WTOKF - Shihankai concept

15 Nov. 2015

WORLD TRADITIONAL OKINAWA KARATE-DO FEDERATION

SHIHANKAI CONCEPT

 

Gichin Funakoshi once said:

”To search for the old is to understand the new. The old, the new, this is a matter of time. In all things man must have a clear mind. The Way: Who will pass it on straight and well ?”

As each year unfolds the dilution of karate from a martial art to a sport is becoming more apparent. The once coveted Dan grade is becoming cheapened by karate-ka who seem more interested in finances than standards. It is therefore apparent that the traditional ways are being lost and with them the respect, honour and hard training which epitomises the budo/bushido aspect of our art. It is up to those with an interest in our style to ensure that the WORLD TRADITIONAL OKINAWA KARATE-DO FEDERATION continues to maintain its classical and traditional roots worldwide.

To do this the 7 VIRTUES of BUDO/BUSHIDO should followed. These are:

JIN (benevolence)
GI (honor and justice)
REI (courtesy and etiquette)
CHI (wisdom, intelligence)
SHIN (sincerity)
CHU (loyalty)
KOH (piety)

 

Those individuals who are in fellowship of the WTOKF maintain a behaviour, which reflects that they value standards, honour, etiquette and tradition. Their many years of study in and dedication to, OKINAWA KARATE as a martial art, are reflected in the character of the individual and in their approach to training, where the concept of Budo is paramount and all nationalities would be treated on an equal footing. It is through the auspices of such individuals that the WORLD TRADITIONAL OKINAWA KARATE-DO FEDERATION COUNCIL of SAIKO-SHIHAN was founded. The WTOKF therefore firmly believe that it is an honour to be invited or recommended to join those ranks but an even greater honour to be accepted into fellowship. In summary, the SHIHANKAI by accepting through recommendation only those senior international karateka who are known to us will ensure that our standards are maintained with ’a clear mind’. We will therefore pass on to future generations, through the values and teachings of its fellows, the great legacy that O-Sensei Funakoshi left to us and we will do it ‘straight and well’.


Hanshi IONEL BARA
9 DAN
President & Founder of WTOKF

 


COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
OF SENIOR WTOKF

President
IONEL BARA
Vice-President
DEL SHIGEO SAITO
Technical Director
TONI ROMANO
Technical Director
TONY MENDONCA
Director Emeritus
JEROME PALAZZOLO

Hanshi
9 Dan

Soke
10 Dan

Shihan
8 Dan

Shihan
6 Dan

Shihan
6 Dan

WORLD TRADITIONAL OKINAWA KARATE-DO FEDERATION - COMMITTEE

The WTOKFis run by a committee of seven senior karate-ka who have all been training in karate for well over 40 years each. These individuals come originally from a WTOKF background and along with the fellows themselves, bring a wealth of experience from many different groups, never before gathered under one banner. All fellows support the ideals and role of the SHIHANKAI and it is through their endeavors that the SHIHANKAI continues to maintain its high standards, with the fellows themselves being some of the most senior instructors in world .

For a full list of WTOKF KARATE-ka in fellowship, please click here for request.

 


SAIKO SHIHAN

of the
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of SENIOR WTOKF

Dan

Name

Shogo

Country

Affiliated

10th

Del Shigeo Saito

Soke

USA

WTOKF

10th

Albert Best

Hanshi

USA

WTOKF

10th

Kristofer Francisc

Hanshi

USA

WTOKF

9th

Ionel Bara

Hanshi

SWITZERLAND

WTOKF

8th

Toni Romano Shihan SWITZERLAND WTOKF

6th

Dwight Grover Shihan USA WTOKF

6th

Tony Mendonca Shihan USA WTOKF

6th

Joan Gombau

Shihan

SPAIN

WTOKF

6th

Jerome Palazzolo

Shihan

FRANCE

WTOKF

5th

El Mir Ouadie

Shihan

MOROCCO

WTOKF


 


GRADING REQUIREMENTS

for the
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of SENIOR WTOKF

The use of the WTOKF as a vehicle for ratification/award of gradings is part of the role of the Shihankai. Once a fellow is in place, having been invited by an existing fellow and accepted by the Shihankai Technical and Executive Committee, he/she only need use the WTOKF when his next grade is due or when the application of a sho-go is made However, some of our fellows have kindly allowed their own senior students to apply and join.


GRADING REQUIREMENTS

5th Dan: Minimum requirement for entry to WTOKF Fellowship. The Dan grade must be from a group or individual acceptable to the WTOKF, with 2 years between 4th and 5th Dan.
The applicant must be over 30 years of age.

6th Dan: Applicant must have 3 years between the grades of 5th to 6th Dan. The Dan grade must be from either a group or individual acceptable to the WTOKF or alternatively from the WTOKF Technical Committee.
The applicant must be over 36 years of age.

7th Dan: Applicant must have 3 years between the grades of 6th to 7th Dan. The Dan grade must be from either a group or individual acceptable to the WTOKF or alternatively from the WTOKF Technical Committee.
The applicant must be over 43 years of age.

8th Dan: Applicant must have 3 years between the grades of 7th to 8th Dan. The Dan grade must be from either a group or individual acceptable to the WTOKF or alternatively from the WTOKF Technical Committee.
The applicant must be over 51 years of age.

9th Dan: Applicant must have 3 years between the grades of 8th to 9th Dan. The Dan grade must be from either a group or individual acceptable to the WTOKF or alternatively from the WTOKF Technical Committee.
The applicant must be over 58 years of age.


VARIATION TO STANDARD PRESCRIBED REQUIREMENTS ABOVE:

The applicants sponsor must be put in writing, explaining why s/he merits any grade that does not conform with the above. The application sponsor must be supported and refereed by two WTOKF fellows who must also write letters to the WTOKF Director of Qualifications, describing in detail, the candidate's character, behaviors and technical ability, which would justify the recognition. After deliberations (and any appropriate additional investigations) the candidate may be awarded membership at the grade of application, if the WTOKF executive agrees with the level of grade, wholly at their discretion. The WTOKF Technical Committee may request additional information or cause a background investigation to be conducted. Alternatively, applications sponsored by a member of the WTOKF executive will be accepted without recourse to committee review.

 


SHOGO

of the
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of SENIOR WTOKF

SHOGO is the teaching title‐system set up by the Dai‐Nippon Butoku‐kai (Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society established in 1895 in Kyoto). It is consist of three ranks, Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi (Highest). The sho‐go awarded by the WTOKF will consist of the three similar ranks and are therefore classical ranks/titles similar to Samurai titles given under the auspices of Japan's Imperial Family during feudal times. The award of sho‐go are based on each individual’s knowledge, teaching ability and the outstanding development of character through the study of the martial arts. Therefore, it is important to realise that in the modern approach to martial arts, these titles/ranks are much more difficult to achieve than the conventional Dan grades and are not automatically assigned with rank or seniority. The holder of these titles must also have made significant contributions to the martial arts community at large.

The title 'Shogo' may or may not be given to a Fellow on application, or may be awarded after the fellow has been in fellowship for some time. The three awarded by the WTOKF as previously stated are: Renshi (which may be awarded to 6th Dan and above over 40 years old) Kyoshi (which may be awarded to 7th Dan and above over 50 years old) and Hanshi (which may be awarded to 8th Dan and above over 60 years old). This also means that any grade from 6th Dan and above may only receive an award of Renshi or none at all. Therefore sho‐go are not automatically given to successful fellowship applicants of the WTOKF.

The character "Ren" means "polished, tempered" and "shi" means "person". Thus Renshi indicates a "polished instructor" or expert. Renshi may be awarded to the modern rank of 6th Dan or above in the WTOKF interestingly the title of Renshi is of Japanese origin and is not used in Okinawa. As the WTOKF has Japanese roots Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi are awarded.

The "Kyo" in Kyoshi means "professor" or "philosophy". Therefore, Kyoshi equals a "professor" capable of teaching the philosophy of the martial arts. Kyoshi may be awarded to the modern rank of 7th Dan and above in the WTOKF.

The "Han" in Hanshi means "example, model" and indicates "a teacher that can serve as an ideal model for others", or a “senior master”. Hanshi may be awarded to the modern day rank of 8th and above in the WTOKF.

 


SHOGO AWARDS

of the
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of SENIOR WTOKF

RENSHI: Any WTOKF fellow of 6th Dan or above exceeding the age of 40 years old may apply for the Renshi title.

KYOSHI: Any WTOKF fellow of 7th Dan or above, 5 years after their Renshi registration, and exceeding the age of 50 years old can apply for the Kyoshi title. It is normal that the applicant would hold the title of Renshi previously, but this is not necessary.

HANSHI:This is a very special title representing the highest levels of martial arts. Any WTOKF fellow of 8th Dan or above, 10 years after their Kyoshi registration and exceeding the age of 60 years old can apply for the Hanshi title. It is normal that the applicant would hold the title of Kyoshi previously, but this is not necessary.

APPLYING FOR SHOGO The applicant for any sho-go must be put in writing, explaining why s/he merits this title. The application must be supported and refereed by three WTOKF fellows who must also write letters to the WTOKF Technical Committee , describing in detail, the candidate's character and behaviours, which would justify the awarding of a Shogo. After deliberations (and any appropriate additional investigations) the candidate may be awarded a Shogo if the WTOKF unanimously agrees with the level of awarded Shogo being at their discretion. The WTOKF Technical Committee. may request additional information or cause a background investigation to be conducted. Belts other than a black belt should not be worn by WTOKF fellows. Use of the Shogo suffix after your name is not considered good practice. Neither a shogo or a title such as shihan or saiko shihan should be embroidered on the belt as it falls outside the tradition and protocol within the WTOKF system.

PREPARING FOR YOUR SHOGO APPLICATION
Applications for award of a Shogo must be accompanied by the submission of a written thesis.

HONORARY SHOGO AWARDS
The Executive committee retain the right to make discretionary “Honorary” Shogo awards i.e. without the above requirements having to be met.

SUBMITTING YOUR PAPERS
Papers should be submitted to:

WTOKF VICE-PRESIDENT
and TECHNICAL ADVISOR of the WTOKF INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of SENIOR
Soke DEL SHIGEO SAITO
10 DAN
Email: office@wtokf.org & delsaito@charter.net

 


APPLY FOR FELLOWSHIP

of INTERNATIONAL of SENIOR WTOKF SHIHANKAI

On application your details, to include the name of proposer and your CV; grading dates, examiners and association accreditation and any other relevant information regarding your karate career will be required.

To apply for membership please click here our online application for review by the WTOKF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

Applicants must be invited, but interested parties may approach current fellows who, at their discretion, may agree to propose and support your application.


With thanks,

WTOKF VICE-PRESIDENT
and TECHNICAL ADVISOR of the WTOKF INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of SENIOR
Soke DEL SHIGEO SAITO
10 DAN
Email: office@wtokf.org & delsaito@charter.net

 

 

 

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