PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AGREEMENT

                   Upon being accepted as a full accredited member of the Soke Menkyo Kai one will be asked to sign a membership agreement. This agreement is known as the " Professional Standards Agreement ". This agreement states that if one of the rules or regulations contained herein are broken by the member or it is discovered that the member allowed his students to break one of the rules and regulations that would apply to ones daily operation of his / her Ryu / Ryu - Ha. They will be dismissed from membership and any and all grades and titles received must be returned.

The main reason behind these regulations is the outlook of the S.M.K. The S.M.K.'s outlook is that of  Traditional values in the martial arts, The term " Martial " translates as " Military " and with a traditional martial arts outlook, Respect , Professionalism , Honor , Loyalty and Duty easily come to mind not to mention the code of the Bushi ( Not Bushido, but similar).  It is for this that all members do not want to allow a member in that would bring any form of dishonor to the membership and the S.M.K.  

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Rules / Regulations

1. (Rule)

The use of a red belt is only for a Soke - Dai (partially red) and ninth degree / Dan or above. Members will    refrain from issuing a red belt to a student. In the true, traditional martial art's and way's the use of a red belt for children's / students  grades was non existent until taekwondo entered the martial art's seen in 1954.

(Reason)

The Red belt was used by the Korean martial art's practitioners as a student grade to insult the practitioners of the Chinese , Japanese and Okinawan martial arts , where it is revered as a very high ranking belt of no less then that of a ninth degree. The red belt is a " Grand Masters " belt, not a child's belt.

  2.

 The use of a Dojo or training hall to hold parties in is not allowed. No member or their instructors and / or students are not allowed to hold children's birthday parties or any other none fighting arts activity in a Dojo.

(Reason)

The Dojo should be respected as a serious training hall for one to learn the martial (Military) fighting arts. This respect for the Dojo should be equivalent to that of a Christian respecting his church.

( Exception )

Dojo grand openings , celebrations such as the head masters birthday, Yudansha promotions or any event that had taken place that is important to the Ryu / Ryuha , operation of the school and / or association which would be the cause for a formal celebration. Only then would the celebration / party be held , upholding the professional standards, common sense and good taste that all S.M.K. members strive to live by.

3.

No member of the S.M.K. or their instructor students shall rent themselves out as a form of " Entertainment " for such birthday parties or parties in general.

(Reason)

We are not clowns, A martial arts instructor who holds birthday parties in his / her dojo and gives direction of same including any form of training to the attendees aka " Party goers " is actually taking the place of a clown at a child's birthday party. Members of the S.M.K. and their students are serious students of martial arts, some are even holding jobs where their lives may depend on it's use. Hardly should a training environment be held in the same place or regard as a child's  birthday party.   

The Soke Menkyo Kai is a Sokeship association that is traditional in it's values and outlooks. It is due to this , and to prevent any unwarranted activity by it's members. The S.M.K. has a written agreement that each member signs.

Known as " The Professional Standards Agreement " members agree that they will abide by the following rules / regulations which further the S.M.K.'s outlook on the martial art's as a whole.

4.

No member or members student instructors shall partake in any activity deemed illegal or immoral. this is to include being an habitual drunkard or miss use drugs or bring harm to themselves or another unless it is in self defense or a combat situation.

( Reason )

There is no need for a reason for this regulation.

5.

Each S.M.K. member acts / is his own agent and is thus responsible for any and all actions that they may take or cause in any and all circumstances.

( Reason )

This is the lawsuit clause that protects the S.M.K. and all of it's members from any litigation or law suits. It holds each individual member liable for their own actions.

6.

All members agree to return any and all license and documentation that was issued , awarded to him / her by the S.M.K. in the event one is asked for same due to one breaking any of the above professional standards agreements.

( Reason )

If a member is found to have brought dishonor to him / herself  and / or the S.M.K. and / or it's members by breaking one of the agreements within this section. The S.M.K. does not want to accredit such an individual. Licenses for Sokes are the same as in any given profession and if one breaks the law, one can loose his / her license ie; Realtor, Electrician, House inspector, Law enforcement officer , ect.

7.

No S.M.K. member will issue cross grade certificates. All certification must be earned not exchanged. 

( Reason )

This is one of the reasons martial arts as a whole has began a spiral downwards in regards to accreditation.