THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
TSU SHIN GEN INTERNATIONAL BUDO ASSOCIATION
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ARTICLE 1 - NAME AND TYPE OF ASSOCIATION
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§1. The name of the Association is: Tsu Shin Gen International Budo Association. The Association was founded by Soke David C. Cook.
The Tsu Shin Gen International is a Non-Profit and Non-Political Association, which is independent of all other Associations and Organizations. The Tsu Shin Gen International Budo Association shall hereinafter be designated the TSG in this Constitution.
ARTICLE 2 - THE AIMS AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
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§3. To give clubs (Dojos) which are affiliated to the TSG access to the TSG systems and know how. To give them access to the Senior Instructors of the TSG. To give official recognition to those Black Belts who have been promoted and approved by the TSG.
§4. To educate Tsu Shin Gen Instructors.
§5. The exchange of knowledge and experience between those clubs that are affiliated to the TSG.
§6. To improve the technical standard of the individual members of those clubs which are affiliated to the TSG.
§7. To set the standards for and regulate the promotions of the individual members of those clubs which are affiliated to the TSG.
§8. To arrange promotional tests both for Black Belts and Kyu grades.
§9. To organize courses, seminars, training camps and Competitions in order to achieve the aims and objects of the Association.
§10. To adjudicate in any eventual conflicts between affiliated clubs and /or their individual members.
ARTICLE 3 - THE OFFICIAL SYSTEMS OF THE ASSOCIATION
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§11. The official Martial Arts systems to be practiced by those clubs that are affiliated to the TSG are:
TSG KARATE
TSG COMBAT KARATE
TSG JAPANESE MIX FIGHT (JMF)
TSG - ASHIHARA INTERNATIONAL KARATE
TSG - KYOKUSHIN KARATE
ARTICLE 4 - THE STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION
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§12. The Association has the following structure:
THE SOKE
The Official Country Representatives
The TSG Administration Team
The Official Country Representatives are the official representative of a country to the TSG.
The TSG Administration Team consists of the TSG Secretary and two Shihans who are appointed by the Soke. It is responsible for the administration of the TSG. The Shihans can later be changed by the TSG Secretary if necessary.
In the event of the death of the Soke, a Committee consisting of one Official Country Representative of each system and the TSG Secretary will assume his duties.
*Soke, means Founder so therefore there cannot be another Soke in the Association
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ARTICLE 5 - THE AFFILIATION AND TESTING FEES OF THE ASSOCIATION
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§13. There are no affiliation fees to the TSG. However, the Official Country Representatives may charge Registration Fees and Membership Fees.
Dan grading fees and Kyu grading fees will be set by the Official Country Representatives for their respective countries. The TSG Administration does charge a fee for producing Dan Grade Certificates.
ARTICLE 6 – AFFILIATION REGULATIONS
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§14. Affiliation to the Association is open to both commercial and non-profit making clubs that are organized in a businesslike manner.
§15. Clubs wishing to affiliate to the TSG must practice one of the official Martial Arts systems named above.
§16. Clubs wishing to affiliate to the TSG must make a written application to the Soke of the TSG or to the TSG Official Country Representatives in the country in question, a copy of which must be then sent to the Soke of the TSG in English.
§17. The representative of a club applying for affiliation must submit the following to the TSG:
(a) A résumé in English of the club's senior Instructor's Martial Arts career.
(b) A recommendation from the TSG Official Country Representative where applicable.
§18. There is no license fee for each Branch.
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§19. There is no lifetime license fee for each of their new members.
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§20. Clubs that are affiliated to the TSG should regularly send their Instructors to the courses, seminars and training camps that are arranged by the TSG.
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§21. The Soke of the TSG is the official contact person between the TSG and any other Association or authority.
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§22. The Soke of the TSG has the right to delegate any or all of his duties to suitable persons.
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§23. The Soke of the TSG will award Instructor status to those Instructors who have successfully completed the TSG requirements.
§24. Soke has set the promotional requirements of the Association.
§25. The Soke of the TSG will award Grading Status to the official National Grading Officers; he will also specify the highest grade to which the official National Grading Officers in question may promote. The Soke of the TSG will monitor the promotions awarded by those persons with Grading Status, to assure that the norm for promotional standards is being adhered to. Anyone with Grading Status not adhering to the required standards can be stripped of their Grading Status, by the Soke of the TSG.
ARTICLE 7 - THE OFFICIAL COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TSG
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§26. The position of Official Country Representative is also an administrative post.
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§27. The Official Country Representatives of the TSG will be appointed or dismissed by the Soke of the Association, in consultation with the TSG National Associations in question where applicable. They may represent one or more of the TSG systems.
§28. The Official Country Representatives of the TSG will coordinate and actively work to expand the membership of the TSG systems and activities within their respective countries
ARTICLE 8 - TSG DOJO REPRESENTATIVES
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§29. A TSG Dojo Chief will be accepted on the recommendation of the Official TSG Country Representatives of the appropriate Country and TSG system. All applications are subject to the Soke of the TSG’s final approval.
Each applicant for TSG Dojo Chief Status must submit the following to the TSG.
(a) A résumé of their Martial Arts career.
(b) A recommendation from the Country Representative.
TSG Dojo Chief shall have the rank of at least Shodan. They shall be the Chief Instructor of a well-organized club. They shall be recognized as a good club manager, who shall contribute to the progress and development of the TSG. They shall also promise to continue to give loyal support to the TSG.
Due to various geographical and other considerations the TSG policy of Grading Status may vary from area to area, and country to country. In special circumstances the Soke of the TSG in consultation with the TSG Country Representative will award TSG Grading Status to TSG Dojo Chiefs, when necessary. Dojo Chiefs with Grading Status must issue TSG certificates for every Kyu grade that they award.
All TSG Dojo Chiefs come under the administration of their TSG Official Country Representatives, and they must accept and comply with the TSG Constitution and the rules and regulations therein.
The TSG Dojo Representatives by accepting the written or verbal Representatives equipment bearing the Logos, and Trade Marks of the Organization, from the TSG or other authorized suppliers. The TSG Dojo Representatives also promises not to enter into any commercial projects involving TSG without the explicit written approval and permission of the Soke of the TSG. The Dojo Representatives also promises not to make unauthorized copies of any of the TSG texts, supplied or written by the Soke of the TSG.
In the situation where the club is a non-profit making organization run by a committee of the members, the Chairperson of the club can be the Dojo Representative to the TSG. All of the above Rules and Regulations apply to the Dojo Representatives.
ARTICLE 9 - TSG NATIONAL GRADING OFFICERS
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§30. National Grading Officer Status is awarded to or withdrawn from the Country Representative of the Country in question by Soke.
§31. National Grading Officer Status is awarded to Senior Instructors with at least Sandan who have the required experience.
§32. The National Grading Officers of the TSG will monitor the promotions awarded by those persons with Grading Status in their respective Countries, to assure that the norm for promotional standards is being adhered to. Anyone not adhering to the required standards can be stripped of their Grading Status by the Soke.
ARTICLE 10 - TSG GRADING STATUS
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§33. TSG Grading Status is awarded or withdrawn by Soke of the TSG, in consultation with the National Grading Officer, in the region in question.
§34. TSG Grading Status is awarded to Shodans and above.
§35. TSG Grading Status should be awarded to a minimum number of TSG Instructors, in any given country or region, in order to keep the technical standard of the students as uniform as possible.
§36. TSG Grading Status is awarded only after Soke is satisfied that the TSG Instructor in question is capable of conducting a promotional test.
§37. The National Grading Officers of the TSG will monitor the promotions awarded by those persons with Grading Status, to assure that the norm for promotional standards is being adhered to. Anyone not adhering to the required standards can be stripped of their Grading Status by Soke.
§38. All Dan Grade certificates shall originate from the Soke or the TSG Administration Team. Any TSG National Grading Officer or Instructor with Grading Status who is not issuing the TSG official certificates can forfeit their Grading Status.
§39. Although the TSG Instructor with Grading Status is solely responsible for the grades awarded in their name, it is preferred that they involve other Instructors in the process.
ARTICLE 11 - THE ASSOCIATION’S PROMOTION REGULATIONS
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§40. Soke has set the promotional requirements and Grading Syllabus of the Association. All TSG Instructors with Grading Status, must adhere to these requirements and Syllabus, or forfeit their grading status.
§41. TSG Instructors with TSG Grading Status are the only persons who are authorized to award grades within the Association.
§42. TSG Instructors with TSG Grading Status will normally be able to promote to one grade bellow their own.
The minimum age for testing for Shodan is 16 years old.
The minimum age for testing for Nidan is 20 years old.
The minimum age for testing for Sandan is 25 years old.
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§43. No student may test without fulfilling the TSG’s minimum active time in grade requirements which are stipulated in the various System Syllabuses.
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For Dan Grades they are as follows:
To Shodan 3 years
To Nidan 2 years
To Sandan 3 years
To Yondan 3 years
To Godan 3 years
To Rokkudan 3 years
To Nanadan 5 years
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By virtue of special circumstances, the TSG minimum active time in grade requirements may be waived by Soke.
Also, the total number of years a person has been active can be taken into consideration.
Permission must be obtained from the TSG Country Representative by those persons wishing to be tested at an International Training Camp.
In a situation where the Soke has died and the Official Country Representative is not of a sufficiently high Dan Grade to promote a person, the TSG Administration Team shall arrange a vote by the Official Country Representative Committee concerning the person in question.
The TSG Administration Team shall contact the members of the Official Country Representative Committee and give them 14 days to reply with their votes. A majority decision will then decide the matter.
§44. Persons with Dan grades issued by Associations or Organizations other than the TSG, or persons who wish to re-grade from one TSG system to another, will be tested for the same grade, according to the current TSG Grading Syllabus.
Persons with Dan grades awarded by other Associations or Organizations than the TSG may wear their Black Belt until such time that they have been tested and approved as official TSG Black Belts.
Persons with Kyu Grades issued by other Associations or Organizations will retain their grade until they are prepared to take their next higher grade in a TSG system.
§45. The National Grading Officers of the TSG will monitor the promotions awarded by those person’s with Grading Status, to assure that the norm for promotional standards is being adhered to. Any Instructor not adhering to the required standards can be stripped of their grading status.
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ARTICLE 12 - TSG INSTRUCTOR STATUS
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§46. The various TSG Instructor Status levels are as follows:
The TSG Assistant Instructor Status is awarded to Kyu Grades, who have successfully completed the required education and they are officially authorized to assist a TSG Dojo Instructor in their own club.
The TSG Instructor Status is awarded to persons with at least Shodan, who have successfully completed the required educations.
The TSG Senior Instructor Status is awarded to persons with at least Sandan, who have successfully completed the required educations, in recognition of their proven teaching ability. They are officially authorized to teach TSG on a National level in the country where they live.
The TSG Master Instructor Status is awarded to persons with at least Godan, in recognition of their proven superior teaching ability and technical knowledge and administrative ability. They are officially authorized to teach TSG on an International level.
ARTICLE 13 - THE ASSOCIATION DAN GRADE TITLES
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§47. Persons with a grade lower than 1st Dan will be addressed as "Kohai" only during the time that they are instructing a class they will be titled as "Sempai".
§48. Persons with 1st to 2nd Dan have the official title of "Sempai".
§49. Persons with 3rd and 4th Dan have the official title of "Sensei".
§50. Persons with 5th, 6th or 7th Dan have the official title of "Shihan".
§51. Persons with 8th Dan have the official title of "Hanshi" and 8th Dan is the highest grade in TSG apart for the Soke.
ARTICLE 14 - THE ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENTS & COMPETITIONS
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§52. All Association Tournament and Competition Rules must adhere to the Laws or Regulations governing Tournaments and Competitions in the Country where they are being held.
ARTICLE 15 - THE ASSOCIATION LOGOS AND COPYRIGHTS
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§53. TSG Country Associations, TSG Country Representatives, TSG Clubs and Dojos and TSG Instructors by virtue of the acceptance of this constitution and any contracts which may exist between them and the TSG or any verbal agreements, accept that they may not use the Logos of the TSG in any commercial enterprise, without the prior explicit written approval of the Soke or the TSG Administration Team
Also that all TSG Logos used in marketing must conform to the official TSG Logos.
§54. TSG Country Associations, TSG Country Representatives, TSG Clubs and Dojos and TSG Instructors promise not to make any unauthorized copies of any texts or Instruction Films of the TSG supplied or written by the Soke without the prior explicit written approval and permission of the TSG Administration Team.
§55. All of the above is also applicable to all the individual Club members of Clubs affiliated with the TSG.
ARTICLE 16 - RESIGNING FROM THE ASSOCIATION
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§56. TSG Country Associations, TSG Country Representatives, TSG Clubs and Dojos and TSG Instructors that wish to resign from the TSG, must send a letter to the Soke or the TSG Administration Team.
§57. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs or TSG Instructors that resign from the TSG, relinquish all rights to the use of the Logos and Trademarks of the TSG.
§58. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs or TSG Instructors that resign from the TSG, relinquish all rights to the use of the TSG Grading Syllabus.
ARTICLE 17 - EXPULSION FROM THE ASSOCIATION
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§59. Any TSG Clubs or TSG Instructors or members who behave in a manner that is detrimental to the reputation of the TSG or Martial Arts, will be given written notice of the fact. If there is not a reply within 28 days, explaining the reasons for such behavior, together with a written promise not to repeat the offence, the Official Country Representative can expel the offender.
N.B.
The Soke of the Tsu Shin Gen International Budo Association and the TSG Administration retains the right to change or modify the Constitution of the Association when necessary.
2020-11-08