Jamie at any time

PORTAL HOME

	THE OKINAWAN MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION

	Rules, Ethics and Code of Practice


1	MEMBERSHIP

	Three types of registered member will be recognised by the O.M.A.A.:

	a) Student b) Instructor c) Chief Instructor

	a) A student will be under the guidance of a registered instructor.

	b) An instructor will be under the guidance of a registered Chief Instructor or the OMAA Executive if the Instructor / Chief Instructor, is under the grade of 3rd Dan status.

	c) A Chief Instructor is defined as the Principal or Senior Instructor who is running the member group.


2	RULES – GRADINGS (grades recognized with the OMAA must conform with the following rules)

	Kyu grading rights will be two grades below the registered instructors own grade and can only be conducted with the authority of the Chief Instructor or the O.M.A.A. EXECUTIVE.

	Dan grades for (1st and 2nd Dan ) must be awarded by a Grading or Assessment Panel formed from the associated member group with a registered 3rd Dan or an OMAA officer in attendance.

	Dan grades for (3rd Dan and above) must be awarded by a Grading Panel formed from the associated member group, with a representative from the O.M.A.A. EXECUTIVE in attendance.

	The number of courses, hours of study, or the examination necessary for promotion will be decided by and left to the discretion of the member group’s Chief Instructor or Executive.

	All grading requirements must be taken from an authentic syllabus held by the member group.

	Grading fees are the responsibility of the authorised Examiner. If a representative from the O.M.A.A. is in attendance, a reasonable service fee will be charged by the representative.


3	RULES – LICENCES

	a) All Students must hold an O.M.A.A. annual current valid Licence which includes insurance cover within the United Kingdom. Overseas members will not include insurance cover.

	b) All Instructors and Chief Instructors must hold an O.M.A.A. annual valid Instructors Endorsed Licence which includes insurance cover for the United Kingdom. Overseas Instructors will not include insurance cover. All Instructors MUST have P.I. insurance.

	c) If a registered Chief Instructor, Instructor or Student fails to maintain their annual licence or insurance cover, he or she will be automatically removed from the O.M.A.A. register. The said person or group of individuals may lose all privileges of association with the O.M.A.A.


4	RULES - GROUP REGISTRATION

	The O.M.A.A. will only register a prospective group’s Chief Instructor when the O.M.A.A. is satisfied with the applicants credentials. Even then the applicant may be subject to the O.M.A.A. requesting a period of probation or a satisfactory interview. All applicants must meet the criteria as laid down in the O.M.A.A. “Rules, Code of Practice and Ethics” and they must demonstrate the authenticity of their martial art.

	All registered Chief Instructors and Instructors must prove themselves to be of a suitable character for teaching all ages of students and have a positive, congenial and caring attitude. They must fully comprehend any contra-indications of their teaching methods and actions and must demonstrate an exceptional ability in their martial art.

	All registered Chief Instructors and Instructors must maintain an equal rights policy in their training and grading arrangement that ensure optimum standards for all of their members.

	Termination of membership to the O.M.A.A. must be given in writing. (1 month is ideal)


5	CODE OF PRACTICE AND ETHICS

	That which is ethically right or wrong for a martial artist should be common sense to anyone involved in the martial arts. The following is a code of practice that anyone who is registered with the O.M.A.A. will be expected to follow as a minimum standard of instructional or student behaviour. Breaches of this code will result in a loss of trust between all parties concerned. The O.M.A.A. will take very seriously any report of deviation from the standards of decorum herewith laid out:

	a)	Chief Instructors, Instructors and students must at all times conduct themselves in keeping with their public status as a responsible martial artist.

	b)	Instruction for reward may only be undertaken by an O.M.A.A. qualified registered Instructor.

	c)	Profit should not be placed before people, thus qualified Instructors should be considerate and fair when charging fees.

	d)	Chief Instructors may advertise their schools in association with the O.M.A.A., only if all of their members hold current, valid licences and insurance cover.

	e)	Training/coaching given by a registered Instructor may only be given with the express or implied consent of the individual student concerned - even in a classroom situation.

	f)	Registered Instructors should recognise a student’s right to refuse, even casually, any part of a training session.

	g)	Registered Instructors shall not abuse students or take advantage of, cajole, tease, flout, harass, maltreat, bully or physically hurt a student with intent.

	h)	Full safety precautions must be taken at all coaching and meeting periods.


6	RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING BLACK BELT AWARDS

	If a Black Belt grade is awarded to a student by a registered Instructor/Examiner, the grade may be certified with the O.M.A.A. (Use the application form for “Black Belt Certificate”).

	If a Black Belt is promoted to INSTRUCTOR they must be registered and complete the “Instructor’s Annual Licence Application Form”, duly authorised by their organisation.

	The O.M.A.A. will not recognise a Black Belt or Instructor grade that is not registered.

	The following periods of minimum training time and age must be maintained for all Black Belt Dan grades:

	Rank	Minimum number of years in consistent training	Minimum age

1	Shodan	3	18
2	Nidan	6	21
3	Sandan	10	25
4	Yondan	15	30
5	Godan	20	35
6	Rokudan	25	40
7	Nanadan	35	50
8	Hachidan	45	60
9	Kudan	55	70
10	Judan	65	80

Evidence is required to be registered.

Dan grades issued to under 18 year olds should be regarded as a “Junior black belts”.

_____________________________________________________________________________________