Code of Conduct and
Ethics for NAC Dojo:
Uechi-ryu
Karate Association: North American Chapter
Code of Conduct and Ethics
MISSION
The Uechi Ryu Karate Association: North American Chapter, is
dedicated to advancing the finest traditions of the martial arts
by encouraging and promoting the development of physical, mental
and spiritual health with a commitment to personal dignity,
mutual respect and service to the community.
INTRODUCTION
This statement for the NAC provides a guideline for behavior of
instructors towards students and between students. Martial Arts
and Self Defense training plays an important part in a student s
life and as such places a responsibility on the school,
instructors, senior students and school director to provide
quality instruction. The following Rules of Behavior and Ethics
supplement the NAC code of conduct. They seek to enhance the
standards of dojos and apply Master Kanei Uechi s Precepts for
the Uechi-Ryu Practitioner. All members of the NAC must agree to
the Code of Conduct and Ethics.
In General
Instructors and students will behave in an appropriate manner at
all times as defined by this Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Dojos
1. All dojo will make an effort to maintain a clean and safe
environment.
2. Decor should be simple, in good taste and reflect a high
regard for the traditions of the martial arts.
3. Equipment that promotes personal safety and minimizes injury
will be used.
Physical
1. Physical or emotional abuse will not be tolerated.
2. Students and instructors will maintain appropriate behavior at
all times (examples of inappropriate behavior include: swearing,
fighting, teasing, sexual innuendo etc.).
3. The instructor should inquire about any physical limitations
of his or her students. Instructors should not force a students
beyond these limitations.
4. It is recommended that Instructors be certified in First Aid
and CPR.
Minor Children (under the age of 13)
and Minors (under the age of 18)
1. Extra care must be taken in the instruction of children and
minors accounting for their state of
physical, psychological and emotional development.
2 It is recommended that a responsible adult in addition to the
instructor be present when instructing minor children, an
instructor should not be alone with a minor.
3. It is the responsibility of parents or guardians to insure
that children arrive safely and return safely
from class. In this respect the dojo will require a list of
individuals authorized to pick up minor children from class.
Minor children will not be permitted to leave the premises with
persons not on this list. Parents can, however, give their
children permission to walk home alone or with other minors or
adults, but must inform the instructor.
4. Any physical injury or perceived injury must immediately be
brought to the attention of a parent or guardian.
5. Corporal punishment is not allowed. Parents and/or guardians
will be informed in advance that reprimanding will be applied as
necessary, but within the limits as defined by these Guidelines.
It is recommended that parents and/or guardians be involved in
serious disciplinary actions (e.g. withholding rank or dismissal
from class.)
6. If appropriate, parents and/or guardians should be encouraged
to view the teaching of the minor children s classes.
7. Perceptions of bullying behavior, physical or emotional
problems will be brought to the attention of a parent and/or
guardian so that they can be evaluated. Instructors and senior
students are NOT physicians, child psychologists or therapists
and are NOT permitted to diagnose nor treat physical, emotional
or psychological problems of any student.
8. An instructor may not check (i.e. physically touch) a student
without their consent, if a minor child, this also includes the
parent and/or guardian. It is recommended that this be included
in any release or consent form and that the instructor explain
the importance of checking . This includes Sanchin, using a
student as an Uke, or similar circumstances.
9. Minor children are not to be hard tested in Sanchin, or at any
other time. Conditioning exercises in the traditional sense,
involving hard striking to the body, are not to be performed with
minor children.
10. If an instructor observes what appears to be evidence of
physical abuse within the dojo upon the person of a minor
student, the instructor should notify the Senior Instructor or a
member of the Board of Directors of the NAC. If the source of
abuse is outside of the dojo the instructor should contact the
minor student s school or the appropriate Family Services Agency.
Emotional and Psychological Well Being
of Students
1. No instructor or senior student will use their position of
authority to take advantage of a student.
2. No instructor or senior student will behave in such a manner
as to intentionally create or promote an unhealthy emotional or
psychological dependency on them.
3. An instructor should strive to avoid problematic dual
relationships (e.g. dating, business deals) with students and
must understand that outside-of -classroom relationships can
potentially confuse and detract from a student s learning and
development. In case of a potential dual relationship the
instructor will attempt to make allowances for the imbalance of
power in the relationship by having other instructors grade or
promote the student. The instructor will avoid any behavior which
even gives the impression of favoritism.
4. The effectiveness of martial arts techniques are highly
dependent on the abilities and experiences of the individuals who
apply them. Beyond those limitations, the instructor will attempt
to convey a realistic appraisal of the effectiveness of self
defense techniques. The instructor will not convey a false sense
of security in self defense techniques.
5. No instructor or student will behave in such a manner as to
cause or promote a student s emotional or psychological
dependency. This includes references to mystical powers, special
or secret knowledge etc..
6. Though traditions are extremely important in the Martial Arts
they are only to be used in accordance with the above guidelines
.
7. The manner in which instructors and students address each
other will be determined by the individual dojo. If traditional
titles are used, they will be carefully defined by the instructor
as follows:
Shihan:
Instructor of instructors, or Senior Instructor - not Master
Instructor. Master is often interpreted and sometimes used to
convey a sense of superiority and mastery of material that often
does not exist.
Sensei:
Instructor in the manner of a title such as Professor Smith.
Sensei does not convey nor will be used to convey any meaning
beyond the title of teacher.
Sempai:
One who has gone before, or Senior Student.
Sexual Harassment
The NAC is strongly opposed to sexual harassment. Members of the
NAC must be made aware that such behavior is prohibited both by
law and NAC policy. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome
sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or
physical conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or
effect of interfering with an individual s training, rank
certification, or employment, or creates an intimidating, hostile
or offensive environment.
Use of Force
1. Instructors must not encourage nor condone the testing out of
martial arts skills by students (e.g. seeking to provoke fights
or conflicts). When a student reports the use of Martial Arts
skills in a conflict, a critical incident debriefing will be
conducted. The instructor must be prepared to help the student
consider what other options, of lesser destructive potential,
might have been chosen.
2. The instructor will acknowledge the regrettable nature of
events that required the necessity to useextreme force. Such
events will not be glorified.
3. Promotions or special praise as a result of actual fighting
are not appropriate.
4. The instruction of self defense and the use of deadly or
non-deadly force shall be based on only the legal use of force
policies as defined by local, state and federal statutes.
Instructors are expected to be familiar with these policies.
5 Instructors will strive to educate students on the legal and
moral responsibilities of training in traditional and modern
weapons. Students should be actively discouraged from carrying
weapons in accordance with local, state and federal statutes and
commonly accepted community standards.
Code of Conduct
I. Instructors are expected to help a student as much as is
reasonable; in this they may become involved with parents and/or
teachers. This should only be done when requested by the parent
and/or guardian with their understanding and cooperation.
Students who come to the dojo with special problems, whether
physical or emotional, will involve a collaboration with a
trained and qualified professional as necessary.
II. Instructors and students will act with appropriate behavior
and good manners. Crude, rude, sexually explicit talk, innuendo
and comments and behavior that degrade others, will not be
tolerated and will result in a reprimand. Repeated instances will
result in expulsion.
III. Instructors should be made knowledgeable about psychological
factors associated with the potential to release a student s
destructive aggression. These factors include: obedience to
authority, dehumanizing potential opponents, use of disinhibiting
or mind-altering substances, operant conditioning of kill
reactions , loss of accountability and shame and humiliation as
triggers of rage reactions.
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