INTERNATIONAL AIKIDO FEDERATION
STATUTES
First Draft made in July,1985
Second Draft made in July, 1991
Third Draft made in June-August, 1992
Fourth Draft made between September, 1993, and April, 1995
Fifth Draft made in May 2000
ARTICLE 1DEFINITION
1. 1The International Aikido Federation is a non-political, cultural association of Aikido organisations which does not discriminate between nationalities, races and religious beliefs.
1. 2The International Aikido Federation recognises only the Aikido created by the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, and spread by his successors and disciples who have received their training under the direction of the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters, Tokyo.
1. 3The International Aikido Federation may be called and known by the officially approved abbreviation: I.A.F.
ARTICLE 2STRUCTURE
2. 1The International Aikido Federation consists of Aikido Organisations, or Federations of Aikido Organisations, the character and status of which conform to the conditions laid down in the Regulations appended to these Statutes.
2. 2The International Aikido Federation shall in perpetuity have links with the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido Hombu Dojo, established by the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba and his successors, at the place where Aikido originated:
Aikikai Foundation,
Aikido World Headquarters,
17-18 Wakamatsu-cho,
Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo, Japan.
2. 3The International Aikido Federation shall always seek spiritual and technical advice and guidance from the Doshu of Aikido.
ARTICLE 3MEMBERSHIP
3. 1Only the General Assembly of the International Aikido Federation may grant Membership.
3. 2The official request for Membership of the International Aikido Federation, which must have been approved by the General Assembly of the Aikido Federation or Aikido Organisation, must be sent by the Chairman or President of the Aikido Federation or Aikido Organisation directly to the General Secretary of the International Aikido Federation.
3. 2. 1The official request for Membership of the International Aikido Federation must be accompanied by supporting documents in accordance with the Regulations appended to these Statutes.
ARTICLE 4AIMS & OBJECTS
4. 1The principal objects of the International Aikido Federation are
a)to spread and provide international protection for Aikido, which is the practice of a moral, spiritual and physical discipline created by the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, from various Japanese martial arts and from his own spiritual pursuits;
b)to safeguard the spirit of Aikido: the essential nature of Aikido as a martial art, in particular by prohibiting any type of Aikido practice which is competitive in any form or aspect;
c)to develop and control the practice of Aikido and its instruction, in accordance with the guidelines laid down from time to time by the Aikido Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters;
d)to guarantee and protect the grades and teaching ranks which are officially recognised by the International Aikido Federation and registered with the appropriate member organisation or member federation;
e)to maintain close contacts with the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters, and among the experts who specially designated as official representatives by the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters;
f)to organise international teaching courses in order to create future Aikido teachers;
g)to publish and distribute publications about Aikido;
h)to promote the development of contact between its Members, in the name of goodwill and friendship;
i)to coordinate and protect the common interests of its Members;
j)to collect, collate and circulate information to and amongst its Members;
k)to promote close links between its Members and other organisations;
l)to convey to other organisations its views and decisions.
4. 2Other objects may from time to time be defined by the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 5HEADQUARTERS; OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
AHEADQUARTERS
5. 1The headquarters of the International Aikido Federation shall be established at:
Aikikai Foundation,
Aikido World Headquarters,
17-18 Wakamatsu-cho,
Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo, 162-0056, Japan.
5. 2The administrative Office of the International Aikido Federation shall be established by the General Secretary.
BOFFICIAL LANGUAGES
5. 3The spirit, techniques and certain official texts of Aikido shall be written in Japanese.
5. 3. 1The official languages of the International Aikido Federation shall be English and Japanese.
5. 3. 2The usual language for the transaction of administrative business shall be English.
5. 3. 3The language of formal documents shall be English and Japanese
.
ARTICLE 6REGIONAL FEDERATIONS
6. 1Members of the International Aikido Federation may organise themselves into regional federations if they so desire.
6. 2A regional federation of I.A.F. members shall not ipso facto be a part of the I.A.F. or have any official relationship with the I.A.F.
6. 2. 2A regional federation may establish an official relationship with the I.A.F., subject to the approval of the I.A.F. General Assembly.
6. 3No I.A.F. Member Organisation shall be compelled to become a member of any regional federation.
ARTICLE 7GRADES AND TEACHING RANKS
7.1The International Aikido Federation recognises only the following grades:
(a)grades awarded by the Aikido Doshu, which are given in accordance with the International Regulations for Aikido Dan Grades issued by the Hombu Dojo and in accordance with certain conditions laid down in the Regulations appended to these Statutes;
(b)grades awarded by the national grading committee in the Member's country or region, provided that the standards are at least equivalent to the corresponding grades awarded by the Aikido Doshu, to the satisfaction of the Technical Committee of the International Aikido Federation.
7.2The International Aikido Federation recognises only the teaching ranks of Shihan, Shidoin, Fukushidoin, subject to the conditions laid down in the Regulations appended to these Statutes.
ARTICLE 8DIRECTING BODIES OF THEINTERNATIONAL AIKIDO FEDERATION
8. 1The International Aikido Federation shall be governed by the following bodies:
a)The Congress / General Assembly
b)The Directing Committee
c)The Superior Council
d)The Technical Committee
a)The Officers
ARTICLE 9PRESIDENT
9. 1The title of President of the International Aikido Federation shall be given on a permanent basis to the Doshu of Aikido, Chairperson of the Aikikai Foundation and of the Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters, who is the spiritual and technical representative of Aikido.
9. 2The President may attend any meetings of an official nature and may express his opinions and intentions but shall not take part in any vote.
ARTICLE 10SUPERIOR COUNCIL
10. 1The Superior Council shall consist of:
a)a Chairman who holds the rank of 6th Dan or above;
b)up to four persons, each holding the rank of 6th Dan or above;
c)up to four persons, all of whom have rendered distinguished services to Aikido.
10. 2All members of the Superior Council are appointed by the Aikido Doshu, President the International Aikido Federation.
10. 3All those appointed to membership of the Superior Council must be adults, must be active practitioners of Aikido, and must be in full possession of their civil rights.
10. 4The duration of office for all members of the Superior Council shall be four years.
10. 5All members of the Superior Council shall be eligible for reappointment.
10. 6The function of the Superior Council shall be:
a)to ensure that the International Aikido Federation maintains Aikido in the true spiritual way as taught by the Founder, O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba;
b)to monitor the issuance, certification and registration of grades and teaching ranks;
c)to give advice and guidance to the I.A.F. Directing Committee and I.A.F. Technical Committee on such matters as it deems necessary;
d)to give advice to the I.A.F. Congress on any matters it deems necessary.
ARTICLE 11THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11. 1The supreme governing organ of the International Aikido Federation shall be the General Assembly.
11. 2The General Assembly must be organised in accordance with the Regulations appended to these Statutes.
11. 3The General Assembly shall be held once every 4 (FOUR) years and shall be held in Japan, unless a Member offers to hold the General Assembly in the Member's own country.
11. 4All paid-up Members of the International Aikido Federation shall have the right to attend the General Assembly.
11. 5The General Assembly shall have the right, subject to these Statutes and to the Regulations appended to these Statutes, to take all actions which are relevant to the objects of, which are approved by, and which are on behalf of, the International Aikido Federation.
11. 6The decisions taken by the General Assembly of the International Aikido Federation are binding on all Member organisations and governing bodies of the I.A.F.
ARTICLE 12EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
12.1At the request of the Directing Committee, or upon the receipt of a written request from at least one half of paid-up Members, an Extraordinary General Assembly of the International Aikido Federation shall be convened at a place to be decided by the Directing Committee, not less than 6 (SIX) months following the receipt of the request by the General Secretary.
12. 2Notification of an Extraordinary General Assembly shall be given to Members at least 4 (FOUR) months beforehand.
12. 2. 1The notification referred to in Paragraph 12. 2, above, must include detailed reasons for convening of the Extraordinary General Assembly.
12. 3No business other than that specified in the Notification referred to in Paragraph 12. 2 of these Statutes, shall be conducted at the Extraordinary General Assembly.
ARTICLE 13DIRECTING COMMITTEE
13. 1The Directing Committee shall consist of the following members:
Members elected by the General Assembly:
a)the Chairman of the International Aikido Federation;
b)the Vice-Chairman of the International Aikido Federation;
c)the General Secretary;
d)the Assistant General Secretary;
d)the General Treasurer.
Members appointed by the Aikikai Foundation:
e)the Chairman of the Technical Committee;
f)the Deputy Chairman of the Technical Committee.
13. 2All those elected or appointed to membership of the Directing Committee must be adults, must be active practitioners of Aikido and must be in full possession of their civil rights.
13. 3Members of the Directing Committee shall be elected for a period of office of 4 (FOUR) years.
13. 4Any member of the Directing Committee shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Regulations appended to these Statutes.
13. 5At the expiration of their mandate, the members of the Directing Committee shall discharge their respective functions until their successors take office.
13. 6The Directing Committee shall, in the years between General Assemblies, in the period immediately before a General Assembly, and in between individual sessions of the General Assembly, have the power to take all actions on behalf of the International Aikido Federation, subject to the overriding authority of the General Assembly and of the Statutes and the Regulations appended to these Statutes.
ARTICLE 14CHAIRMAN
14. 1The Chairman of the International Aikido Federation shall be entrusted with the general direction of the International Aikido Federation in accordance with the Statutes and Regulations.
14. 2The Chairman of the International Aikido Federation shall have the ultimate responsibility for the functioning of the International Aikido Federation.
14. 3The Chairman of the International Aikido Federation shall represent the International Aikido Federation in all civil actions and shall also represent the International Aikido Federation on, and to, outside bodies.
14. 3Except during his own election during the General Assembly, the Chairman of the International Aikido Federation shall preside over every session of the Directing Committee, the General Assembly, the Extraordinary General Assembly, and meetings of the Officers.
ARTICLE 15VICE-CHAIRMAN
15. 1The Vice-Chairman shall carry out the functions referred to in Article 14 of these Statutes in place of the Chairman, should the latter be absent or incapacitated.
ARTICLE 16GENERAL SECRETARY
16. 1The General Secretary of the International Aikido Federation shall be responsible for the general administration of the International Aikido Federation and shall have charge of all matters relating to records, correspondence and communications with Member Organisations, autonomous regional federations, the Superior Council, the Technical Committee, the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters, and with outside bodies.
16. 2The General Secretary of the International Aikido Federation shall have overall responsibility for the preparation and organisation of Directing Committee Meetings, General Assemblies and Extraordinary General Assemblies, including the despatch of calling notices, the drawing up of the Agenda and the preparation and circulation of Official Minutes.
16. 3The General Secretary of the International Aikido Federationmaybe assisted by an Assistant General Secretary.
16. 4In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the I.A.F. Secretariat, the Assistant General Secretary shall, in principle, be proposed by the General Secretary, but must nevertheless be elected by the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 17GENERAL TREASURER
17. 1The General Treasurer shall shall have charge of all matters relating to the management of the assets and liabilities of the International Aikido Federation.
(a)He shall receive all income paid to the International Aikido Federation and shall handle all items of expenditure of the International Aikido Federation.
(b)He shall maintain the books of account in good order, in accordance with recognised international accounting procedure.
(c)He shall be in a position to give an account of the financial state of the International Aikido Federation, and of its current income and expenditure, to the Directing Committee and to the General Assembly.
(d)He shall prepare the General Budget and any other special budgets for approval by the General Assembly.
(e)He shall arrange for the Accounts Auditing Committee to carry out their functions in a satisfactory manner.
17. 2In order to discharge his duties in a satisfactory manner, the General Treasurer shall have the power to co-opt individuals or groups, in any way he thinks fit, to assist and advise him.
ARTICLE 18TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
18. 1The Technical Committee of the International Aikido Federation shall consist of:
a)A Chairman, who holds the rank of 6th (SIXTH) dan or above;
b)A Deputy Chairman, who holds the rank of 6th (SIXTH) dan or above;
c)Not more than 4 (FOUR) persons, all of whom hold the rank of 6th (SIXTH) dan or above, to bechosen from among the Shihan appointed by the Hombu dojo to teach Aikido outside Japan.
18. 2All members of the Technical Committee shall be appointed by the Aikikai Foundation.
18. 2. 1In principle, no two members of the Technical Committee, excluding the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, shall be drawn from the same continent.
18. 3All those appointed to membership of the Technical Committee must be adults, must be active practitioners of of Aikido, and must be in full possession of their civil rights.
18. 4The duration of office for all members of the Technical Committee shall be 4 (FOUR) years and all members of the Technical Committee shall be eligible for re-appointment.
18. 5The members of the Technical Committee shall not have any function on other governing bodies of the International Aikido Federation.
18. 6The objects of the Technical Committee of the International Aikido Federation shall be:
a)to maintain close contact with and among the local technical committees and teachers throughout the International Aikido Federation,
b)to maintain and foster close contacts with and among the various teachers officially designated by the Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters, in I.A.F. Member organisations or federations.
c)to supervise the issuance, certification, and registration of all kyu and dan grades and of all teaching ranks recognised by the International Aikido Federation,
d)to organise Aikido training courses and Aikido teaching courses throughout the International Aikido Federation,
e)to publish materials concerning the practice and teaching of Aikido, including syllabuses for kyu and dan examinations,
ARTICLE 19OFFICERS
19. 1The Officers of the International Aikido Federation shall be:
The Chairman;
The Vice-Chairman;
The General Secretary;
The Treasurer;
The Chairman of the Technical Committee.
19. 2The Officers of the International Aikido Federation, whether meeting as a group or exercising their functions individually, shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the International Aikido Federation between the meetings of, and subject to the authority of, the Directing Committee and the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 20WEBMASTER
20. 1The International Aikido Federation shall have an official Web Site on the Internet, the operation of which shall be entrusted to an active Aikido practitioner who is competent to operate computers.
20 2The I.A.F. Webmaster shall have charge of the Web Site, including the Home Page and of any Internet or Intranet electronic mailing system which directly relates to the official Web Site.
20. 3The I.A.F. Webmaster shall be appointed by the General Secretary and the appointment shall be subject to the approval of the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 21DURATION, FINANCIAL YEAR
21. 1The duration of the International Aikido Federation is unlimited.
21. 2The Financial year of the International Aikido Federation shall run from the 1st (FIRST) day of January to the 31st (THIRTY-FIRST) day of December annually.
ARTICLE 22INCOME AND EXPENSES
22. 1The costs incurred in carrying out the actions and operations of the International Aikido Federation shall be met entirely from the income of the International Aikido Federation.
22. 2The International Aikido Federation shall be financially bound, within the limits of the General Budget and any special budgets approved by the General Assembly, by the joint signatures of the Chairman and Treasurer (together).
22. 3The Organisations and Federations referred to in Article 2 of these Statutes and the relevant Regulation shall be financially bound to the International Aikido Federation only within the limits of their annual subscriptions and fees for the issuance of certificates and other publications.
22. 4All members of the International Aikido Federation shall pay annual subscriptions to be decided by each General Assembly, the decision to be based upon a proposal from the Treasurer, and shall become payable on the next succeeding 1st (FIRST) of January.
22. 4. 1In the years when General Assemblies are not held, the same subscription as was decided at the last previous General Assembly shall become payable on the 1st (FIRST) of January as appropriate.
22. 5Persons who are members of I.A.F. governing bodies perform their functions on a voluntary basis but are entitled to be paid the costs of travel & accommodation and other incidental expenses incurred by them as a result of carrying out these functions.
Regulation
ARTICLE 23ACCOUNTS AUDITING COMMITTEE
23. 1The General Assembly shall elect an Accounts Auditing Committee, composed of 3 (THREE) persons, 1 (ONE) person from each of 3 (THREE) Full Members of the International Aikido Federation.
23. 2The Accounts Auditing Committee shall hold office for 4 (FOUR) years and their duties shall commence on the 1st (FIRST) day of January succeeding the date of their election.
23. 3The Treasurer of the International Aikido Federation shall send to the members of the Accounts Auditing Committee each year a Statement of Income and Expenditure and a Statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the International Aikido Federation, together with such clarification as they may require.