Canada Zenkuren Wado Kai Karate Association | CZWKA
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:
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.
Article 2
These regulations shall apply to the overseas members with the exception of specific provisions that are otherwise indicated.
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”).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Article 11
Members wishing to acquire dan grade, titles or other qualifications must satisfy the prerequisites stipulated in the tables below:
Dan Grades (Practical and Recommendation)
| Practical Dan | Prerequisite | Dan by Recommendation | Prerequisite |
| Shodan (1 Dan) |
Must be 1 kyu | Shodan (1 Dan) | Trained in karate for at least 5 years |
| Nidan (2 Dan) |
Shodan holder | Nidan (2 Dan) | Shodan for 3 years or more |
| Sandan (3 Dan) |
Nidan holder | Sandan (3 Dan) | Nidan for 3 years or more |
| Yondan (4 dan) |
Sandan holder | Yondan (4 Dan) | Sandan for 4 years or more |
| Godan (5 dan) |
Yondan holder | Godan (5 Dan) | Yondan for 5 years or more |
Titles
| Title | Prerequisite |
| Renshi | 4 Dan for at least 2 years and at least 35 years of age |
| Kyoshi | (Renshi for at least 5 years) or (6 Dan or higher and at least 45 years of age) |
| Hanshi | (Kyoshi for at least 10 years) or (8 Dan or higher and at least 55 years of age) |
Instructor Certification
| Qualification | Prerequisite |
| 2 Kyu Instructor | 4 Dan or higher |
| 3 Kyu Instructor | 3 Dan or higher |
Referee Certification
| Qualification | Prerequisite | |
| 2 kyu Referee | Kata | 4 Dan or higher |
| Kumite | 3 Dan or higher |
Qualification Examiner
| Qualification | Prerequisite |
| 2 kyu Qualification examiner | 5 Dan or higher, at least 40 years of age, and (2 kyu Instructor or 2 kyu Referee) |
| 3 kyu Qualification examiner | 4 Dan or higher, at least 30 years of age and (3 kyu Instructor or 2 kyu Referee) |
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.
Dan Grade Examination Procedure
| Dan Grade | Minimum number and level of Qualification Examiners |
| Shodan (1 Dan) |
Three 3 kyu Qualification examiners |
| Nidan (2 Dan) |
One 2 kyu Qualification examiner , two 3 kyu Qualification examiners |
| Sandan (3 Dan) |
One 2 kyu Qualification examiner, three 3 kyu Qualification examiners |
| Yon-Godan (4 thru 5 Dan) |
One 1 kyu Qualification examiner, three 2 kyu Qualification examiner |
Title Acquisition Procedure (Done through recommendation)
| Title | Minimum number and level of Qualification Examiners |
| All titles | One 1 kyu qualification examiner, three 2 kyu qualification examiner |
Instructor and Referee Examination Procedure
| Qualification | Minimum number and level of Qualification Examiners |
| 2 kyu Instructor | One 1 kyu Qualification examiner, three 2 kyu Qualification examiner |
| 3 kyu Instructor | One 2 kyu Qualification examiner, three 3 kyu Qualification examiner |
| 2 kyu Referee | One 1 kyu Qualification examiner, three 2 kyu Qualification examiner |
Qualification Examiner
| Qualification | Minimum number and level of Qualification Examiners |
| 2 kyu Qualification examiner | Two 1 kyu Qualification examiner, three 2 kyu Qualification examiner |
| 3 kyu Qualification examiner | One 1 kyu Qualification examiner, three 2 kyu Qualification examiner |
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.
Article 14
The following table lists the authority and term limits of the Instructors, Referees, and Qualification examiners.
| Position | Authority | Term Limit |
| 2 kyu Instructor | National instructor | Determined by each country |
| 3 kyu Instructor | Branch instructor | Determined by each country |
| 2 kyu Referee | National Referee | Determined by each country |
| 2 kyu Qualification examiner | Authority to recognize 5 dan or lower and conduct examinations for 2 and 3 kyu Instructors and 2 kyu Referees | Three years after qualification |
| 3 kyu Qualification examiner | Authority to recognize 3 dan or lower and to conduct examinations for 3 kyu Instructors | Three years after qualification |
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.
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.
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.
Article 18
Once in force, these regulations supersede 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)
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.
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
