Many Styles. One Community.
Build Your School. Preserve Your Identity. Become Part of Something Greater.
RSKA Association Membership creates a connection between independent martial arts schools and instructors who believe in discipline, respect, leadership, tradition, and the continued development of the martial arts community.
RSKA Association Membership is designed for martial arts schools and instructors who want to be connected with the Ryukyu Shorinji-Ryu Karate Association while continuing to operate their own independent martial arts programs.
Association Membership is about affiliation, community, cooperation, and mutual support. It allows schools to become part of a larger martial arts network without requiring them to abandon the identity, traditions, curriculum, rank structure, or operating practices that make their school unique.
A member school remains its own school. Its instructors retain responsibility for the development and operation of their own training program while participating in a community built upon mutual respect and shared values.
The purpose is not to make every school the same. The purpose is to create a place where different martial arts traditions can come together, develop relationships, share knowledge, support one another, and help strengthen the martial arts community as a whole.
Your School Remains Your School
Association Membership allows schools to maintain their own identity, traditions, curriculum, instructors, rank structure, policies, uniforms, schedules, fees, and day-to-day operation.
Your School Becomes Part of a Network
Member schools become connected to a broader martial arts community where instructors and practitioners can develop relationships, exchange knowledge, support one another, and build lasting connections.
We Develop Together
RSKA encourages continued instructor development, leadership, mentorship, knowledge exchange, training opportunities, and the preservation of martial arts traditions across generations.
Your School Controls Its Own Program
Association Membership does not take control of the daily operation of a member school. Schools may establish and maintain their own requirements appropriate to their program.
- Curriculum and training methods
- Class schedule and training structure
- Rank and promotion system
- Testing and examination requirements
- Instructor requirements
- Student requirements
- Uniform and equipment requirements
- Tuition, fees, and payment structure
- School policies and procedures
- Day-to-day school management
Your Style Remains Your Style
RSKA is designed to bring martial artists together rather than force every school into a single model.
A karate school can remain a karate school. A judo school can remain a judo school. A jujutsu school can remain a jujutsu school. The same principle applies to other legitimate martial arts traditions.
The strength of an association is not created by making every school identical. It is created by bringing independent schools together around principles of respect, integrity, leadership, responsible instruction, and community.
Member School Independence Policy
RSKA Association Membership is an affiliation relationship, not a transfer of ownership or operational control. Each member school remains responsible for its own instructors, students, curriculum, rank structure, training environment, policies, finances, and daily operations.
Association Membership does not require a school to adopt the RSKA curriculum or change its existing training system. A school may continue developing its own program while participating in the larger RSKA community.
Association Membership Is Affiliation — Not Uniformity
A school joining the RSKA Association is choosing to become part of a community of martial artists who agree to work together in a spirit of professionalism, respect, integrity, and mutual support.
Membership allows an independent school to remain independent while establishing a meaningful relationship with the Association and its member schools.
The Association provides the connection. The individual school remains responsible for building, teaching, and developing its own program.
Association Membership Does Not Automatically:
- Make a school an RSKA Chartered School.
- Require the school to adopt the RSKA curriculum.
- Require the school to change its existing rank or testing system.
- Require the school to change its uniform, tuition, schedule, or school policies.
- Transfer ownership or operational control of the school to RSKA.
- Grant automatic RSKA rank, lineage, instructor certification, or credential recognition.
| AREA |
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP |
CHARTER MEMBERSHIP |
|---|---|---|
| School Identity | School retains its own identity, name, traditions, and organizational structure. | School remains identifiable as its own school while becoming formally recognized as an RSKA Chartered School. |
| Curriculum | School may develop, maintain, and teach its own curriculum. | School agrees to meet applicable RSKA curriculum and program standards. |
| Rank System | School may maintain its own rank and promotion structure. | Rank and promotion practices must meet applicable RSKA Charter standards. |
| Testing Requirements | School establishes its own testing requirements. | School follows applicable RSKA requirements for rank recognition and testing. |
| Uniforms & Fees | School determines its own uniforms, tuition, fees, and equipment policies. | School must comply with applicable Charter requirements while maintaining its school identity. |
| School Operations | School remains independently operated. | School remains independently operated but accepts additional RSKA Charter responsibilities and standards. |
| Association Community | Yes. Member schools participate in the broader RSKA community. | Yes. Chartered Schools are also part of the broader RSKA community. |
| Formal Charter Recognition | No. Association Membership alone does not constitute Charter recognition. | Yes. The school has completed the applicable Charter recognition process. |
| RSKA Standards | Members are expected to uphold Association principles, responsible conduct, respect, integrity, and community standards. | School accepts the additional standards, responsibilities, and requirements of the RSKA Charter Program. |
Affiliation, independence, community, cooperation, and shared development.
Formal RSKA school recognition accompanied by additional standards and responsibilities.
RSKA Association Member Schools are independent martial arts schools and instructors connected with the Ryukyu Shorinji-Ryu Karate Association through Association Membership.
The current directory of associated schools is maintained on its own dedicated page so visitors can easily view the schools that are part of the growing RSKA community.
Association Membership provides independent martial arts schools and instructors with formal recognition of their connection to the Ryukyu Shorinji-Ryu Karate Association. Each approved member may receive an official RSKA Association Membership Certificate documenting the membership relationship.
Official RSKA Association Membership Certificate — issued to approved Association Members.
Independence does not mean isolation. Association Membership carries the responsibility to represent one's school, instructors, students, and martial arts tradition with honesty and professionalism.
Member schools are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that supports a positive martial arts community and reflects the principles of discipline, respect, strength, leadership, and tradition.
Member schools should respect the traditions and identities of other martial arts organizations, avoid misrepresentation of rank or credentials, maintain appropriate student safety practices, and contribute positively to the Association community.
Become Part of the RSKA Community
If you are an independent martial arts school or instructor interested in connecting with the Ryukyu Shorinji-Ryu Karate Association while maintaining your school's independence, we invite you to learn more about Association Membership.
RSKA Associated School Memebrship ApplicationDifferent Paths • Shared Respect • Independent Schools • One Martial Arts Community