World Shotokan Karate Association

CONSTITUTION AND MEMORANDUM OF ARTICLES OF THE WORLD SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO-ASSOCIATION. - 6/12/2002

ARTICLE 1. NAME AND CONTROL OF THE ORGANISATION.

1.1. The body shall be known as the World Shotokan Karate Association hereinafter referred to as W.S.K.A.

1.2. The body shall be controlled by a World Congress of affiliated members representing Countries and States (Continents).

1.3. Congress will elect (appoint) a Board of Directors which will be responsible to Congress for the conduct and well being of W.S.K.A. between the meetings of Congress.

1.4. The affairs of W.S.K.A. will be subject to a Constitution & Memorandum of Articles submitted to and approved by Congress.

1.5. Alterations to the Constitution & Memorandum of Articles in the form of additions, deletions or amendments thereto can only be made by a simple majority vote in Congress on a motion previously notified to Congress.

1.6. Congress will empower its Board of Directors to provide for the furtherance of the Aims & Objects of the W.S.K.A. by the appointment of such sub committees considered necessary for the achieving these objects, including the production of bylaws, minor regulations and appointment of sub committees.

1.7. The dissolution of the W.S.K.A. will be the subject of a motion previously notified to Congress which will be carried by a majority vote of not less than three quarters of the members of Congress.

1.8. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of W.S.K.A. will be donated to a public welfare organisation of International Status.

ARTICLE 2. AIMS AND OBJECTS OF THE W.S.K.A.

2.1. To promote World Shotokan Championships open to all affiliated countries on a basis to be decided by Congress.

The Championships will be held every two years.

2.2. To develop Shotokan Karate as a Martial Art in the proper direction by promoting and strengthening friendly relations between affiliated countries and their member organisations.

2.3. To achieve the advancement of traditional Shotokan Karate and undertake the necessary representations with the appropriate bodies both Internationally & Nationally in order to secure such advancement.

2.4. Establish, conduct and supervise standards pertaining to the techniques of Shotokan Karate.

2.5. To establish, conduct and supervise standards relating to Referees & Judges.

2.6. To set up a Technical Committee comprising the Director of Technical Matters supported by a maximum of six representatives of High Standing, which will be supported by an Advisory Board of Senior Shotokan Instructors who will appoint its Chairman.

ARTICLE 3. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

3.1. The Official Language of W.S.K.A. will be English. However, the Japanese Language shall be used for the Championships and other Contests and Judging therein. In case of any disagreement of interpretation of context as to these articles or any rules or documents itemised, hereunder, the English text will prevail.

ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP OF W.S.K.A.

4.1. W.S.K.A. shall be composed of Member Organisations, established voluntarily and democratically in their own countries and approved by the Regional Committees in which they are located.

4.2. Any national organisation applying for membership or for participation into WSKA activities must fulfil the following conditions:
4.2.1. to prove 3 years existence as a Shotokan organisation
4.2.2. to promote and to practice traditional Shotokan as per the WSKA standards (in case of doubt, a dedicated WSKA committee will examine)
4.2.3. to be representative as a Shotokan organisation in the country (in case of doubt, a dedicated WSKA committee will examine)
4.2.4. to have at least one individual participating at each WSKA championship
4.2.5. to have at least one team participating per two WSKA championships
4.2.6. to participate at the local WSKA-region activities
4.2.7. to respect the WSKA constitutions and rules.

4.3. Application for membership should be made in the form prescribed by W.S.K.A. and be accompanied with a certificate of approval by the Regional Committee.

4.4. Congress or within its authority, the Board of Directors will signify its acceptance of all applications for membership following which the Applicant Country will be eligible to participate in the activities of W.S.K.A.

4.5. W.S.K.A. will recognise
4.5.1. Only one member organisation for each country.

4.5.2. In case an organisation applies for membership for a country that already is member of WSKA and if that country is in a region that has no potential of at least 15 countries, the following rules will be applied:
1. The recommendation is that a national umbrella organisation is set up, in which each participating organisation is represented democratically. This umbrella organisation will be member of WSKA, pay the membership fee and have the right to vote.
2. If the organisations are not able to form an umbrella body, the organisation already in membership will remain in membership for a period of two WSKA championships, retains the right to vote and pay the membership fees. During this period the applying organisation may be accepted as a provisional member and may participate in individual events as long as it complies with the conditions of membership. At this time the relevant WSKA region will be asked to work out a solution that will be proposed to the WSKA congress for approval. In case of non-approval an appointed WSKA committee will examine the problem and advise congress accordingly.

ARTICLE 5. CONGRESS AND ITS FUNCTIONS.

5.1. Congress will be the primary controlling body of the W.S.K.A.

5.2. Congress will meet as provided within this constitution on the occasion of the W.S.K.A. Championship.

The composition of Congress will be the Board of Directors together with one representative from each affiliated country previously nominated and notified to the Head Office of W.S.K.A.

5.3. In addition to the foregoing listed in Article 4.2., Congress may invite those persons of eminence who in the view of the Board of Directors, will be able to assist Congress to reach decisions of benefit to W.S.K.A. and World Shotokan Karate in general.

5.4. Voting at Congress will be on the basis of one vote per country.

5.5. The Board of Directors will not be entitled to vote on any issue before Congress, except that in the event of a tied vote being recorded the President will be entitled to exercise a casting vote.

5.6. Notice of Congress together with the supporting agenda and discussion papers will be circulated at least one month prior to the holding of Congress.

5.7. Congress will be chaired by the President of W.S.K.A. and in his absence the Vice President will substitute for him.

5.8. Congress will be concerned:
5.8.1. To receive reports on all matters affecting W.S.K.A. and make decisions thereon.
5.8.2. To initiate items of new business and issue directions concerning them.
5.8.3. To elect officers of W.S.K.A.
5.8.4. To ratify applications for membership of W.S.K.A.
5.8.5. To approve the finances of W.S.K.A.

ARTICLE 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS FUNCTIONS & METHOD OF ELECTION.

6.1. The Board of Directors will consist of:
a) President
b) Vice President
c) Regional Directors (Vice Presidents)
d) Director of Administration
e) Director of Finance
f) Director of Technical Matters

In addition to the foregoing a Vice president, nominated by the country which will be hosting the championships and whose term of office will be limited to the period involved, will be appointed.

6.2. The President will be Chairman of all meetings of W.S.K.A. and will represent it at meetings of other world or national karate organisations.

6.3. The Vice President who will assist the President in the discharge of his duties.

6.4. Voting confined to countries within the Region concerned (ie America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania.) will elect the Regional Directors.

Regional Directors will be the principal officers of the Region concerned and will be responsible to the Board of Directors for coordinating the activities of all W.S.K.A. affiliates.

6.5. The Director of Administration will be responsible for the day to day conduct of all W.S.K.A. affairs including:
6.5.1. The maintenance of reports of all W.S.K.A. meetings and the records of Congress.
6.5.2. Conducting correspondence with other bodies on behalf of W.S.K.A. and the maintenance of complete records thereof.
6.5.3. Convening all meetings of W.S.K.A. within the procedures annexed to this memorandum.
6.5.4. The distribution of all notices and correspondence to members of W.S.K.A. and act as secretary to the Board of Directors.
6.5.5. Produce a written report to Congress on all matters relating to W.S.K.A.

6.6. The Director of Finance will be responsible for the safe custody and proper distribution of those monies belonging to W.S.K.A. subject to the direction of Congress and within its authority the Board of Directors.

6.7. The Director of Technical Matters will be the Chairman of the Technical Committee.

6.8. The offices of President, Director of Administration, Director of Finance and Director of Technical Matters, will be filled by elections held from nominations previously received by Congress.

The elections will be subject to a vote from among all the delegates present at Congress.

6.9. The period of office of each Director will be 4 years but the Board of Directors will fill vacancies that occur between each Congress, on a temporary basis.

6.10. Regional Directors will be appointed by nomination from the region concerned in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.3.

ARTICLE 7. FISCAL AND LEGAL MATTERS.

7.1. The period of activity of W.S.K.A. will cover the first of January to the thirty first of December unless Congress specifies otherwise in exceptional circumstances.

7.2. Reports on the Finances of W.S.K.A. will cover first of January to the thirty first of December unless Congress specifies otherwise in exceptional circumstances.

7.3. Congress will receive a report from the Director of Finance covering the period specified in Article 7.2. supported by Statements of Account together with appropriate bank receipts.

7.4. The Accounts mentioned in 7.3. will be the subject of audit by an independent auditor elected by Congress.

7.5. The rate of subscription will be determined by a vote taken at Congress based on the advice tendered by the Board of Directors.

7.6. Investments of W.S.K.A. Funds which, in the view of the Board of Directors, will not be immediately required will be invested in short-term stocks and bonds upon which financial advice has been sought and obtained.

7.7. The Director of Finance will prepare a budget for consideration by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting of Congress.
The budget will consist of all known commitments of W.S.K.A. together with possible further activities to be undertaken in the next full year following Congress.

ARTICLE 8. ORGANISATION OF W.S.K.A. CHAMPIONSHIPS AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS.

8.1. The W.S.K.A. Championships will be held under the rules of W.S.K.A. but subject to the continuous scrutiny of the Technical Committee.

8.2. The control of the Championship and any associated Tournament will be subject to the authority of W.S.K.A. Congress.

8.3. W.S.K.A. Congress will have the highest authority to make and approve the required decisions.

8.4. The host country will appoint an Executive Committee, which will take care of all administrative matters associated with the holding of the championship and issue a report to Congress thereon.

8.5. Congress will approve the report of the Executive Committee inclusive of the programme, the pre-championship preparations and the post championship activities.

8.6. The organising W.S.K.A. country will be responsible for all profit or losses derived or incurred.

8.7. Only citizens of an affiliated country can represent that country in any event in the championships.

8.8. Individual competition: Any organisation that fulfils the conditions, including provisional members, is allowed to delegate maximum four competitors per category of individual discipline. That organisation will be responsible for all costs connected to this delegation.
8.9. Team competition: Only one team per country can participate in team events. If more than one organisation in a country is participating in the individual events the organisations should agree on the composition of national teams; if they are not able to agree the WSKA Technical committee will oversee a selection process for that team.

ARTICLE 9. SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION.

9.1. All decisions to suspend or expel member countries or regions will be within the authority of Congress.

9.2. Within the provisions of 9.1. the Board of Directors will be empowered to temporarily suspend or expel countries or regions subject to the ratification of this action by Congress.

Appeals against action taken under Article 9.2. will be submitted to Congress by the offending body which will be given the opportunity of a personal hearing before Congress or a sub committee appointed by it.