Structure of JKA Victoria

Structure
JKA Victoria is the peak administrative body overseeing all JKA activities in the State of Victoria, Australia. All Dojos and individual members in the State are registered to the Japan Karate Association of Australia (JKAA) through JKA Victoria. JKA of Australia is in turn the sole Australian affiliate of the Japan Karate Association (Nihon Karate Kyokai) and the JKA World Federation (JKAWF) in Japan.

Individual Memberships
Being a member of the Japan Karate Association is a prestigious thing in the martial arts world. Applications by individuals are first vetted by the Dojo at which the applicant will train and then by the State Peak Body, JKA Victoria. On approval, members receive a membership card, which entitles the holder to participate in JKA activities. The process is as follows;

Individual Student membership applications are submitted to the Dojo where the student will be training. This is done through the Dojo head or an assistant to the senior instructor.
Each Dojo collects student membership applications, approves them and submits them to the state Peak body JKA Victoria.
JKA Victoria collects all membership applications from member Dojos, ratifies them and submits them to the membership officer of the Japan Karate Association of Australia.
JKAA issues membership cards to the State Peak Body, JKA Victoria for distribution to member Dojo heads and in turn to student members.
Membership of JKA Japan is held only by the official governing body in Australia, the Japan Karate Association of Australia (JKAA). Individuals, Dojos and State bodies cannot be direct members of JKA Japan.
Applications made to JKA Japan for membership outside of the Australian peak body, JKAA, will be referred back to Takahashi Sensei and to the executive of JKAA for consideration.

Dojo Memberships
Persons wishing to register a JKA Dojo in Victoria should do so through the State Peak Body JKA Victoria. Contact with JKA Victoria can be made directly through this website or by enquiring at any JKA Vic Dojo, see Dojo Directory. Applications made to the JKAA Japan Karate Association of Australia, will be referred back to the State for consideration.

A letter of request should first be sent to JKA Victoria, then depending on the nature of the application, the Technical Committee may approve it or conduct a background check or some level of due-diligence as to the suitability of the application. During this process, JKA Victoria will clearly explain the conditions of membership.

The applicant will likewise be able to assess whether JKA Vic meets his or her own particular needs, and in the case of an existing club, the needs of the group being represented will also be considered. In the case of a new Dojo being admitted to JKA Victoria, all individual members of that Dojo must submit applications for membership through the proper channels (see above).

For further information regarding the structure of JKA Victoria or of JKA Australia, contact us. We will be happy to help.