grade members of the Club from 6th Kyu to 2nd Kyu inclusively.
14.3. 3rd Dan & above - Is authorised to grade members of the TAR from 6th Kyu to 1st Kyu inclusively.
14.4. Dan gradings may only be actioned by a panel of senior Dan grades with at least one 4th Dan or above. The panel must be comprised of at least three adjudicators and contain one or more of the technical instructors of TAR
14.5. Members having been awarded a 1st, 2nd or 3rd Dan grade, are required to hold that grade for a twelve month period prior to grading Kyu grades to the level commensurate with the newly acquired Dan grade rank.
Appendices
Grading Syllabuses (tba)
