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Ryukyu Ocho Suidi Kobujutsu Association

	Bylaws		Title & Degree Examination Regulations

Ryukyu Ocho Suidi Kobujutsu Association
Title & Degree Examination Regulations

Article 1. Objective

The objective of the regulations described below is to establish requirements of the title and rank examination for the pursuers of Ryukyu Ocho Suidi Kobujutsu (hereinafter referred to Kobujutsu).

Article 2. Official Titles

The official titles at the Ryukyu-Ocho Suidi Kobujutsu Association (hereinafter referred to the Association) are specified as Renshi, Shihan, Kyoshi, and Hanshi.

Article 3. Belt Color of Dan Degree and Kyu Degree

1. Dan ranks starts from 1^st Dan and ends in 10^th Dan. Kyu ranks start at 9^th Kyu and endat 1^st Kyu.

2. The belt system for Dan ranks and Kyu ranks is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Belt System for Dan and Kyu Ranks
Dan ranks:	Belt Color:
1^st to 6^th	Black
7^th & 8^th	Red and white
9^th & 10^t	Red

Kyu ranks:	Belt Color:
9^th & 8th	Blue
7^th &6th	Yellow
5^th & 4th	Green
3^rd to 1st	Brown

Article 4. Qualifications for Dan Degree Examinee

1. Qualifications for candidacy for Dan ranks are specified in Table 2 below.

Table 2. Qualifications for Candidacy for Dan Ranks
1^st Dan	More than 2 years of Kobujutsu training. Recognized as a person with good character
2^nd Dan	More than 2 years of Kobujutsu training after acquiring 1st Dan. Recognized as a person with good character
3^rd Dan	More than 2 years of Kobujutsu training after acquiring 2^nd Dan. Recognized as a person with good character
4^th Dan	More than 3 years of Kobujutsu training after acquiring 3rd Dan. Recognized as a person with good character
5^th Dan	More than 3 years of Kobujutsu training after acquiring 4th Dan Recognized as a person with good character
6^th Dan	5^th Dan holders above 35 years old. Recognized as a person with good character by the dojo head
7^th Dan	6^th Dan holders above 40 years old. Recognized as a person with good character by the dojo head
8^th Dan	7^th Dan holders above 50 years old. Recognized as a person with good character by the dojo head.
9^th Dan	8^th Dan holders who meets the Board of Directors’ approval of promotion
10 Dan	9^th Dan holders who meet the Board of Directors’ approval of promotion.

2. The qualifications and requirements for Kyu ranks are entrusted to the judgment of each Dojo head.

3. The upper limits of rank for certain age of students are; 1^st Kyu for elementary school students, 1^st Dan for middle school students, and 2^nd Dan for high school students.

4. A person holding Dan rank from other style may be eligible to take the Dan rank examination conducted by the committee, if the Dojo head recognizes him/her as a qualified person for the degree.

Article 5. Qualifications for Official Title promotion tests

1. Requirements for the Official Titles are listed in Table 3 below.

Table 3. Requirements for Official Titles
Titles	Qualifications	Board of Directors
Renshi	4^th or 5^th Dan holders who are recognized as an eligible member for “Renshi” by the Dojo head.	certifies upon examination
Shihan	6^th Dan holders who are recognized as a qualified member for “Shihan” by the Dojo head.	certifies upon examination
Kyoshi	“Shihan” title holders who are recognized as an eligible member for “Kyoshi” by the Dojo head.	certifies upon examination
Hanshi	Those who are recognized as a qualified member for “Hanshi” with recommendations of the national headquarter directors.	certifies upon examination

2. Those with 3^rd Dan or below may obtain the “Renshi” title, if he/she is recognized as a member with excellent ability, technique and character by the dojo head. The Board of Directors shall examine his/her promotion to “Renshi” Title.

3. Those who obtain “Renshi” title shall be certified as an “Instructor”.

Article 6. Application Fees for Dan and Kyu Ranks

An applicant who wishes to take the examination for the Dan or Kyu rank is required to submit an application (along with a recommendation letter from his/her dojo head) and an applicable examination fee to the general headquarters/Sohonbu no later than seven days prior to the examination date. The national headquarters in each country, however, can examine 3rd or lower Dan ranks.

Table 4. Application Fees for Titles and Dan and Kyu Ranks
Ranks	Application Fee
Renshi	¥ 10,000
Shihan	¥ 20,000
Kyoshi	¥ 20,000
Hanshi	¥ 30,000
9^th & *8^th Kyu	¥ 2,000
7^th & 6^th Kyu	¥ 3,000
5^th & 4^th Kyu	¥ 4,000
3^rd to 1^st Kyu	¥ 5,000
1^st to 3^rd Dan	¥ 6,000
4^th to 6^th Dan	¥ 8,000
7^th & 8^th Dan	¥ 12,000
9^th & 10^th Dan	¥ 30,000

2. The examination for Dan rank shall be performed based on the association’s Dan rank standards stated in the Table 1.

3. The examination for Kyu rank shall be performed based on the association’s Dan rank standards stated in the Table. However, the final decision for the promotion of Kyu ranks is entrusted to the judgment of the each dojo head.

4. The examination for the titles shall be performed based on the association’s title standards stated in the Table 2.

5. The Association shall hold the examination for title and Dan ranks twice a year in March and September. The President/Kaicho will decide the time and date. However, the examination date can be changed, if there special circumstances arise. The director of each national headquarter/Honbucho shall schedule the date and time of the examinations for the 3^rd Dan or lower ranks.

6. The examination for Kyu ranks can be performed whenever the each Dojo head finds it appropriate regardless of the stipulation in the Section 5.

7. Examination fees for Dan, Kyu ranks, and Official titles shall be the revenue for the each Dojo head.

Article 7. Registration fees for Kyu, Dan Ranks and Titles

1. Those who passed a Dan or Kyu rank examinations shall pay the registration fee to the Association, and receive an authorized certification. Registration fees for Kyu, and Dan ranks and Titles are stated below.

Ranks	Registration Fee	Correspondence and Miscellaneous fees.
Renshi	¥ 20,000	¥ 2,000
Shihan	¥ 30,000	¥ 2,000
Kyoshi	¥ 30,000	¥ 2,000
Hanshi	¥ 50,000	¥ 2,000
9^th & *8^th Kyu	¥ 2,000	¥ 2,000
7^th & 6^th Kyu	¥ 3,000	¥ 2,000
5^th & 4^th Kyu	¥ 4,000	¥ 2,000
3^rd to 1^st Kyu	¥ 5,000	¥ 2,000
1^st to 3^rd Dan	¥ 6,000	¥ 2,000
4^th to 6^th Dan	¥ 8,000	¥ 2,000
7^th & 8^th Dan	¥ 12,000	¥ 2,000
9^th & 10^th Dan	¥ 30,000	¥ 2,000

2. The registration fees shall be payable to the general headquarter/Sohonbu.

3. The correspondence and miscellaneous fees shall be revenue for the each national headquarter to use for the cost of correspondence between the national headquarters/Honbu and the general headquarter/Sohonbu.

Article 8. Opening Dojo

Renshi or higher title-holders are allowed to open their own Dojos at any time.

Article 9. Certification

1. Those who passed the title or Dan rank examination conducted by The Association shall receive an authorized certificate from the president/Kaicho. Although, each director of national headquarter examines the promotions for 3rd or less Dan ranks, a certificate shall be authorized by the president/Kaicho.

2. Those who passed the Kyu rank examination shall received an authorized certificate from the Dojo head.

Article 10. Special Provision for Kyu Rank

A certificate under the name of the director of national headquarter can be issued at a cost of \1,000 to those who passed the Kyu rank examination.

Article 11. Others

1. Any matters not specifically stated or not clearly explained in this bylaws shall be determined by the Board of Directors/Rijikai.

2. If the Board of Directors/Rijikai is not able decide the above matters, the president/Kaicho shall have the authority of articulate the final decision.

Appendix

These bylaws apply retroactively from January 19^th, 2003 (date of the inaugural performance).

Appendix Table 2

Promotional Standards for Official Titles of Ryuku-ohcho Shurite Kobujutsu Association (referred to as the Association in the table)

(Reference for Article 6-4 of Regulations for Rank Promotions)

Titles

Promotional standards

Renshi

1. 4^th or 5^th Dan rank holders who are recognized as a member with excellent skills and positive attitude toward practice of “Kobujitsu” by the Dojo head.

2. 1^st to 3^rd Dan rank holders who are recognized as a member with excellent skills and positive attitude toward practice of “Kobujitsu”by the Dojo head.

3. Those who are recommended as a qualified member to be an instructor of “Kobujutsu”by the Dojo head.

Shihan

1. 6th Dan rank holders who are recognized as a member with excellent skills and positive attitude toward practice of “Kobujitsu” by the Dojo head.

2. Those who are recommended as a qualified member to be an instructor of “Kobujutsu” by the Dojo head.

3. Those who receive recognition as a qualified instructor not only from the Association but also from out side of the Association.

Kyoshi

1. 7^th or 8^th Dan rank holders who are recognized as a member with excellent skills and positive attitude toward practice of “Kobujitsu” by the Dojo head.

2. Those who are recommended as a qualified member to be an advanced instructor of “Kobujutsu”by the Dojo head.

3. Those who are recognized as a Kyoshi with comprehensive Kobujitsu skills and admirable personality by the people inside and outside of the Association.

4. Those who have ability to fully assist Hanshi as Kyoshi.

Hanshi

1. 9^th and 10^th Dan rank holders who are recognized as a member with excellent skills and positive attitude toward practice of Kobujutsu by the director of national headquarter

2. Those who are recommended as a qualified member to be an advanced instructor of Kobujutsu by the director of national headquarter

3. Those who are recognized as the highest title holders, Renshi who have comprehensive Kobujitsu skills, admirable personality, and great potential to contribute to the development of the Association by the people inside and outside of the Association.

Examination Standard:

1. The Board of Directors shall examine the promotion to Renshi, Shihan, and Kyoshi.

2. The Board of Directors shall evaluate each item in a comprehensive manner to decide the promotion. If the Board of Directors is not able to make a decision of the promotion, the president shall have the authority of articulate the final decision.

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