EWKR Constitution

November 2025 • Version 01

This page outlines the England Wado Kai constitution.

Name:

The name of the Association/Federation shall be England Wado-Kai Karate - Do Renmei, herein after referred to as England Wado-Kai

Aims:

The aims of England Wado-Kai shall be to:

(i) Follow wherever possible the Wado Kai/Ryu Style of Karate.

(ii) Represent its members where necessary, desirable and possible on: Local, Regional, National & International Governing Bodies.

(iii) Organise and regulate Tournaments and Courses of Instruction for the benefit of its members.

(iv) Regulate and Control the Promotion of Training, Licensing, Examination, & Certification of Karateka within the England Wado-Kai.

Membership & Affiliation:

(i) Applications for Affiliation by Groups/Clubs shall be to the England Wado-Kai Executive Committee.

(ii) Groups/Clubs wishing to Affiliate shall supply the Executive Committee with evidence of ability to satisfy the following requirements, namely that they:

(a) Shall follow the standards created and set out by England Wado - Kai or shall reach those standards within twelve months of their initial application.

(b) May be of any size, but will meet at least once weekly at suitable premises.

(d) May have both amateurs and professionals as members.

(e) Shall pay to England Wado-Kai an annual affiliation fee on the
1st of January of each year, the fee each year decided upon by the England Wado-Kai Executive Committee.

(f) Shall on acceptance by England Wado-Kai, abide by the spirit and current rules of England Wado-Kai as stated in the England Wado-Kai Constitution

(g) Shall not be a member of, or affiliated to: any other Karate Association or Organisation.

Individuals:

(i) Members of affiliated clubs will automatically be members of “England Wado-Kai" through their Groups/Clubs when they have applied, paid for, and received an England Wado - Kai individual Licence.

(ii) Each member shall at all times hold an England Wado - Kai Licence and grading record book, which shall be obtainable upon application to the Licensing Officer. This Licence when current will entitle members to appear before authorised England Wado - Kai Grading Examiners and will serve as the record of the said members grade. The Licence shall be renewable each year on the payment of a fee decided on by the Executive Committee for that year, it will also entitle a member to compete in Contests, Tournaments, Courses and Events organised by England Wado-Kai.

(iii) No member may belong to any other Karate Organisation and continue to hold an England Wado-Kai Licence. Any member who joins another Association for Karate will be liable to expulsion.

(iv) Members affiliating from other Karate Organisations will be subject to the grading regulations set out in the byelaws of this constitution.

Executive Committee

(i) England Wado-Kai shall be controlled, managed and organised by an Executive Committee produced by the election of up to seven members, including a Chairman, Treasurer/Registrar, and a General Secretary.

(ii) The Executive Committee may co-opt officers for specific purposes & duties, such as Licencing Officer and Public Relations/Marketing Officer's.

(iii) An Executive Committee Meeting may be convened by the General Secretary or by a majority of the Executive Committee through the General Secretary and will meet periodically for the dispatch of business and will adjourn and resume its meetings at its own determination. The General Secretary shall give not less than 14 days written notice of every meeting to every member of the Committee.

(iv) For Committee matters a quorum will be four persons including the Chairman & General Secretary.

(v) All questions will be decided by a simple majority of Committee Members, present at quorate meeting properly convened.

(vi) In the event of a tie in voting, the Chairman shall have a casting vote. If the Chairman of England Wado-Kai is not present within 15 minutes of the time stipulated for the commencement of a meeting of the England Wado - Kai Executive Committee, the General Secretary shall act as and have the powers of the Chairman for that meeting. If the General Secretary is not present the senior member of the Executive Committee shall act as and have the powers of the Chairman for that meeting.

Election of Executive Committee

(i) Members of the Executive Committee for the year next following will be elected at each Annual General Meeting of the England Wado - Kai.

(ii) Each Affiliated Group/Club shall have one vote at an Annual General Meeting.

(iii) Nominations for the election to the Executive Committee shall be sent to the General Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting on a pro-forma form available on application to the General Secretary.

Duties of the Committee

The duties of the committee shall be to:
(i) Carry out the aims of England Wado - Kai.

(ii) Provide for the administration, management, and Control of the affairs and property of England Wado - Kai, and as far as possible assist member Groups/Clubs.

(iii) Appoint professional auditors annually to audit accounts.

(iv) Conduct Local, Regional, National and International activities of England Wado - Kai and appoint such representatives as are deemed necessary to achieve these aims.

(v) To make byelaws as may from time to time be deemed necessary for the smooth running of the legitimate affairs and business of England Wado - Kai.

Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting of England Wado - Kai will be held every twelve months, the date, time, place and venue to be decided by the Executive Committee. Notice giving details will be sent to Affiliated Groups/Clubs at least twenty-eight days in advance of the AGM. Items for inclusion in the agenda shall only be accepted from Affiliated Groups/Clubs and shall be notified to the General Secretary in writing at least fourteen days before the AGM.

Extraordinary General Meeting

The General Secretary and Chairman may convene an EGM at any time in co-operation, or by the Committee as a whole.
An EGM must only be convened in order to discuss urgent business.
The Association's Year and Audit
(i) The England Wado - Kai's financial year shall run from the 1st of April to the 31st of March of the following year.

(ii) Proper Books and a bank account shall be kept. These shall be produced by the Treasurer/Registrar to the approved accountant for an independently audited statement of income and expenditure and an audited Balance sheet for the previous year to be presented to the England Wado - Kai. A.G.M.

Voting at General Meetings

(i) Voting at General Meetings shall be by voting card on the basis of one affiliated club to one vote for use only by a fully authorised club representatives and issued for use by the executive Committee at the meeting to be used by the nominated representative of the said club.

(ii) The Chairman shall in the event of a tie have a casting vote.
Sub Committee's, The Executive Committee shall have the power to create from its own body or form the SKW in general, sub committee's for specific purposes (e.g. Local Championships, National Championships and International Events and Demonstrations)

Bye – Laws

The Executive Committee will have the power to make, change or rescind Bye - Laws. Any changes or updates to existing or new policies have to be presented and voted on by the committee.

Coaches

The Executive Committee shall appoint coaches and managers for a variety of tasks and projects. These members should be an appropriate adult of at least 21 years and hold a current DBS.

Technical Board

The members of the England Wado – Kai Technical Board will be appointed and dismissed by the Executive Committee, members of the Technical Board must be a minimum of 3rd Dan grade and deemed worthy. The duties of the Technical Board shall be to approve all Dan Grade promotions, assist the Chief Instructor/Technical Director to uphold the Technical Standards of the Association. Tournaments, Competitions & Contests.

Competition Rules

Rules for all competition will be the rules, which are adopted by the National and International Karate Governing Bodies.

Interpretation

The sole authority for the Interpretation of the England Wado - Kai Constitution & Bye-laws will be vested in the Executive Committee of England Wado - Kai.

Alterations to the Constitution

(i) This Constitution can only be altered by a resolution passed by two thirds of voting members present at a properly convened General Meeting of the SKW.
(ii) A resolution for the alteration of the SKW Constitution shall be received by the General Secretary at least 21 days before the General Meeting at which the resolution is to be raised.

Promotions

Recommendations for the Promotion of Kyu Grades will be as follows.

(i) Karateka who hold the grade of 2nd Dan and over the age of 21 years of age and are deemed worthy & technically competent can apply to the Technical Director/Technical Board for approval to make awards of 8th Kyu (yellow Belt) Grades in the confines of their own Club.

(ii) Karateka who hold the grade of 3rd Dan and are of mature age and experience and deemed worthy & technically competent can apply to the Technical Director/Technical Board for approval to make awards of up and including 4th Kyu (purple belt) grades in the confines of their own club.

(iii) Promotion in to and within Dan Grades will be recommended by examiners as follows.

(a) The Dan Grade recommendations will be made by a panel of a least three and no more than five Senior Grades above 3rd Dan in rank of which their accumulated grades should in principle add up to ten Dans. In practice there shall be only one member of the Dan grading panel allowed to be a minimum of 3rd Dan grade the others must be of at least 4th Dan Grade.

(b) Junior Dan grades this applies to all karateka under the age of 16 for 1st Dan and under the age of 21 for 2nd Dan. Junior Dan grade applicants of whom achieve Junior Dan grade
Shall not be compared with Senior grades as the grades awarded were acquired under the juvenile criteria. (They shall be deemed as Junior Dan Grades). Junior Dan grades may if certain criteria are not met be required to under go a further technical assessment upon reaching maturity.

(c) Dan Grade Promotions will not take effect until they have been registered by the Associations Registrar and the registration form/s duly completed and the correct fee paid (The fee to be agreed by the Executive Committee each year).

Honary Kyu and Dan Grades Guidelines

Honary Kyu & Dan grades may be applied for by a Group/Club Leader in writing to the Technical Director/Technical Board and each case shall be considered upon its own merits.

(A member may not apply on his or her own behalf)

(a) A practicing member of good report but possesses a physical disability, which is detrimental to their technical performance.

(b) In recognition of a members unceasing dedication to Karate and their fullest contribution to the Club, Group or Association.

(c) Successfully representing the Association at National and International level and displaying a consistent level of Commitment, Loyalty and Dedication to the Association.

Complaint Procedure

Refer to the complaints procedure on the EWKR website.

Dissolution

If England Wado-Kai is dissolved and there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any monies or other property whatsoever, the same shall not be applied or distributed among the members of England Wado-Kai, but shall be applied to the furtherance of such objectives similar to those of England Wado-Kai as may be determined at or before the dissolution of England Wado-Kai by the Executive Committee, and if so far as effect cannot be given to the foregoing provision then to any charitable purpose connected with physical training or recreation, but not otherwise.

Barry Wilkinson 8th Dan
England Wadokai Chairman

November 2025 Edition


	You are here Home » Information EWKR Constitution November 2025 • Version 01 This page outlines the England Wado Kai constitution. Name: The name of the Association/Federation shall be England Wado-Kai Karate - Do Renmei, herein after referred to as England Wado-Kai Aims: The aims of England Wado-Kai shall be to: (i) Follow wherever possible the Wado Kai/Ryu Style of Karate. (ii) Represent its members where necessary, desirable and possible on: Local, Regional, National & International Governing Bodies. (iii) Organise and regulate Tournaments and Courses of Instruction for the benefit of its members. (iv) Regulate and Control the Promotion of Training, Licensing, Examination, & Certification of Karateka within the England Wado-Kai. Membership & Affiliation: (i) Applications for Affiliation by Groups/Clubs shall be to the England Wado-Kai Executive Committee. (ii) Groups/Clubs wishing to Affiliate shall supply the Executive Committee with evidence of ability to satisfy the following requirements, namely that they: (a) Shall follow the standards created and set out by England Wado - Kai or shall reach those standards within twelve months of their initial application. (b) May be of any size, but will meet at least once weekly at suitable premises. (c) Shall have a secretary, an organiser, or a formal control committee including both secretary and organiser. (d) May have both amateurs and professionals as members. (e) Shall pay to England Wado-Kai an annual affiliation fee on the 1st of January of each year, the fee each year decided upon by the England Wado-Kai Executive Committee. (f) Shall on acceptance by England Wado-Kai, abide by the spirit and current rules of England Wado-Kai as stated in the England Wado-Kai Constitution (g) Shall not be a member of, or affiliated to: any other Karate Association or Organisation. Individuals: (i) Members of affiliated clubs will automatically be members of “England Wado-Kai" through their Groups/Clubs when they have applied, paid for, and received an England Wado - Kai individual Licence. (ii) Each member shall at all times hold an England Wado - Kai Licence and grading record book, which shall be obtainable upon application to the Licensing Officer. This Licence when current will entitle members to appear before authorised England Wado - Kai Grading Examiners and will serve as the record of the said members grade. The Licence shall be renewable each year on the payment of a fee decided on by the Executive Committee for that year, it will also entitle a member to compete in Contests, Tournaments, Courses and Events organised by England Wado-Kai. (iii) No member may belong to any other Karate Organisation and continue to hold an England Wado-Kai Licence. Any member who joins another Association for Karate will be liable to expulsion. (iv) Members affiliating from other Karate Organisations will be subject to the grading regulations set out in the byelaws of this constitution. Executive Committee (i) England Wado-Kai shall be controlled, managed and organised by an Executive Committee produced by the election of up to seven members, including a Chairman, Treasurer/Registrar, and a General Secretary. (ii) The Executive Committee may co-opt officers for specific purposes & duties, such as Licencing Officer and Public Relations/Marketing Officer's. (iii) An Executive Committee Meeting may be convened by the General Secretary or by a majority of the Executive Committee through the General Secretary and will meet periodically for the dispatch of business and will adjourn and resume its meetings at its own determination. The General Secretary shall give not less than 14 days written notice of every meeting to every member of the Committee. (iv) For Committee matters a quorum will be four persons including the Chairman & General Secretary. (v) All questions will be decided by a simple majority of Committee Members, present at quorate meeting properly convened. (vi) In the event of a tie in voting, the Chairman shall have a casting vote. If the Chairman of England Wado-Kai is not present within 15 minutes of the time stipulated for the commencement of a meeting of the England Wado - Kai Executive Committee, the General Secretary shall act as and have the powers of the Chairman for that meeting. If the General Secretary is not present the senior member of the Executive Committee shall act as and have the powers of the Chairman for that meeting. Election of Executive Committee (i) Members of the Executive Committee for the year next following will be elected at each Annual General Meeting of the England Wado - Kai. (ii) Each Affiliated Group/Club shall have one vote at an Annual General Meeting. (iii) Nominations for the election to the Executive Committee shall be sent to the General Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting on a pro-forma form available on application to the General Secretary. Duties of the Committee The duties of the committee shall be to: (i) Carry out the aims of England Wado - Kai. (ii) Provide for the administration, management, and Control of the affairs and property of England Wado - Kai, and as far as possible assist member Groups/Clubs. (iii) Appoint professional auditors annually to audit accounts. (iv) Conduct Local, Regional, National and International activities of England Wado - Kai and appoint such representatives as are deemed necessary to achieve these aims. (v) To make byelaws as may from time to time be deemed necessary for the smooth running of the legitimate affairs and business of England Wado - Kai. Annual General Meeting An Annual General Meeting of England Wado - Kai will be held every twelve months, the date, time, place and venue to be decided by the Executive Committee. Notice giving details will be sent to Affiliated Groups/Clubs at least twenty-eight days in advance of the AGM. Items for inclusion in the agenda shall only be accepted from Affiliated Groups/Clubs and shall be notified to the General Secretary in writing at least fourteen days before the AGM. Extraordinary General Meeting The General Secretary and Chairman may convene an EGM at any time in co-operation, or by the Committee as a whole. An EGM must only be convened in order to discuss urgent business. The Association's Year and Audit (i) The England Wado - Kai's financial year shall run from the 1st of April to the 31st of March of the following year. (ii) Proper Books and a bank account shall be kept. These shall be produced by the Treasurer/Registrar to the approved accountant for an independently audited statement of income and expenditure and an audited Balance sheet for the previous year to be presented to the England Wado - Kai. A.G.M. Voting at General Meetings (i) Voting at General Meetings shall be by voting card on the basis of one affiliated club to one vote for use only by a fully authorised club representatives and issued for use by the executive Committee at the meeting to be used by the nominated representative of the said club. (ii) The Chairman shall in the event of a tie have a casting vote. Sub Committee's, The Executive Committee shall have the power to create from its own body or form the SKW in general, sub committee's for specific purposes (e.g. Local Championships, National Championships and International Events and Demonstrations) Bye – Laws The Executive Committee will have the power to make, change or rescind Bye - Laws. Any changes or updates to existing or new policies have to be presented and voted on by the committee. Coaches The Executive Committee shall appoint coaches and managers for a variety of tasks and projects. These members should be an appropriate adult of at least 21 years and hold a current DBS. Technical Board The members of the England Wado – Kai Technical Board will be appointed and dismissed by the Executive Committee, members of the Technical Board must be a minimum of 3rd Dan grade and deemed worthy. The duties of the Technical Board shall be to approve all Dan Grade promotions, assist the Chief Instructor/Technical Director to uphold the Technical Standards of the Association. Tournaments, Competitions & Contests. Competition Rules Rules for all competition will be the rules, which are adopted by the National and International Karate Governing Bodies. Interpretation The sole authority for the Interpretation of the England Wado - Kai Constitution & Bye-laws will be vested in the Executive Committee of England Wado - Kai. Alterations to the Constitution (i) This Constitution can only be altered by a resolution passed by two thirds of voting members present at a properly convened General Meeting of the SKW. (ii) A resolution for the alteration of the SKW Constitution shall be received by the General Secretary at least 21 days before the General Meeting at which the resolution is to be raised. Promotions Recommendations for the Promotion of Kyu Grades will be as follows. (i) Karateka who hold the grade of 2nd Dan and over the age of 21 years of age and are deemed worthy & technically competent can apply to the Technical Director/Technical Board for approval to make awards of 8th Kyu (yellow Belt) Grades in the confines of their own Club. (ii) Karateka who hold the grade of 3rd Dan and are of mature age and experience and deemed worthy & technically competent can apply to the Technical Director/Technical Board for approval to make awards of up and including 4th Kyu (purple belt) grades in the confines of their own club. (iii) Promotion in to and within Dan Grades will be recommended by examiners as follows. (a) The Dan Grade recommendations will be made by a panel of a least three and no more than five Senior Grades above 3rd Dan in rank of which their accumulated grades should in principle add up to ten Dans. In practice there shall be only one member of the Dan grading panel allowed to be a minimum of 3rd Dan grade the others must be of at least 4th Dan Grade. (b) Junior Dan grades this applies to all karateka under the age of 16 for 1st Dan and under the age of 21 for 2nd Dan. Junior Dan grade applicants of whom achieve Junior Dan grade Shall not be compared with Senior grades as the grades awarded were acquired under the juvenile criteria. (They shall be deemed as Junior Dan Grades). Junior Dan grades may if certain criteria are not met be required to under go a further technical assessment upon reaching maturity. (c) Dan Grade Promotions will not take effect until they have been registered by the Associations Registrar and the registration form/s duly completed and the correct fee paid (The fee to be agreed by the Executive Committee each year). Honary Kyu and Dan Grades Guidelines Honary Kyu & Dan grades may be applied for by a Group/Club Leader in writing to the Technical Director/Technical Board and each case shall be considered upon its own merits. (A member may not apply on his or her own behalf) (a) A practicing member of good report but possesses a physical disability, which is detrimental to their technical performance. (b) In recognition of a members unceasing dedication to Karate and their fullest contribution to the Club, Group or Association. (c) Successfully representing the Association at National and International level and displaying a consistent level of Commitment, Loyalty and Dedication to the Association. Complaint Procedure Refer to the complaints procedure on the EWKR website. Dissolution If England Wado-Kai is dissolved and there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any monies or other property whatsoever, the same shall not be applied or distributed among the members of England Wado-Kai, but shall be applied to the furtherance of such objectives similar to those of England Wado-Kai as may be determined at or before the dissolution of England Wado-Kai by the Executive Committee, and if so far as effect cannot be given to the foregoing provision then to any charitable purpose connected with physical training or recreation, but not otherwise. Barry Wilkinson 8th Dan England Wadokai Chairman November 2025 Edition

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