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Clarification of IUKF Rank and Title Promotions

Chelsey Schultz
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Clarification of IUKF Rank and Title Promotions

IUKF Dan Promotions: Ian Quitilen Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate must be recommended by dojo Shihan

Dojo Shihan must apply online and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Please provide

  •             NAME as it should be on the certificate.
  •             RANK being promoted to
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER (if you do not have one, one will be assigned)
  •             DATE of the test

Applying 60 days prior to the test is recommended.

The test will be a dojo test according to the Shihan’s discretion. May follow suggestions within the BBTG.

Certificates will be mailed to the dojo and will be awarded by the Shihan if the candidate passes.  Should be torn if not.

Upon request, the presence of an IUKF master rank could be arranged.   

All awards will be presented at the end of the testing or at an IUKF sponsored event        

IUKF Master Rank Promotions: Ian Quitilen Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate should be recommended by an IUKF uplink.

Must apply online and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Please provide:

  •             NAME as it should be on the certificate.
  •             RANK being promoted to
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER (if you do not have one, one will be assigned)
  •             DATE of the test will be listed when we receive all passing votes.

Providing a resume of the candidate would help to verify the time in grade and total time in training.

Must provide a recording of all 8 katas to be judged by 3 anonymous master rank.  The judges will only provide negative comments (if any) and submit a yes or no vote.

One “NO” vote will constitute a need to retest no sooner than 6 months.  All comments will be provided upon request.  The second attempt will be sent to another 3 master ranks.

All awards will be presented at an IUKF sponsored event

Oversight Promotion Committee: Al Wharton Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate should be recommended by an IUKF uplink.

Must apply online and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Please provide:

  •             NAME as it should be on the certificate.
  •             RANK being promoted to
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER (if you do not have one, one will be assigned)
  •         DATE of the test will be listed when we receive all passing votes.

This committee was created for any and all IUKF members who feels they have missed promotions due to substantiated, uncontrollable situations.  An example is the Shihan for some reason is no longer present at this dojo but the dojo remained in existence and this candidate continued training.  Another example would be moving away from your home dojo and opening your own dojo to continue working out and teach.  Simply stating you continued to work out is not enough verification of you continuing to work out.

Injuries are not acceptable.  If you are injured, you certainly have not been working out.

To say you’ve continued to work out on your own is not acceptable.  There is no substantiation of your claims.

Each claim is different and must go through the oversight committee.  

Must present all copies of past promotions.

Please be informed this committee gathers and verifies all the information submitted.  Decisions to allow testing will be determined by our senior board members and candidate must still pass required testing.

IUKF Title: Bruce Witheral Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate must apply online by an uplink and pay the non-refundable application fee.

Please provide:

  •             NAME as it should be on certificate.
  •             TITLE to be awarded
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER

Note: Uplink must submit a recommendation letter.

Uplink’s recommendation letter must be accompanied by 3 more verifying letters from people who actually know this candidate. 

Please understand a rank does not automatically include a title.  Unlike most organizations, the IUKF realizes a rank is what you’ve work and train to achieve. 

A title is awarded by an organization to a person for the goodwill and advancement he/she has unselfishly contributed to the IUKF and our Uechi-Ryu community.

Please be informed this committee gathers and verifies all the information submitted.  Decisions to award a title will be determined by our entire senior board members.

Thank You from IUKF President on New Rank!

Chelsey Schultz
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Thank You from IUKF President on New Rank!

I have been receiving many congratulatory messages and well wishes from friends and associates worldwide, and I am thankful and humbled by their comments and acceptance. I realized long ago, you are only who others believe you to be. As we all know, there are always people who will preach their messages of discontent and hate for whatever reason. I am so happy that the hundreds heavily outweigh the few.

There are many Uechi-Ryu organizations I could have turned to for advancement. I am so proud to have been honored by the IUKF, being acknowledged and promoted by Sensei George Mattson, the pioneer of Uechi-Ryu in the Americas, north and south. I am not implying that Sensei Mattson is the only person in this country to have studied and trained in Okinawa, but Sensei Mattson was the very first to bring Uechi-Ryu to light, starting in the northeastern region of the United States of America. Evident in the congregation of Uechi-Ryu dojos in the New England States and Canada.

As I realize this promotion demonstrates the pinnacle of our ranking system, this does not mean there is nothing else to learn. Martial arts are so vast, and Uechi-Ryu is so complicated and diverse that there is enough room for advancement and improvements for two lifetimes. I promise I will continue to train, study and learn from all sources until I am unable.
Martial Arts have been my passion since I was 7 years old. Throughout these many years, I have accumulated much knowledge. Some useful and some not so much.

However, as the president of the IUKF, I have committed to sharing all the information I have gathered. As senseis, we must realize that should be our desire. To be more direct, that should be our objective.
I do not use the word “teach,” as this might indicate that my path is imminent. I will always say that I am “sharing,” which gives everyone the option to receive or politely pass.

This promotion does not place me above anyone. Anyone who feels their rank means superiority in any shape or form has been walking the wrong path. We are all brothers and sisters heading in the same direction. Due to the extra time I’ve started my journey puts me a few steps ahead. Nothing more and nothing less.

I look forward to the day when those whom I walk in front will be leading me with strength, honor, and respect.

Darin Yee
President-IUKF
Judan-Hanshi

A Winterfest Experience

Chelsey Schultz
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A Winterfest Experience

A Sandan of Uechi-Ryu, Chelsey Schultz, attended Winterfest 2020 and shared her experiences on her blog. If you would like to read about her experience, click HERE!

IUKF MEMORANDUM

Chelsey Schultz
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IUKF MEMORANDUM

Clarification Regarding Promotion & Master Rank Testing

The IUKF is undergoing a revision of its procedures to serve its members better.  I’m sure there must be many questions going forward.  I hope the following information will address some of your concerns.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to communicate with us.

Our organization is global, and our membership is extensive.  We understand the difficulties of trying to accommodate everyone 100% of the time.  Please understand the best that we can do is to make decisions that will serve the majority of our membership.  In order to maintain stability and consistency, we cannot offer conflicting agreements from one dojo to another.

Promotions

Promotion For Shodan To Godan

The IUKF determined many years ago to implement “dojo testing” for Sho-dan to Go-dans.  That is to say, that each member dojo shall test students for Shodan up to Godan and may promote at their discretion.  The IUKF holds the Sensei/Direct Teacher responsible for upholding general standards and competency of the Applicant and will not scrutinize promotions at that level. Our current Senior Advisory Board upholds this current practice.

Each member dojo will conduct their own testing and apply their own standards specific to their dojo.  Each member dojo is advised to assemble their own testing board.  All member dojos may request the presence of a master rank from the IUKF, and we will make all efforts to make that possible.

The IUKF recommends your dojo follow the minimum requirements listed in the Black Belt Test Guide (which you can purchase online in Sensei Mattson’s store, or as a member dojo, you can view our suggested guidelines on our website in the members’ section).

Promotion For Rokudan & Up

Master ranks (Roku-dan 6th degree and up) are asked to uphold a more exceptional standard.  The candidate must record all 8 katas; and a bunkai of at least 8 techniques/combinations of his/her choosing.

Your katas will demonstrate you are still actively training and retain all the knowledge which paved the path to where you are.  Your katas will be judged by 3 anonymous master rank members from around the globe (preferably with no personal ties or conflicts) who can judge you without prejudice or partiality.  

The master rank must also demonstrate their knowledge of the arts which he/she believes they have mastered.  We are not asking you to create a long, formal bunkai like Seisan Bunkai.  Bunkai simply explains the application of movements or our technique.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate the 8 Uechi-Ryu bunkai movements from our 8 katas and how he/she would use them in an actual application.  This way, we can all witness your mastery and understanding of your master rank request, as well as to share your ideas with the rest of the Uechi World.

We thank you for your loyalty and contributions to the IUKF. Together, we will grow and improve.

Sincerely,
Darin Yee
IUKF President 

Sechin Bunkai Variations

Chelsey Schultz
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Sechin Bunkai Variations

Cecilia Salbuchi, one of our IUKF members from Argentina, has shared with us this incredible video on various applications of Sechin in Bunkai! Please take a look when you have a moment; it is worth the watch!

Plus, feel free to follow Ms. Salbuchi on Facebook and YouTube; she posts something almost every day.

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