S.K.K.I.F. CONSTITUTION
 1.  Title
  The title of the organisation shall be the SHOTOKAN KARATE KANAZAWA-RYU INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION hereinafter referred to as the S.K.K.I.F.
 2. Objectives
 2.1 The objectives of S.K.K.I.F shall be:
 2.1.1 To further and develop Shotokan Karate on traditional lines putting into practice the teachings of Kanazawa Shihan.
 2.1.2 To organise throughout the year at varying venues: general training courses; instructor/referee courses; competitions; and gradings.
 2.1.3 To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the aims of the S.K.K.I.F.
 3 Membership
 3.1 All memberships, S.K.K.I.F Clubs ; S.K.K.I.F Individuals and Insurance will be renewed on the 1st January of each year. 
 3.2 Clubs:
 3.2.1  There shall only be full affiliation to the S.K.K.I.F.
 3.2.2  Applications for affiliation will only be accepted from established clubs.
 3.2.3  Clubs wishing to affiliate:
  a) must practice karate
  b) must have at least a secretary/organiser
  c) shall pay an affiliation fee due annually
  d) must, on acceptance into the S.K.K.I.F, abide by the Constitution and Rules of the S.K.K.I.F.
 3.3   Individuals:
 3.3.1 Individuals will automatically be members of the S.K.K.I.F through their clubs, when they have applied for and received a S.K.K.I.F annual licence. All individuals must be a member of an S.K.K.I.F affiliated Club.   
 3.3.2 This licence must be current:
 

  • to enable students to appear before authorised S.K.K.I.F grading examiners and will be a permanent record of a student’s grade,

  • to enable students to appear before authorised S.K.K.I.F grading examiners and will be a permanent record of a student’s grade,
  • to enter competitions of any description,

  • to attend S.K.K.I.F members only courses/seminars
 3.3.3 Members affiliating from other Karate organisations will be subject to the Constitution and Rules of the S.K.K.I.F.
 3.4 Insurance
  All members of S.K.K.I.F must carry a valid International Governing Board License issued by the appropriate S.K.K.I.F Officer.
4. Gradings
4.1 Grading Rules
4.1.1  A minimum period of three months must be allowed with training at least twice a week, between each Kyu grade
4.1.2  A minimum period of six months must be allowed between 1st Kyu and SHODAN grading.
4.1.3 A minimum period of two years must be allowed between SHODAN and NIDAN grading.  A minimum period of three years must be allowed between NIDAN and SANDAN grading. These waiting periods can only be shortened at the discretion of the Chief Examiner of SKIF (Tokyo). All Dan Gradings must be made known to the Technical Committee and the karateka concerned must have attended at least two S.K.K.I.F Courses in the six months prior to the grading by Kanazawa Shihan. Please note three S.K.K.I.F Yudansha kai (black belt and senior grade sessions) can be the equivalent of a full S.K.K.I.F Course, if there have not been enough S.K.K.I.F Courses in the prescribed period - Yudansha kai are not to be viewed as an alternative. Written permission must be obtained from the Chairman of S.K.K.I.F using the Dan Grade Application Form.
4.1.4  Members failing a Grading must wait a further period of time as indicated by the Grading Examiner, before re‑grading.
4.1.5 Grades taken by Members found to have been breaking the Rules of Grading shall not be recognised by the S.K.K.I.F.
4.1.6 Any Karate-ka from other associations or styles, who joins the S.K.K.I.F, may wear the belt of the Grade they have attained in their previous association. But after six months regular training they must take a Grading with an approved S.K.K.I.F Examiner, when they will be awarded the appropriate Grade.
4.1.7 For Black Belts from other associations or styles, who joins the S.K.K.I.F, these karateka should train for the prescribed waiting time from their joining date of S.K.K.I.F before applying for the next grade (See also 4.1.3 above). At a time close to their proposed Grading, they will have to have their current Grade (from the previous association) registered in S.K.I.F Headquarters in Japan. At the discretion of the Chief Instructor, the waiting time may be shortened. The minimum allowable waiting time in these circumstances is one year from the joining date.
4.1.8 All Karate‑ka must hold a Current Licence and Grading Record one month before taking a Grading, as the Examiner can refuse to Grade any member not able to produce these documents.
4.2  Examiners (Comprehensive Rules for Examiners are available):
4.2.1 4th Dans, who have been examined by the President of Shotokan Karate International Federation  S.K.I.F.  (or his appointed examiner), are eligible for consideration to grade all kyu grades (9th to 1st).
4.2.2 The president of Shotokan Karate International Federation (S.K.I.F.), or his appointed examiner of suitable grade, are eligible to grade to any black belt level within the rules of S.K.I.F.
4.2.3 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dans, who have held their grade for more than one year and have been a member of S.K.K.I.F, are eligible for consideration to grade members of their own club to 3rd Kyu (2nd Dans only to 5th Kyu). 
   
5. Management
5.1 The S.K.K.I.F will be managed by the General Executive, which will consist of:
 

     a)     The Chairman
b)     The Vice Chairman
c)      The Treasurer
d)     The Regional Officers
5.2 Day-to-day management of National (UK) affairs will be the prerogative of the Chairman and co-opted assistance as considered appropriate.   All decisions concerning any necessary financial expenditure will fall within the remit of the Treasurer and the Executive Officers who may be required to justify any such expenditure to the AGM should they be requested.
5.3 Regional affairs will be the prerogative of the Regional Officers and their designated deputies and will work in co-operation with Regional Clubs/ Groups, instructors and members to consolidate the Association’s regional functioning.   They will also ensure the full dissemination of information to and from the General Executive to all members.
5.4 The Chairman’s duties include: the management and control of the General Executive; the formation of sub-committees and the calling of meetings deemed necessary for the advancement of the Association; and act in any way appropriate to promote the Association. 
5.5  The Vice-Chairman’s duties include: deputising for the Chairman in his absence or incapacity; general assistance of the Chairman; and function, under direction of the Chairman, in any way appropriate to promote the Association.
5.6  The Regional Officer’s duties include: acting to benefit their local membership; act as a focal point for the Region in matters of a National bearing; act in a local capacity in any way appropriate to promote their Region. 
5.7  The Treasurer’s duties include: ensure proper accounts are kept; to arrange for qualified auditors to audit the accounts annually; ensure maximum benefit from the Association’s assets; and advise when asked on any matter of the Associations finances. 
5.8 The Membership Secretary (Non-Executive) duties include: administration of membership, insurance and any national registrations; prepare annual figures of membership; and advise the Executive of any anomalies or conflicts that come to light.
5.9 The S.K.K.I.F financial year shall run from 1st January to 31st December.
6. Expulsion and Discipline of Members
6.1 Should any complaint be received from any source about the conduct of any club or member, the General Administrator shall arrange for a sub-committee to be formed to consider what action shall be taken.
6.2 Proper investigation shall be made and those, against whom the complaint is made, shall be able to state their case.
6.3  If in the opinion of the sub-committee the conduct of any club or individual member is detrimental to the interests of the S.K.K.I.F, the sub-committee shall have the power to suspend or expel or administer any lesser penalty to such club or member, having given the club or member notice in writing of the intended expulsion, suspension or any other lesser penalty.
6.4 Such notice shall be communicated by (one of the following):
a) being served personally,
b) being left at his/her last known or usual place of abode,
c) being sent by Registered Post/Recorded Delivery Postal Service to his/her last known or usual place of abode.
6.5 On receipt of such notice the club or member shall have the right of a hearing before the Sub-Committee formed for the purpose.
6.6 An expelled club or member loses all rights and privileges immediately.
 
7.  Annual General Meeting
7.1  The Annual General Meeting will be held in November/December of each year.   Voting at an A.G.M is permitted by production of a valid S.K.K.I.F licence card.
7.2  There will be a democratic election of officers at the Annual General Meeting.
7.3 The Annual General Meeting will be convened to summarise the various democratic decisions brought about during the year.
7.4 All issues of a national nature will be voted upon using the Proportional Representation method.   Each Club receives one postal vote for each registered dojo and an extra vote for a membership at a dojo of greater than 40 and an additional vote for a membership at a dojo of greater than 70.   Each Club Dojo can have a maximum of three votes.   These issues are first sent to the Chairman for consideration and if deemed of a National bearing they will be distributed by the Chairman to the Clubs for postal voting.
 
8. General
8.1 Dependent upon future developments, this constitution shall allow for the formation of relevant committees, appointment of appropriate officials and restructuring of administrative procedures.
 
9. Karate Gi / Personal Standards
9.1 The standard karate gi shall be white and unfigured, with the appropriate belt.   Gi shall be kept clean and badges, if worn, should be on the left breast and not exceed two in number.
9.2  It shall be the responsibility of club instructors to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that students, who are seen to wear rings, necklaces, bangles, earrings, etc, when practising, remove these items or cover them in such a way that the risk of injury is greatly reduced.
 
10.   Age and Sex Limitations and Considerations
10.1 No age or sex limitations are imposed on the practising of S.K.K.I.F except that: No person over 45 years will be required, unless they wish, to
engage in the free-fighting in order to achieve a grading.
10.2 A junior karate ka for licensing purposes is defined as being under 16 years of age.

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