THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
TSU SHIN GEN INTERNATIONAL BUDO ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I - NAME AND TYPE OF ASSOCIATION
§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 Financial Enterprise, which is independent of all other Associations. The Tsu Shin Gen International Budo Association shall hereinafter be designated the TSG in this Constitution.
ARTICLE II - SEAT OF THE ASSOCIATION
§2. The official seat of the TSG shall be set by the President of the TSG.
ARTICLE III - THE AIMS AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
§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 and licence Tsu Shin Gen Instructors.
§5. To educate and licence arbitrators, referees and judges for the Association’s Competitions.
§6. The exchange of knowledge and experience between those clubs that are affiliated to the TSG.
§7. To improve the technical standard of the individual members of those clubs which are affiliated to the TSG.
§8. To set the standards for and regulate the promotions of the individual members of those clubs which are affiliated to the TSG.
§9. To arrange promotional tests both for Black Belts and Kyu grades.
§10. To organise courses, seminars, training camps, summer camps and Competitions in order to achieve the aims and objects of the Association.
§11. To adjudicate in any eventual conflicts between affiliated clubs and /or their individual members.
ARTICLE IV - THE OFFICIAL SYSTEMS OF THE ASSOCIATION
§12. The official Budo systems to be practised by those clubs that are affiliated to the TSG are:
TSG - ASHIHARA INTERNATIONAL KARATE
TSG - KYOKUSHIN KARATE
TSG - SENSHIN FIGHTING KARATE
TSG - MIXED MARTIAL ART (MMA)
ARTICLE V - THE STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION
§13. The Association has the following structure:
THE PRESIDENT
THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
THE TSU SHIN GEN - INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY
THE BOARD OF COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND ADVISORS
§14. The President may employ whatever professional help is felt necessary to ensure the smooth and effective function of the Association.
ARTICLE VI - THE AFFILIATION AND TESTING FEES OF THE ASSOCIATION
§15. The affiliation and testing fees of the Association will be set by the Association’s President.
ARTICLE VII – AFFILIATION REGULATIONS
§16. Affiliation to the Association is open to both commercial and non-profit making clubs that are organised in a business like manner.
§17. Clubs wishing to affiliate to the TSG must practise one of the official Budo systems named above.
§18. Clubs wishing to affiliate to the TSG must make a written application to the President of the TSG or to the TSG Country Representative in the country in question, a copy of which must be then sent to the President of the TSG in English.
§19. 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 Budo career.
(b) A recommendation from the TSG Country Representative where applicable.
(c) The current club affiliation fee.
§20. New clubs must pay a license fee for each Branch together with a lifetime licence fee for each member no later than six months after the affiliation of the new club has been confirmed in writing.
§21. Clubs must pay a lifetime license fee for each of their new members to the TSG no later than two months after the student's enrolment in the club.
§22. Clubs that are affiliated to the TSG must regularly send their Instructors to the courses, seminars and training camps that are arranged by the TSG.
§23. Any club that fails to comply with the rules and regulations of the TSG can be expelled from the Association by the President of the TSG.
ARTICLE VIII - THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
§24. The President of the TSG is the founder of the Association, Soke David C.Cook, and the position of President is a lifetime position that can only be relinquished by the President.
§25. The President of the TSG has the authority to decide in all matters pertaining to all of the activities of the TSG. The President shall have the title "Soke".
§26. The President of the TSG will appoint or dismiss the members of the Board of Advisors. The President of the TSG in consultation with the Technical Director of the TSG will appoint or dismiss any Assistant Technical Directors.
§27. The President of the TSG and respective TSG Country Representatives, where applicable, will approve the affiliation or expulsion of all Dojos/clubs, Instructors or individual members.
§28. The President of the TSG, in consultation with the respective TSG National Associations where applicable, will appoint or dismiss the official Country Representatives to the Association.
§29. The President of the TSG has the authority to appoint Special or Standing Committees, and the determination of their terms of reference, powers and duration.
§30. The President of the TSG is the official contact person between the TSG and any other Association or authority.
§31. The President of the TSG will have any other responsibilities bestowed upon him by the Constitution of the TSG.
§32. The President of the TSG has the right to delegate any or all of his duties to suitable persons.
ARTICLE IX - THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION.
§33. The Technical Director of the TSG will be appointed by the President of the TSG and shall have the title "Kancho".
§34. The Technical Director of the TSG will advise the President of the TSG on the appointment or dismissal of the Assistant Technical Directors.
§35. The Technical Director of the TSG will decide in all questions pertaining to the techniques and technical details and educations of the TSG in consultation with the Assistant Technical Directors and the Educational Director.
§36. The Technical Director of the TSG will award Instructor status to those Instructors who have successfully completed the required education.
§37. The Technical Director of the TSG will set the promotional requirements of the Association.
§38. The Technical Director 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 Technical Director 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 Technical Director of the TSG.
§39. The Technical Director of the TSG will have any other duties or responsibilities bestowed upon him by the Constitution or President of the Association, and the Technical Director has the right to delegate any or all of his duties to suitable persons.
ARTICLE X - THE BOARD OF ADVISORS OF THE ASSOCIATION
§ 40. The Board of Advisors of the TSG is only an advisory body to the President and the Technical Director of the TSG; members will be appointed or dismissed by the President of the TSG. The President may add temporary or permanent posts to the Advisors. The Board of Advisors may contain Advisors in the following areas.
§41. The Technical Advisors of the TSG must be at least 4th Dan and have TSG Senior Instructor Status.
§42. An Advisor in the area of educating and licensing the Association’s Instructors, Referees, Arbitrators and Judges.
§43. An Advisor in the area of women’s Training and Self Defence.
§44. An Advisor who will help to co-ordinate the Association’s marketing.
§45. A Web site Advisor.
ARTICLE XI - THE COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
§46. The Country Representatives of the TSG will be appointed or dismissed by the President of the Association, in consultation with the TSG National Associations in question where applicable. They may represent one or more of the TSG systems.
§47. The Country Representatives of the TSG are the official representatives of the TSG National Associations to the TSG.
§48. The Country Representatives of the TSG will coordinate and actively work to expand the membership of the TSG systems and activities within their respective countries.
§49. The Country Representatives of the TSG will have any other duties or responsibilities bestowed upon them by the Constitution, the President of the Association, or their TSG National Associations.
ARTICLE XII - TSG BRANCH CHIEFS
§50. A TSG Branch Chief will be accepted on the recommendation of the TSG Country Representative of the appropriate Country and TSG system. All applications are subject to the President of the TSG’s final approval.
Each applicant for TSG Branch Chief Status must submit the following to the TSG.
(a) A résumé of their Martial Arts career.
(b) A recommendation.
(c) The current registration fee.
TSG Branch Chiefs shall have the rank of at least Shodan. They shall be the Chief Instructor of a well-organised club. They shall be recognised as a good club manager, who shall contributed to the progress and development of the TSG. They shall also promise to continue to give loyal support to the TSG.
All TSG Branch Chiefs must register the membership of all of their students, no later than two months, after the student’s enrolment in the club. The appropriate application form and current fee shall be sent to the TSG Country Representative.
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 President of the TSG in consultation with the TSG Country Representative will award TSG Grading Status to TSG Branch Chiefs, when necessary. Branch Chiefs with Grading Status must issue TSG certificates for every Kyu grade that they award.
All TSG Branch Chiefs come under the jurisdiction of their TSG Country Representative, and they must accept and comply with the TSG Constitution and the rules and regulations therein.
The TSG Branch Chief by accepting the written or verbal Branch Chief contract promises to purchase all training equipment bearing the Logos, and Trade Marks of the Organisation, from the TSG or other authorised suppliers. The TSG Branch Chief also promises not to enter into any commercial projects involving Tsu Shin Gen without the explicit written approval and permission of the President of the TSG. The Branch Chief also promises not to make unauthorised copies of any of the TSG texts, supplied or written by the President of the TSG.
This agreement is to give the Licensee, a Licence to operate as a TSG Branch Chief. The first Licence is valid only till the last day of December of the first year. Subsequent Licences will be valid for one year at a time. This agreement shall remain in effect until the TSG gives written notice of termination. Every year the TSG will review the operation of the Licence, and if the TSG finds any evidence of dishonourable conduct, the Licensee will be given written notice of such. If these improprieties are not corrected, then the TSG has the option of terminating this agreement.
If the Licensee does not receive written notice of the termination of this agreement, then the Licence is automatically extended for a period of one year, and a Certificate will be issued by the TSG.
In the case where the club is a no-profit making organisation run by a committee of the members, the Chairperson of the club will be the Dojo Representative to the TSG. All of the above Rules and Regulations apply to the Dojo Representatives.
ARTICLE XIII - TSG NATIONAL GRADING OFFICERS
§51. National Grading Officer Status is usually awarded to or withdrawn from the Country Representative of the Country in question by the Technical Director of the TSG.
§52. National Grading Officer Status is awarded to Senior Instructors with at least Sandan who have the required experience and have successfully completed all of the required courses and educations.
§53. 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 Technical Director.
ARTICLE XIV - TSG GRADING STATUS
§54. TSG Grading Status is awarded or withdrawn by the Technical Director of the TSG, in consultation with the National Grading Officer, in the region in question.
§55. TSG Grading Status is awarded to Shodans or above who have successfully completed all of the required courses and educations. Occasions may arise where the Technical Director gives special dispensation for other persons to promote.
§56. TSG Grading Status is awarded to an absolute 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.
§57. TSG Grading Status is awarded only after the Technical Director is satisfied that the TSG Instructor in question is capable of conducting a promotional test.
§58. 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 the Technical Director.
§59. All Dan and Kyu grade certificates shall originate from the TSG Headquarters (Honbu). Any TSG National Grading Officer or Instructor with Grading Status who is not issuing the TSG Headquarters’ certificates will automatically forfeit their Grading Status.
§60. Although the TSG Instructor with Grading Status is solely responsible for the grades awarded in his name, it is preferred that he involves other Instructors in the process.
ARTICLE XV - THE ASSOCIATION’S PROMOTION REGULATIONS
§61. The Technical Director of the TSG will 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.
§62. TSG Instructors with TSG Grading Status are the only persons who are authorised to award grades within the Association.
§63. TSG Instructors with TSG Grading Status will have the highest grade to which they may promote, specified by the Technical Director of the TSG. However the highest grade to which a TSG National Grading Officer may promote is Shodan.
§64. All Dan grades above Shodan will be awarded by the Technical Director of the TSG. Aspirants, who are tested, will normally be tested at a major training or summer camp, by the Technical Director of the TSG. The Technical Director will normally but not necessarily be assisted by a panel of TSG Instructors with Grading Status. Aspirants must normally have written permission from their TSG Country Representative to test for a Dan grade. The Technical Director has the authority to waive this stipulation.
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.
§65. No student may test without fulfilling the TSG’s minimum active time in grade
requirements, which are as follows for the TSG Senshin Karate, TSG Ashihara International Karate and TSG Kyokushin Karate:
To:
10th Kyu 4 months
9th Kyu 4 months
8th Kyu 4 months
7th Kyu 4 months
6th Kyu 4 months
5th Kyu 4 months
4th Kyu 4 months
3rd Kyu 6 months
2nd Kyu 6 months
1st Kyu 6 months
Shodan 6 months
Nidan 2 years
Sandan 3 years
Yondan 4 years
Godan 5 years
Rokkudan 6 years
For the TSG Mixed Martial Art the active times in grade are as follows:
To:
10th Kyu 5 months
9th Kyu 5 months
8th Kyu 5 months
7th Kyu 5 months
6th Kyu 5 months
5th Kyu 5 months
4th Kyu 5 months
3rd Kyu 6 months
2nd Kyu 6 months
1st Kyu 6 months
Shodan 6 months
Nidan 2 years
Sandan 3 years
Yondan 4 years
Godan 5 years
Rokkudan 6 years
The times in Grade for the lower Kyu grades are longer in the Mixed Martial Art due to the fact that there are more techniques to learn.
By virtue of special circumstances, the TSG minimum active time in grade requirements may be waived by the Technical Director of the TSG.
Permission must be obtained in advance from the TSG, by those persons wishing to test for Dan grades.
Permission must be obtained from the TSG Country Representative by those persons wishing to be tested at an International Training Camp, for a Kyu grade.
§66. Persons with Dan grades issued by Associations other than the TSG, or persons who wish to re-grade from one TSG system to another, will be tested by the Technical Director of the TSG, for their same grade, according to the current TSG Grading Syllabus. The aspirant must have been an active member of the TSG for at least one year. They must have applied in advance to the Technical Director for permission to test.
Persons with Dan grades awarded by other Associations than the TSG may apply to the Technical Director of the TSG, for dispensation to wear their Black Belt until such a time that they have been tested and approved by the Technical Director of the TSG as Black Belts.
§67. Persons with Dan grades issued by Associations other than the TSG, who have been accepted and approved by the Technical Director of the TSG, will be eligible for testing to the next Dan grade, after two years active membership of the TSG, provided that they have an active time in grade, which exceeds the TSG’s minimum time in grade requirements.
Persons with Kyu Grades issued by other Associations will retain their grade until they are fully prepared to take their next higher grade in a TSG system.
§68. 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, by the Technical Director.
ARTICLE XVI - TSG INSTRUCTOR STATUS
§69. The various TSG Instructor Status levels are awarded by the TSG President or Technical Director.
§70. The TSG Assistant Instructor Status is awarded to Kyu Grades, who have successfully completed the required course and education and they are officially authorised to assist a TSG Dojo Instructor in their own club.
The TSG Dojo Instructor Status is awarded to persons with at least Shodan, who have
successfully completed all the required courses and educations. They are officially authorised to teach TSG in their own Dojo.
The TSG Senior Instructor Status (Renshi) is awarded to persons with at least Sandan, who have
successfully completed all the required courses and educations, in recognition of their proven teaching ability. They are officially authorised to teach TSG at a National level in the country where they live.
The TSG Master Instructor Status (Renshi) is awarded to persons with at least Yondan, who have successfully completed all the required courses and educations, in recognition of their proven administrative ability, and their superior teaching ability and technical knowledge. They are officially authorised to teach TSG at an International level.
ARTICLE XVII - THE ASSOCIATION DAN GRADE TITLES
§71. Persons with a grade lower than 1st Dan will be addressed as "Sempai" during the time that they are instructing a class.
§72. Persons with 1st or 2nd Dan have the official title of "Sempai".
§73. Persons with 3rd or 4th Dan have the official title of "Sensei".
§74. Persons with 5th, 6th or 7th Dan have the official title of "Shihan".
§75. Personns with 8th Dan or above have the official title of "Hanshi".
ARTICLE XVIII - THE ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENTS & COMPETITIONS
§76. 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 XVIV - THE ASSOCIATION LOGOS AND COPYRIGHTS
§77. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs and TSG Instructors by virtue of the acceptance of this constitution, and any contracts which may exist between them and the TSG, and any verbal agreements, accept that they may not use the Logos of the TSG or in any commercial enterprise, without the prior explicit written approval of the President of the TSG.
Also that all TSG Logos used in marketing must conform to the official TSG Logos.
§78. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs and TSG Instructors accept that they will only purchase training equipment bearing the Logos and Trade Marks of the Tsu Shin Gen International, from the TSG or suppliers authorised by the TSG.
§79. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs and TSG Instructors promise not to make any unauthorised copies of any texts or Instruction Films of the TSG or any related training methods and principles supplied or written by the President or Technical Director of the TSG, without the prior explicit written approval and permission of the President of the TSG.
§80. All of the above is also applicable to all the individual Club members of Clubs affiliated with the TSG.
ARTICLE XX - RESIGNING FROM THE ASSOCIATION
§81. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs or TSG Instructors that wish to resign from the TSG, must send a letter stating their reasons, to the President of the TSG. If the President finds that there is reasonable cause for breaking the existing agreements, then he will give written permission to do so, provided that all fees and other monies, which are due to the TSG, have been remitted in full.
§82. 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.
§83. TSG Country Representatives, Associations, TSG Clubs or TSG Instructors that resign from the TSG, relinquish all rights to the use of the TSG Training Methods and Grading Syllabus.
ARTICLE XXI - EXPULSION FROM THE ASSOCIATION
§84. Any Country Representatives, TSG Club, Branch Chief or Instructor who behaves in a manner that is detrimental to the reputation of the TSG or Budo, will be given written notice of the fact. If there is not a reply within 28 days of the receipt of the notice, explaining the reasons for such behaviour, together with a written promise not to repeat the offence, the Country Representatives, TSG Club, Branch Chief or Instructor in question will be expelled from the Association. Repetition of the same or similar behaviour will result in expulsion.
§85. The above procedure will be followed by any Country Representative, Association or Instructor, who has a student who behaves in a manner which is detrimental to the reputation of the TSG or Budo. The Country Representative, Association or Instructor will notify the President of the TSG of any such action.
N.B.
The President of the Tsu Shin Gen International Budo Association retains the right to change or modify the Constitution of the Association.
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