Budokai charter

The Budokai exists to promote friendship and positive relationships within Budo. All member dojos are expected to embrace this idea and act appropriately towards each other at all times. As a large part of the function of the Budokai is to facilitate exchange with Budo dojos in Japan and Canterbury, or other exchange projects that may suit the purposes of the budokai.

Exchanges are between New Zealand and Japanese Budo, so if your dojo is a legitimate practitioner of either, then you are welcome to join us

Purpose

  1. The Budokai is primarily to be a hub of like-minded Budo enthusiasts to form friendship between Budo enthusiasts in Christchurch and to be able to more fully participate in friendly exchange between other Budo dojos or groups when chances become available
  2. The Budokai's secondary purpose is to more easily facilitate relationships with Japanese dojos and to help with inter-cultural exchanges in Japan where possible.

Principles

  1. The Budokai will not interfere in any member dojo’s practice and philosophy; it is for friendship and Budo exchange on a friendship level, not on a competition level or Renmei level.
  2. Relationships with other areas within New Zealand or in Japan may be pursued as a group if member dojos agree
  3. Relationships with Japanese Budo dojos will made and maintained for friendship, and positive intercultural relations. Accordingly, care should be taken by dojo sensei and instructors individually to:
    1. Maintain a separation between your governing body/bodies, both in New Zealand and in Japan, and the Budokai activities wherever necessary
    2. Ensure participating dojo members are appropriate to include in Budokai activities
  4. Reports and official communication - When visiting dojos or sensei in places where the relationship has been established with the cooperation or faclilitation with the group,then please let the group know about it.  This is less of a control issue than a Reigi issue. It is polite and proper to acknowledge the facilitators, and the sensei involved.

Membership of the Budokai

  1. Membership should be open to any group which is involved in Japanese Budo, and New Zealand Budo that can participate in exchanges with Japan (Taiaha, etc).
  2. Membership is open to dojos, not to individual people and the Sensei of the dojo shall be the contact and representative to the Budokai.
  3. Legitimacy - dojos should have a strong claim to legitimacy - links to Japan, verifiable grades of sensei and/or instructors, practicing exactly the same art that exists legitimately in Japan and so on.
  4. A clear endpoint of exchange in Japan is desirable, but only necessary for Budo that will be directly involved in specific exchanges. i.e. The same art, ryuha ,or an accepting sister art in the case of Maori Budo.
  5. The purpose for exchanges with Japan must not be for self-profit or self-promotion and need to follow volunteering and not-for-profit principles
  6. Member dojos should be willing to be involved in helping people from other dojos and other arts where needed during official exchange events, etc
  7. Maintain open and honest communication. If something is not possible because of policy from a particular Renmei for example, then we should all know about this so we can deal with it appropriately and not cause unnecessary problems.
  8. No one member dojo or individual may speak for the others in the name of the Budokai
  9. New dojos must be endorsed by existing member dojos before membership is granted
  10. Budokai membership is primarily for dojos in Christchurch and Canterbury region but may include others if the whole group feel it is appropriate.