WORLD KARATE-DO ORGANIZATION

WKDO

CONSTITUTION AND STATUTES

International Organization for the Development, Recognition, Preservation and Promotion of Karate-Do

Draft Edition 1.0

PREAMBLE

Recognizing Karate-Do as a martial art, educational discipline, cultural tradition, method of personal development, and international sport;

Recognizing the rich diversity of Karate-Do schools, styles, organizations, masters, instructors, athletes, and practitioners throughout the world;

Recognizing the importance of preserving the historical and technical heritage of Karate-Do while supporting responsible modernization and international cooperation;

Desiring to establish a unified international organization based upon respect, discipline, integrity, technical excellence, safety, education, and peaceful cooperation;

The WORLD KARATE-DO ORGANIZATION (WKDO) is hereby established as an international organization dedicated to the preservation, development, recognition, regulation, education, and worldwide promotion of Karate-Do.

ARTICLE 1

NAME

Section 1 — Official Name

The official name of the organization shall be:

WORLD KARATE-DO ORGANIZATION

The official abbreviation shall be:

WKDO

Section 2 — Official Character

The WKDO shall serve as an international umbrella organization for recognized Karate-Do organizations, styles, schools, clubs, instructors, masters, coaches, referees, judges, athletes, and practitioners.

ARTICLE 2

MISSION

The mission of the WKDO shall be:

To unite, preserve, develop, recognize, educate, and promote Karate-Do worldwide while respecting the individual identity and heritage of every recognized Karate-Do style.

The organization shall seek to create cooperation without unnecessary uniformity.

ARTICLE 3

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the WKDO shall include:

Promotion of Karate-Do worldwide;
Preservation of traditional Karate-Do;
Recognition of legitimate Karate-Do styles and organizations;
Development of international technical standards;
Development of instructors and coaches;
Development of referees and judges;
Promotion of athletes and competitions;
Organization of international championships;
Promotion of youth Karate;
Promotion of women’s participation;
Development of Para-Karate;
Promotion of Karate education and research;
International exchange of knowledge;
Protection of athletes and practitioners;
Promotion of clean and ethical sport;
Prevention of abuse, discrimination and corruption;
Promotion of friendship and cooperation among Karate practitioners.

ARTICLE 4

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

The WKDO shall operate according to the following principles:

4.1 Respect

Respect for teachers, students, opponents, officials, organizations, traditions, cultures, and society.

4.2 Discipline

Karate-Do shall be practiced with discipline, responsibility, and self-control.

4.3 Integrity

All WKDO officials, members, instructors, and athletes shall act honestly and ethically.

4.4 Unity

Different Karate styles may remain technically distinct while cooperating within one international organization.

4.5 Excellence

The WKDO shall encourage continuous improvement in technical, educational, organizational, and sporting standards.

4.6 Safety

The health and safety of practitioners and athletes shall be a fundamental priority.

4.7 Fairness

Competitions, examinations, appointments, and organizational decisions shall be conducted fairly and impartially.

4.8 Non-Discrimination

The WKDO shall oppose discrimination and shall promote equal opportunity within legitimate sporting and technical classifications.

ARTICLE 5

KARATE-DO STYLES

The WKDO recognizes the historical diversity of Karate-Do.

Recognized styles may include, but are not limited to:

Shotokan;
Goju-Ryu;
Shito-Ryu;
Wado-Ryu;
Shorin-Ryu;
Uechi-Ryu;
Kyokushin;
Shinkyokushin;
Ashihara;
Enshin;
Isshin-Ryu;
Shotokai;
and other established Karate-Do schools, systems, branches, and traditions.

Recognition shall be based upon documented history, technical curriculum, qualified leadership, organizational structure, and compliance with WKDO standards.

ARTICLE 6

PRINCIPLE OF STYLE INDEPENDENCE

The WKDO shall not require a recognized Karate style to abandon its traditional identity.

Each recognized style may maintain its own:

Technical curriculum;
Kata;
Kihon;
Kumite system;
Grading system;
Terminology;
Teaching methodology;
Historical traditions;
Master-to-student lineage.

WKDO recognition shall provide a framework for cooperation and international recognition while respecting the autonomy of recognized styles.

ARTICLE 7

WORLD KARATE-DO COUNCIL

The supreme technical advisory body of the WKDO shall be the:

WORLD KARATE-DO COUNCIL

The Council shall advise the organization on:

Technical matters;
Style recognition;
Historical preservation;
Dan recognition;
Instructor standards;
Competition standards;
International education;
Development of Karate-Do.

The Council may include senior masters and recognized technical experts from different Karate traditions.

ARTICLE 8

GOVERNING STRUCTURE

The principal organs of the WKDO shall be:

World Congress;
Executive Council;
President;
Vice Presidents;
Secretary General;
Treasurer;
World Karate-Do Council;
Technical Commission;
Education and Instructor Commission;
Referee and Judge Commission;
Medical and Safety Commission;
Athletes’ Commission;
Youth Commission;
Women’s Commission;
Para-Karate Commission;
Ethics Commission;
Disciplinary Commission;
Arbitration Panel;
National Organizations;
Continental Organizations.

ARTICLE 9

WORLD CONGRESS

The World Congress shall be the supreme legislative authority of the WKDO.

The Congress shall:

Approve the Constitution and Statutes;
Amend the Statutes;
Elect the President;
Elect members of the Executive Council;
Approve strategic policies;
Approve annual reports;
Approve financial reports;
Establish major commissions;
Approve membership policies;
Determine the international direction of the organization.

ARTICLE 10

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Executive Council shall administer the WKDO between meetings of the World Congress.

Its responsibilities shall include:

Implementing Congress decisions;
Managing international programs;
Supervising commissions;
Approving official events;
Managing international relations;
Supervising administration;
Protecting the integrity of the organization;
Developing strategic plans.

ARTICLE 11

PRESIDENT

The President shall be the principal elected representative of the WKDO.

The President shall:

Represent the WKDO internationally;
Preside over the World Congress;
Preside over the Executive Council;
Promote international cooperation;
Ensure implementation of the Statutes;
Protect the independence and integrity of the organization.

The President shall exercise authority within the limits established by these Statutes.

ARTICLE 12

VICE PRESIDENTS

The Executive Council may appoint Vice Presidents responsible for specific areas, including:

International Affairs;
Technical Development;
Sport and Competition;
Education;
Administration;
Continental Development;
Special Programs.

ARTICLE 13

SECRETARY GENERAL

The Secretary General shall be responsible for the administrative management of the WKDO.

Responsibilities include:

Official correspondence;
Membership records;
Congress documentation;
Meeting minutes;
International communication;
Administrative coordination;
Maintenance of official organizational records.

ARTICLE 14

TREASURER

The Treasurer shall oversee financial administration.

The Treasurer shall maintain:

Financial records;
Annual budgets;
Financial reports;
Payment authorization procedures;
Internal financial controls;
Appropriate accounting documentation.

The organization should provide for independent financial review or audit where required by applicable law or organizational policy.

ARTICLE 15

MEMBERSHIP

The WKDO may recognize the following membership categories:

A. National Organization

A recognized national Karate-Do organization.

B. Continental Organization

A recognized regional or continental Karate-Do organization.

C. Style Organization

A recognized organization representing a particular Karate-Do style.

D. Federation or Association

A recognized Karate organization operating at national or international level.

E. Dojo / Club

An approved Karate-Do school or training organization.

F. Individual Member

A qualified master, instructor, coach, referee, judge, athlete, practitioner, or technical expert.

G. Honorary Member

An individual recognized for exceptional contribution to Karate-Do.

ARTICLE 16

MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS

Recognized members may, according to their membership category:

Participate in WKDO activities;
Attend authorized seminars;
Participate in examinations;
Enter recognized competitions;
Apply for certifications;
Participate in elections where eligible;
Receive official recognition;
Represent the WKDO where formally authorized.

Voting rights shall be determined by membership category and the electoral regulations.

ARTICLE 17

MEMBERSHIP DUTIES

Members shall:

Respect the Statutes;
Respect applicable laws;
Provide accurate information;
Maintain ethical standards;
Protect athletes and students;
Respect other Karate styles;
Follow official WKDO regulations;
Avoid conduct damaging to the integrity of Karate-Do.

ARTICLE 18

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The WKDO may recognize National Karate-Do Organizations.

A National Organization may coordinate:

National championships;
National seminars;
Instructor development;
Referee development;
Athlete registration;
National grading activities;
International participation;
WKDO programs within its territory.

National organizations shall operate in accordance with applicable national law.

ARTICLE 19

CONTINENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

The WKDO may establish Continental Organizations for regions including:

Asia;
Europe;
Africa;
North America;
South America;
Oceania;
and other regions approved by the Executive Council.

Continental Organizations shall coordinate WKDO programs within their respective regions.

ARTICLE 20

TECHNICAL COMMISSION

The Technical Commission shall establish and maintain technical standards for WKDO programs.

Its responsibilities shall include:

Technical curriculum development;
Technical research;
Examination standards;
Instructor standards;
Competition standards;
Technical seminars;
Certification requirements;
Review of emerging Karate systems.

ARTICLE 21

EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT

The WKDO shall establish international education programs for:

Karate instructors;
Coaches;
Examiners;
Referees;
Judges;
Technical directors;
Seminar instructors.

Educational programs may include:

Kihon;
Kata;
Kumite;
Bunkai;
Self-defense;
Teaching methodology;
Sports science;
Athlete safety;
Ethics;
Leadership.

ARTICLE 22

DAN AND RANK RECOGNITION

The WKDO may establish an international Dan recognition system.

Ranks may include:

1st Dan;
2nd Dan;
3rd Dan;
4th Dan;
5th Dan;
6th Dan;
7th Dan;
8th Dan;
9th Dan;
10th Dan.

The WKDO shall respect legitimate grading systems of recognized styles.

A WKDO certificate shall not automatically invalidate a legitimate rank issued by a recognized traditional authority.

ARTICLE 23

MASTER AND TECHNICAL RECOGNITION

The WKDO may establish criteria for recognizing:

Senior Instructor;
Master Instructor;
International Master;
Senior Technical Expert;
Technical Director;
Grand Master, where justified by documented qualifications and contribution.

Titles shall be awarded according to objective standards rather than solely by personal appointment.

ARTICLE 24

COMPETITION DISCIPLINES

The WKDO may recognize multiple disciplines, including:

Traditional Karate

Kata

Kumite

Full-Contact Karate

Karate Combat

Bunkai

Self-Defense

Team Competition

Para-Karate

Youth Karate

Veterans Karate

Additional disciplines may be recognized by the Technical Commission and approved through the appropriate governance process.

ARTICLE 25

COMPETITION REGULATIONS

Each discipline shall have its own official technical regulations.

Regulations may establish:

Competition area;
Protective equipment;
Age divisions;
Weight divisions;
Match duration;
Scoring;
Legal techniques;
Prohibited techniques;
Referee procedures;
Medical procedures;
Appeals;
Disciplinary procedures.

ARTICLE 26

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The WKDO may organize:

WKDO WORLD KARATE-DO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Championship divisions may include:

Kata;
Kumite;
Full Contact;
Karate Combat;
Team events;
Para-Karate;
Youth;
Veterans.

The exact championship format shall be established in the applicable competition regulations.

ARTICLE 27

REFEREE AND JUDGE COMMISSION

The Referee and Judge Commission shall:

Establish judging standards;
Conduct international examinations;
Certify referees and judges;
Organize international seminars;
Maintain certification records;
Review judging performance;
Investigate technical complaints.

Possible certification levels include:

National;
Continental;
International;
World.

ARTICLE 28

ATHLETES’ COMMISSION

The Athletes’ Commission shall represent athlete interests.

Its responsibilities shall include:

Athlete welfare;
Fair competition;
Safety;
Competition conditions;
Athlete representation;
Feedback to governing bodies.

Athletes should have an appropriate voice in decisions affecting their sporting activities.

ARTICLE 29

MEDICAL AND SAFETY COMMISSION

The Medical and Safety Commission shall establish:

Medical standards;
Competition safety requirements;
Injury protocols;
Emergency procedures;
Athlete medical requirements;
Return-to-training guidelines;
Return-to-competition procedures.

The official medical authority shall have independent authority to stop participation when necessary for athlete safety.

ARTICLE 30

YOUTH PROTECTION

The WKDO shall establish special protections for children and young athletes.

The organization shall promote:

Safe training;
Qualified instructors;
Appropriate contact rules;
Age-appropriate competition;
Protection from abuse;
Protection from exploitation;
Safe reporting mechanisms.

ARTICLE 31

WOMEN’S KARATE

The WKDO shall promote women’s participation in:

Karate competition;
Coaching;
Refereeing;
Technical leadership;
Administration;
Education;
Governance.

Women shall have equal opportunities within the applicable organizational and sporting framework.

ARTICLE 32

PARA-KARATE

The WKDO shall promote Para-Karate and inclusive participation.

Classification and competition regulations shall be established according to objective functional criteria and applicable international standards.

ARTICLE 33

ETHICS AND INTEGRITY

Every WKDO member shall uphold:

Honesty;
Fair play;
Respect;
Accountability;
Transparency;
Professional conduct.

Prohibited conduct may include:

Bribery;
Corruption;
Fraud;
Match manipulation;
Falsification of rank or credentials;
Discrimination;
Harassment;
Abuse;
Misuse of organizational authority.

ARTICLE 34

ATHLETE AND MEMBER PROTECTION

The WKDO shall maintain policies against:

Physical abuse;
Psychological abuse;
Harassment;
Bullying;
Sexual misconduct;
Exploitation;
Retaliation against legitimate complaints.

All WKDO officials and members have a responsibility to protect vulnerable persons.

ARTICLE 35

CLEAN SPORT

The WKDO shall promote clean sport.

Where applicable, WKDO competitions shall operate under recognized anti-doping standards and procedures.

Athletes, coaches, officials, and member organizations shall comply with the applicable rules.

ARTICLE 36

DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION

The Disciplinary Commission shall investigate alleged violations of WKDO regulations.

Possible sanctions may include:

Official warning;
Reprimand;
Temporary suspension;
Competition suspension;
Removal from office;
Membership suspension;
Expulsion.

All disciplinary proceedings shall respect due process.

ARTICLE 37

APPEALS

A person or organization subject to disciplinary action shall have the right to appeal according to the official WKDO procedures.

The WKDO shall maintain an independent appeal mechanism appropriate to the nature of the dispute.

ARTICLE 38

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Any official who has a personal, financial, professional, or organizational interest in a matter under consideration shall disclose the conflict.

The official may be required to abstain from discussion, decision-making, or voting.

ARTICLE 39

FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE

The WKDO shall maintain transparent financial administration.

The organization shall establish:

Annual budgets;
Financial reporting;
Internal controls;
Authorization procedures;
Recordkeeping;
Conflict-of-interest controls.

Funds shall be used for legitimate organizational purposes.

ARTICLE 40

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

The WKDO may organize or recognize:

World Championships;
Continental Championships;
World Cups;
International Opens;
Technical seminars;
Master seminars;
Instructor conferences;
Referee conferences;
Training camps;
Cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 41

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The WKDO may officially recognize:

Karate styles;
National organizations;
Continental organizations;
Dojos;
Instructors;
Masters;
Coaches;
Referees;
Judges;
Examiners;
Athletes;
Technical experts.

Recognition shall be based on established criteria and documented qualifications.

ARTICLE 42

KARATE HERITAGE AND RESEARCH

The WKDO shall promote the preservation of Karate-Do heritage.

Activities may include:

Historical research;
Documentation of masters;
Preservation of Kata;
Preservation of traditional terminology;
Technical archives;
International publications;
Seminars on Karate history;
Cultural exchanges.

The WKDO shall encourage accurate historical documentation and shall distinguish documented history from personal claims or unverified traditions.

ARTICLE 43

INTERNATIONAL KARATE-DO ARCHIVE

The organization may establish:

WKDO INTERNATIONAL KARATE-DO ARCHIVE

The Archive may document:

Recognized Karate styles;
Historical masters;
Lineages;
Technical systems;
Kata;
Publications;
Championships;
Important historical events.

ARTICLE 44

OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION

The WKDO may issue official certificates for:

Membership;
Instructor qualification;
Coaching qualification;
Referee qualification;
Judge qualification;
Dan recognition;
Technical seminars;
International events;
Organizational recognition.

Certificates shall be issued according to established standards.

ARTICLE 45

OFFICIAL SYMBOLS

The WKDO may establish:

Official emblem;
Flag;
Logo;
Membership certificate;
Championship medal;
Championship belt;
Official uniform;
Official identification card.

Use of official symbols shall be governed by organizational regulations.

ARTICLE 46

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

The official working language of the WKDO shall be English.

The organization may publish official documents in additional languages.

Where a legal or regulatory conflict exists between translations, the designated official version shall prevail.

ARTICLE 47

AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTES

These Statutes may be amended by the World Congress.

Proposals for amendment shall be submitted according to the official Congress procedures.

An amendment shall become effective upon approval by the required voting majority unless a different effective date is specified.

ARTICLE 48

DISSOLUTION

The WKDO may be dissolved only by a duly authorized decision of the World Congress and in accordance with applicable law.

Upon dissolution, remaining assets shall be distributed in accordance with:

Applicable law;
The organization’s legal registration documents;
The decision of the World Congress.

No individual member shall have a personal ownership claim over organizational assets except where legally required.

ARTICLE 49

INTERPRETATION

Where an issue concerning the interpretation of these Statutes arises, the Executive Council may issue an interim interpretation.

Such interpretation shall remain subject to review by the World Congress.

ARTICLE 50

SUPREMACY OF THE STATUTES

These Statutes shall constitute the fundamental governing document of the World Karate-Do Organization.

All regulations, commissions, committees, policies, and decisions of the WKDO shall comply with these Statutes.

Where a conflict exists, these Statutes shall prevail, subject always to mandatory applicable law.

ARTICLE 51

OFFICIAL MOTTO

The official motto of the World Karate-Do Organization shall be:

ONE KARATE-DO — MANY STYLES — ONE WORLD

The organization may additionally use:

RESPECT • UNITY • DISCIPLINE • EXCELLENCE

ARTICLE 52

FINAL DECLARATION

The World Karate-Do Organization is founded on the belief that Karate-Do is a global discipline whose strength comes from both its unity and its diversity.

The WKDO shall seek to unite traditional and modern Karate organizations without destroying their individual identities.

The organization shall respect the history, teachers, technical systems, cultural traditions, and legitimate lineages of recognized Karate-Do schools.

At the same time, WKDO shall encourage responsible innovation, international cooperation, athlete development, education, safety, and fair competition.

The fundamental objective of the WKDO shall therefore be:

TO PRESERVE THE ROOTS OF KARATE-DO, DEVELOP ITS FUTURE, AND UNITE ITS PRACTITIONERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

ONE KARATE-DO

MANY STYLES

ONE WORLD

OFFICIAL ORGANIZATIONAL NAME

WORLD KARATE-DO ORGANIZATION

Abbreviation: WKDO

Official Character: International Karate-Do Organization

Principal Purpose: Global recognition, preservation, development, education, cooperation, and promotion of Karate-Do.