Shin Ken Kai Student Responsibilities and Code of Ethics

The Aims of Budo

1.       To act respectfully and with courtesy towards yourself, your tools, your fellow students, and your dojo.

2.       To be self-disciplined and to practice to develop a strong and flexible spirit and body.

3.       To develop trust and trustworthiness.

4.       To develop self-confidence based on competence.

5.       Know yourself and your art.

6.       Act honourably, truthfully and sincerely, with compassion for all people and things.

7.       Improve yourself in order to establish peace and harmony in your family, your society, and your world.  To be caring and compassionate.

8.       Use attention and wholeheartedness in all that you do.

Student Responsibilities

1.       To abide by the Shin Ken Kai Code of Ethics.

2.       To respect their dojo, their sensei, their seniors and their juniors.

3.       To attend all possible classes and be consistent in their practice.

4.       To arrive at class and at seminars on time.

5.       To try their best and participate fully in each class’s activities.

6.       To understand that the level of student effort determines the level of instruction.

7.       To understand that the teacher will teach the student at the level which they believe the student is ready for both technically and attitudinally.

8.       To be self-disciplined.

9.       To pay dojo and CKF fees promptly.

10.   To provide the proper equipment for practice.

11.   To keep their equipment in proper order and repair.

12.   To practice at least once per week away from the dojo.

13.   To notify the sensei if they must be away from class for more than two weeks.

14.   To act honourably and sincerely both in and out of the dojo.

15.   To be self-confident and stand up for themselves.  This includes approaching the appropriate dojo senior if a problem exists.

16.   To take an active interest in the art; self-study and reading about Budo.

17.   To faithfully follow the curriculum that the teacher teaches {shu ha ri}.

In addition to the above, SKK Teachers are expected to abide by the following:

Teacher Responsibilities

1.       To abide by the Shin Ken Kai Code of Ethics.

2.       To ensure a safe environment for learning by selecting activities and establishing controls that are suitable for the individual and the group.

3.       To accept and promote students’ personal goals.

4.       To treat all students with fairness.

5.       To faithfully follow the curriculum that their teacher teaches {shu ha ri}.

6.       To be responsible to continue their own learning both technically and philosophically.

7.       To provide students with the information necessary to be involved in the decisions that affect the student and their development.

8.       To at no time engage in a personal intimate relationship with a student.

9.       To teach the correct techniques and to constantly be learning and upgrading their own skills and understanding.

10.   To understand and teach that Iaido is more than mere technique but rather a way of improving the person and their relationships.

11.   To act honourably and sincerely both in and out of the dojo.  To have trust and be trustworthy.

12.   To be accessible for issues that might arise in the dojo.

13.   To show respect for all budo and budoka; including all members of SKK and other organizations

A - CODE OF CONDUCT

Shin Ken Kai Iaido Dojo {hereafter referred to as SKK} is committed to providing an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and with respect. Further, SKK supports equal opportunity and prohibits all discriminatory practices.

Membership in SKK offers many benefits and privileges. At the same time members and participants are expected to fulfill certain responsibilities and obligations, including complying with the Code of Conduct of SKK as well as with SKK’s other policies and procedures. SKK’s Code of Conduct identifies the standard of behaviour that is expected of me and other members and participants in SKK events.

All organizers, directors, officers, medical personnel, employees, instructors, officials, students, managers, volunteers, staff and other members of SKK have a responsibility to:

1. Maintain and enhance the dignity and self-esteem of members and participants of SKK by:

1. Demonstrating respect to individuals regardless of gender, ethnic or racial origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, political belief, disability or economic status;
2. Focusing comments or criticism appropriately and avoiding public criticism of students, directors, officers, managers, instructors, officials, organizers, volunteers, staff and members;
3. Consistently demonstrating the spirit of Martial Arts, Martial Arts leadership; that is, acting ethically and conducting ourselves honourably.

2. Manage responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages and to abstain from the non-medical use of drugs or the use of performance-enhancing drugs or methods.

5. Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes harassment, where harassment is defined as comment or conduct, directed towards an individual or group, which is offensive, abusive, racist, sexist, degrading or malicious.

6. Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes sexual harassment, where sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances or conduct of a sexual nature when submitting to or rejecting this conduct influences decisions which affect the individual, such conduct has the purpose or effect of diminishing performance, or such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment;

7.  In addition to the above, instructors and dojo leaders will have additional responsibilities. The instructor-student relationship is a privileged one. Instructors play a critical role in the personal as well as martial art development of their students. Instructors must understand and respect the inherent power imbalance that exists in this relationship and must be extremely careful not to abuse it. Instructors shall at all times:

a.       Ensure a safe environment by selecting activities and establishing controls that are suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of students, including educating students as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment;

b.       Create opportunities in the dojo for leadership development;

c.       Accept and promote students’ personal goals and refer to other instructors and Martial Art specialists as appropriate and as opportunities arise;

d.       Provide students and their parents/guardians of students who are minors with the information necessary to be involved in the decisions that affect the student and their development;

e.       At no time engage in an intimate or sexual relationship with a student under their guidance and teaching at any SKK dojo.

B - HARASSMENT POLICY

1. Policy Statement

a.       The SKK is committed to creating and maintaining a martial art environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to participate in an environment that promotes equal opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices.

b.       More particularly, SKK is committed to providing an environment free from harassment on the basis of race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or disability. Harassment on the basis of any of these grounds is a form of discrimination that is prohibited by human rights legislation throughout Canada. In its most extreme forms, harassment can be an offence under Canada's Criminal Code.

c.       The SKK does not tolerate harassment. All people in positions of authority with SKK are expected to take appropriate action when harassment occurs. Individuals whose conduct is found to constitute harassment as defined in this policy will face disciplinary action.

A person in a position of authority is encouraged to take immediate, informal, corrective disciplinary action in response to behavior that constitutes a minor incidence of harassment.

2. Definitions

a.       Harassment is a form of conduct that is cruel, intimidating, humiliating, offensive or physically harmful. Types of behaviour that constitute harassment include, but are not limited to:

a)      hostile verbal and non-verbal communications;

b)      condescending, patronizing, threatening or punishing actions that undermine self-esteem or diminish performance;

c)      unwelcome jokes, innuendo or teasing about a person's looks, body, attire, age, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation;

d)      practical jokes that cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endanger a person's safety or negatively affect performance;

e)      any form of hazing;

f)       any form of physical assault;

g)      sexual harassment, as defined in this policy;

h)      behaviours such as those described above that are not directed towards individuals or groups but that have the effect of creating a negative or hostile environment; or

i)        retaliation or threats of retaliation against an individual who reports harassment

b.  Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual remarks or advances, requests for sexual favours or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

a) Submitting to or rejecting this conduct is used as the basis for making decisions that affect the individual; or

b) Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's performance; or

c) Such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

3. Procedures for Receiving and Responding to a Complaint

a.       A person who experiences harassment, any person who witnesses harassment, or any person who believes that harassment has occurred is encouraged to make it known that the behaviour is contrary to this policy.

b.       If confronting the person is not possible or if after confronting the person the behaviour continues, the person who has experienced the harassment, who has witnessed the harassment, or who believes that harassment has occurred should report the matter to an "official" of the SKK. For the purposes of this policy, an official is any person in a responsible staff or volunteer position.

c.       Once an incident is reported, the role of the official is to serve in a neutral, unbiased capacity in receiving the report of the incident, advising the parents or guardians of the incident (if the person who has experienced the harm is a minor), and assisting in an informal resolution of the complaint, where this is appropriate. If the official considers that he or she is unable to act in this capacity, the complaint will be referred to another official who is able and willing to assist.

d.       There are two possible outcomes to this meeting of complainant and official:

1.       The complainant may decide to pursue an informal resolution of the complaint, in which case the official will assist the two parties to negotiate an acceptable resolution of the complaint. If an informal resolution of the complaint is not appropriate or possible, the complainant may decide to lay a formal written complaint; or

2.       The complainant may decide to lay a formal written complaint submitted to SKK’s Executive.

4. Fact-Finding

a.       Once the complaint has been reported to the Executive Committee, they will then gather facts surrounding the incident by speaking directly with the complainant and the person against whom the complaint is made, and any witnesses who, in the opinion of the official, might have relevant facts or observations about the incident. The respondent will also be allowed an opportunity to provide a written statement to the harassment officer.

5. Discipline

a.       When recommending appropriate disciplinary action, the Executive shall consider factors such as:

                                                               i.      the nature and severity of the harassment;

                                                             ii.      whether the harassment involved any physical contact;

                                                            iii.      whether the harassment was an isolated incident or part of an ongoing pattern;

                                                           iv.      the nature of the relationship between the complainant and respondent;

                                                             v.      the age of the complainant;

                                                           vi.      whether the respondent had been involved in previous harassment incidents;

                                                          vii.      whether the respondent admitted responsibility and expressed a willingness to change; and

                                                        viii.      whether the respondent retaliated against the complainant.

b.       In directing disciplinary action, the Executive may consider the following options, singly or in combination, depending on the nature and severity of the harassment and other aggravating and mitigating circumstances:

                                                               i.      Verbal apology;

                                                             ii.      Written apology;

                                                            iii.      Letter of reprimand from the SKK;

                                                           iv.      Referral to counselling;

                                                             v.      Removal of certain privileges of association with SKK;

                                                           vi.      Publication {notification of all SKK dojo} of the decision;

                                                          vii.      Any other sanction that the Executive considers appropriate in the circumstances.

c.       Unless the Panel decides otherwise, any disciplinary sanctions will take effect immediately.

11. Confidentiality

SKK recognizes the sensitive and serious nature of harassment and will strive to keep all matters relating to a complaint confidential. However, if required by law to disclose information, SKK will do so. It is also the policy of SKK to allow publication of the decision of the Executive, where the acts complained of constitute harassment, will effect the running of a dojo and where the Executive directs publication as part of its decision.