| © 2008-2010 AJBF/NSD USA |
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:
Membership Options & Benefits:
The Zen Nihon Budo Renmei offers both Full Membership and Associate
Membership (U.S.A. Branch) options. Benefits of general membership are as
follows (see additional Full Member benefits below):
Who May Apply:
Membership within the ZNBR is open to all legitimate practitioners of the
Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. We have the following divisions of
traditional budo and bujutsu:
Like other traditional Japanese organizations, the ZNBR utilizes the kyu/dan
system (dan-i) to confer rank in each division. In addition, the ZNBR issues the
traditional instructor titles (shogo) of Tasshi, Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi to
qualified members.
The Zen Nihon Budo Renmei offers both Full Membership and Associate
Membership (U.S.A. Branch) options. Benefits of general membership are as
follows (see additional Full Member benefits below):
- Open to all legitimate practitioners of the Japanese or Okinanwan martial
arts - Association with a legitimate Japanese organization
- Progressive and less stagnate than other Japanese organizations
- Easy application process
- Associate members receive a traditional certificate of membership
- Low annual dues
- Eligible to attend ZNBR sponsored events
- Eligible to host ZNBR instructors for training and testing in represented arts
- Additional networking and training opportunities throughout the U.S.and
world in a variety of traditional martial arts. - Access to our quarterly newsletter and eligible to submit news items,
event listings and articles for publication
Who May Apply:
Membership within the ZNBR is open to all legitimate practitioners of the
Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. We have the following divisions of
traditional budo and bujutsu:
- Karate: Empty-hand Arts of Okinawa & Japan (including Okinawan
Kobudo) - Jujutsu: Self-protection arts of traditional Japanese lineage
- Goshinjutsu: Modern self-defense arts of Japanese derivation
- Judo: Traditional Kodokan Judo as founded by Jigoro Kano
- Aikido: Traditional Aikido styles descended from Morihei Ueshiba
- Kendo: Kendo as defined by the All Japan Kendo Federation
- Iaido: Traditional sword arts focusing on drawing techniques
- Kobudo: Classical Japanese arts (Kenjutsu, Naginatajutsu, etc)
Like other traditional Japanese organizations, the ZNBR utilizes the kyu/dan
system (dan-i) to confer rank in each division. In addition, the ZNBR issues the
traditional instructor titles (shogo) of Tasshi, Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi to
qualified members.
1. Associate Membership Application Process:
Associate Membership in the U.S.A. Branch is open to all legitimate practitioners of the traditional Japanese or Okinawan
martial arts. The primary purpose of our Associate Membership is to allow those individuals who wish to work toward Full
Membership an opportunity to join the federation and begin the process early. Acceptance is not automatic, and a
documented history in traditional Japanese or Okinawan Budo is required.
Please also note: Associate Members are not eligible for rank or teaching licenses within the ZNBR, nor does the ZNBR
recognize, in any way, an associate member's current rank, teaching credentials, etc. All Associate Members must clearly
identify themselves as such at all times, or face expulsion from the ZNBR.
To apply for Associate Membership, please do one of following:
1) Print and mail in our Associate Member Application along with a copy of your current rank certificate (menjo).
2) Print, fill out, then scan and email the Associate Member Application to us along with a digital copy of your current rank
certificate.
3) Fill out our convenient Online Application.
If you have been accepted for membership, or are already a member in good standing, please click on the link below to pay
your annual Associate Membership dues online through PayPal!
Pay Annual Dues Online
Associate Membership in the U.S.A. Branch is open to all legitimate practitioners of the traditional Japanese or Okinawan
martial arts. The primary purpose of our Associate Membership is to allow those individuals who wish to work toward Full
Membership an opportunity to join the federation and begin the process early. Acceptance is not automatic, and a
documented history in traditional Japanese or Okinawan Budo is required.
Please also note: Associate Members are not eligible for rank or teaching licenses within the ZNBR, nor does the ZNBR
recognize, in any way, an associate member's current rank, teaching credentials, etc. All Associate Members must clearly
identify themselves as such at all times, or face expulsion from the ZNBR.
To apply for Associate Membership, please do one of following:
1) Print and mail in our Associate Member Application along with a copy of your current rank certificate (menjo).
2) Print, fill out, then scan and email the Associate Member Application to us along with a digital copy of your current rank
certificate.
3) Fill out our convenient Online Application.
If you have been accepted for membership, or are already a member in good standing, please click on the link below to pay
your annual Associate Membership dues online through PayPal!
Pay Annual Dues Online
| Embu at the Butokuden (Note: Seibukan Banner in the Background) |
| Iaido Embu at the Butokuden (Note: Seibukan Banner far Right) |
2. Full Membership Application Process:
Full Membership includes all the benefits of an Associate Membership with the addition of rank recognition and opportunities
for advancement in a legitimate Japanese federation. Some of the additional benefits of Full Membership within the
Zen Nihon Budo Renmei / Nippon Seibukan Dojo are as follows:
To apply for Full Membership, applicants must first contact the US Shidoin and request an application to be submitted along
with the following:
If approved by the US Shidoin--and this may require an in-person interview in addition to the application--the information
will be sent on to the Western Director (Shibucho) for approval, and finally, to the Hombu in Japan for final approval. Please
note that Kawano Yasuo Kancho has the final say in all membership applications submitted to the ZNBR. If accepted, specific
fees will need to be remitted to the hombu, at which time appropriate credentials will then be issued (i.e. menjo and/or
shogo) to the new member.
For specific directions and to initiate the Full Membership process, please contact the US Shidoin.
Full Membership includes all the benefits of an Associate Membership with the addition of rank recognition and opportunities
for advancement in a legitimate Japanese federation. Some of the additional benefits of Full Membership within the
Zen Nihon Budo Renmei / Nippon Seibukan Dojo are as follows:
- Rank recognition and the opportunity to advance further
- No annual dues
- Rank certificates issued directly from the headquarters in Japan
- The opportunity to serve in leadership positions within the ZNBR
- Affordable Kyu rank recognition for their students
- The ability to influence ZNBF policy as it relates to the preservation and teaching of the traditional martial arts
- Eligible to receive training at the Nippon Seibukan Hombu Dojo in Japan
To apply for Full Membership, applicants must first contact the US Shidoin and request an application to be submitted along
with the following:
- Copies of their current menjo (certificates of rank)
- Training history (in resume format)
- Academic/professional resume
- Passport sized photos (when approved)
- Additional items as deemed necessary by the Shidoin or Hombu
If approved by the US Shidoin--and this may require an in-person interview in addition to the application--the information
will be sent on to the Western Director (Shibucho) for approval, and finally, to the Hombu in Japan for final approval. Please
note that Kawano Yasuo Kancho has the final say in all membership applications submitted to the ZNBR. If accepted, specific
fees will need to be remitted to the hombu, at which time appropriate credentials will then be issued (i.e. menjo and/or
shogo) to the new member.
For specific directions and to initiate the Full Membership process, please contact the US Shidoin.
3. U.S.A. Branch Kyu Ranks:
Current Full Members in good standing may register their students' Kyu ranks with the U.S.A. Branch. These applicants
then become Junior Members of the U.S.A. Branch only (not the Hombu in Japan) as long as they remain enrolled in the
dojo of the Full Member. These Junior Members must pay annual Associate Dues to remain in good standing with the
U.S.A. Branch.
When an application is approved, the rank will be registered with the U.S.A Branch and the student will be issued a
beautiful traditional 11" x 17" Kyu rank certificate in bi-lingual format (see a sample in our Summer 2009 journal).
A mail-in application for Kyu registration is located below, or you may also follow this link to fill out or convenient online
application. Registration/promotional fees of $25.00 apply for each Kyu rank registered. As with our Associate
Membership, once accepted, these fees may also be paid conveniently online here.
Kyu Rank Registration/Promotion Application
Current Full Members in good standing may register their students' Kyu ranks with the U.S.A. Branch. These applicants
then become Junior Members of the U.S.A. Branch only (not the Hombu in Japan) as long as they remain enrolled in the
dojo of the Full Member. These Junior Members must pay annual Associate Dues to remain in good standing with the
U.S.A. Branch.
When an application is approved, the rank will be registered with the U.S.A Branch and the student will be issued a
beautiful traditional 11" x 17" Kyu rank certificate in bi-lingual format (see a sample in our Summer 2009 journal).
A mail-in application for Kyu registration is located below, or you may also follow this link to fill out or convenient online
application. Registration/promotional fees of $25.00 apply for each Kyu rank registered. As with our Associate
Membership, once accepted, these fees may also be paid conveniently online here.
Kyu Rank Registration/Promotion Application
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ZEN NIHON BUDO RENMEI
ALL JAPAN BUDO FEDERATION U.S.A. BRANCH