Structure:
ADL is democratically run with every member having a vote and a say in how we are operate. Any member can raise an issue to be brought to the attention of the whole group. Office bearers are elected annually during the association's annual summer course.
ADL elected office bearers:
Chairperson: Quentin Cooke
Treasurer / Coaching Officier: Piers Cooke
Membership secretary: Daniel Easton
Child protection officer / Media: Rob Brew
Disability: TBC
Electoral officer: Jo Duncan
Chief BAB coaching officer: Piers Cooke
Website administrator:
ADL constitution:
Core Values of Aikido for Daily Life (ADL)
- We aim to hold ourselves to the highest possible moral standards.
- All people matter and should be treated with dignity.
- We treat people with respect and listen to what they have to say.
- We seek peace, love and harmony, within ourselves and also in our connections to others, in accordance to the principles laid down by the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei.
- We are each personally accountable for what we say and do.
- Members share responsibility for ADL’s growth and its standing in the aikido community and beyond.
- We aim to build trust and facilitate co-operation.
ADL general principles
Each club should try at least once a year (or at an appropriate time interval, if specific events make such commitment impossible) to attend whole association seminars, or at least invite one or more club teachers to come over and teach. Joining ADL only to use it for insurance or coaching purposes and not striving to make the association part of their family (i.e., abusing the help and support the association gives to a new club), negates the core values outlined at the beginning of the constitution. New clubs wishing to join ADL should be made aware of this obligation, as failure to do so may jeopardise the future inclusion in the association.
ADL operates in a completely open democratic manner and tries to embody the values of that political system. All association members have equal rights, share the same obligations and no vertical hierarchy exists in its structure
1. Objectives
1.1 The name of the association will be ‘Aikido for Daily Life’ (ADL).
1.2 The prime objective of ADL is to be an “umbrella” organisation for a group of independent aikido clubs, regardless of style, that share the same core values detailed above, to get the benefits of membership of the British Aikido Board (BAB), such as insurance for members, coaching policy, health and safety etc., which would not be available to them as independent clubs.
1.3 ADL operates democratically and all clubs and subsequently members of ADL have voting rights. Decisions therefore must be based on a majority vote. As exemplified by ADL’s core values, each member should hold themselves to the highest standard and try to embody that ethos both inside and outside the confines of the dojo. [see section x.x for voting rights]
1.4 The motions adopted at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), form the mandate for ADL for the following year and the teachers have a duty to carry out the mandate.
2. Membership
2.1 ADL members are defined as those who collectively belong to the association via their respective clubs and pay their dues to ADL. All members have voting rights at the AGM and any member can raise an issue at any time of the year), regardless of their position within ADL.
2.2.1 During the rest of the year, club teachers and officers or their appointed representative will act as representatives for their members and will vote on day-to-day issues on behalf of club members. Certain issues may be brought to the attention of the whole membership if the majority of teachers vote to do so. The club representative can wield one vote on behalf of club members.
2.2.2 Any member of the association, should they wish to be involved in the day-to-day workings of the association, can have access to the communications of the club representatives. That member can put forward proposals to the group, but does not have the right to vote. However, a club representative of the group can formally endorse the proposal and bring it to a vote on their behalf.
2.3 As a failsafe, and to ensure fairness for all, any member at any time can bring any issue to the attention of the chairman of ADL, or their club teacher/representative who can then call for a vote if necessary.
2.4.1 Any decisions that need to be made by the club representatives, will be made on the basis of a majority decision. Only a majority vote can effect change and club representatives are responsible for communicating any change in ADL’s operating policy to their members.
2.4.2 Any individual in the association has the right to appeal a decision taken at the ADL AGM or any other association meeting (within a calendar month from the day of that meeting), if they believe an infringement has been made to the rights of individuals, a dojo, or a minority part of ADL. The appeal procedure will initiate a meeting of the club representatives to review and discuss the issues raised. If it is agreed that the appeal is valid, an emergency general meeting will be arranged to find a solution. This will be open to all members and all members will have a vote on the proposed solution.
2.5 All ADL clubs are autonomous and control their own finances, aikido syllabus, gradings, membership, health and safety, child protection, data protection and discipline issues within their own club, as long as they comply with the minimum standards as set out by the BAB and ADL.
2.6 Every member must agree to maintain the minimum standards as set out by the BAB and ADL, with regard to all their policy and guidelines such as: Coaching, Insurance, Child Protection, Health and Safety, Drugs in Sport, Equal Opportunities etc.
2.7 Membership of ADL entitles all to benefit from the rights and privileges that this brings. But it also brings certain moral obligations, such as voting on association matters and engagement with members outside of your club. Clubs should make a reasonable effort to reach out to each other regularly and hold training events together. Members should make support and attend ADL events
2.8 Renewal of membership takes place on the 1st September. Terms of payment for new members are detailed in the membership forms.
3. Finance
3.1 ADL is a non-profit organisation.
3.2 ADL will use funds for the benefit of members and the way in which this can be done, will be agreed and voted upon, by the membership. During the year, any extraordinary costs or payments (i.e., anything outside of fees that are required to be paid to the BAB, or anything else previously agreed by the membership) up to £1,000 can be authorised by a vote held amongst the club teachers. Also 'de minimis' sums of under £150, can be authorised by the Chair and/or Finance Officer without the need for prior consultation with the membership. Payments in excess of these limits must be open to a full member vote.
3.3 Finance is available to new clubs during the probationary year, subject to a majority vote by the club representatives.
3.4 Accounts are produced annually and presented to the Annual General Meeting.
4. Discipline
4.1 Any aikido club wishing to join must adhere to the rules and regulations of ADL and the BAB and understand the core values and operating systems used by ADL in order to join. The club teacher will be required to confirm in writing that the club will meet and accept these standards and that a consensus has been agreed among its members on joining ADL.
4.2 Once admitted as a member club, there will be a probationary period of one year (unless circumstances dictate otherwise) before becoming a full member of ADL. During that time, the club teacher will be required to teach at an ADL course. During the probationary year the new club will have no voting rights, but can participate in ADL matters and propose resolutions, subject to endorsement by the ADL body. At the end of the probation period, or before if deemed suitable, ADL’s teachers or appointed club representatives will vote to formally include or exclude the new club within ADL.
4.3 Should a member of ADL bring ADL into disrepute or should they not adhere to the policies and guidelines set out in the BAB and the constitution of ADL, they can be expelled from ADL, should the majority of members agree. (see 5.3)
4.4 If the membership body finds out that one or more of their elected representatives no longer serve the interests of the entire association, and/ or they do not adhere to the policies and guidelines set out in the BAB and the constitution of ADL, they [the representatives] can be recalled from their position and subject to disciplinary procedures within the association and face the consequences of their actions. The disciplinary action should be the matter of decision by the entire body of ADL via an Emergency General Meeting through voting and should also take into consideration other legal proceedings that may arise in parallel (e.g., sanctions by the BAB, or any other governing body or legal entity).
5. Etiquette and other ADL Procedures & Standards
5.1.1 [Grading Etiquette] Any club teacher that follows the association’s grading structure can grade their students up to the rank of ikkyu (1st kyu).
From shodan (1st dan) a grading panel including senior grades from other clubs will be required. This should consist of at least 3 members (5 for 3rd dan/sandan)(see also 5.2.1).
5.1.2. [Grading Etiquette] The grading syllabus of the candidate should be shared with the grading panel prior to the date of the grading along with any relevant information about the candidate that might impact on what they are able to do, such as their age, health, disabilities, etc., so that this can be taken into account.(See 5.2.5).
5.1.3 [Grading Etiquette] If the etiquette/procedure is not followed, the grading will be considered invalid.
5.2.1 [Gradings & Certifications] Clubs within ADL that exclusively follow another grading system, (for example, the Aikikai Hombu, or any other affiliate body capable of awarding aikido grades) and do not wish to have a parallel certificate/grade within ADL, can opt out of ADL’s system of certification and grade awarding. In such cases, this intention should be brought to the attention of the club representatives and agreed.
5.2.2 [Gradings & Certifications] Members can opt-out of the grading system if they wish to do so.
5.2.3 [Gradings & Certifications] In normal circumstances there should be a period of minimum study between grades:
6th kyu to 5th kyu 4 months
5th kyu to 4th kyu 5 months
4th kyu to 3th kyu 6 months
3th kyu to 2th kyu 8 months
2th kyu to 1st kyu 9 months
1st kyu to 1st dan 1 year
1st dan to 2nd dan 2 years
2nd dan to 3rd dan 3 years
However, this should be considered a guideline, which under exceptional circumstances does not need to be adhered to. Teachers wishing to grade their students for dan grades outside of these timelines should inform ADL dojo cho of their intentions and reasons for doing so, so that feedback can be obtained before the decision is made.
5.2.4 [Gradings & Certifications] Consideration should be given to practitioners with mental and/or body health issues. The grading criteria, especially for first dan/shodan upwards, need to be appropriate to the aikidoka’s condition. Although we should always try to have very high standards in the black belt gradings, we should always strive to make aikido accessible to everyone and celebrate their achievements, regardless of the level of physical skill.
5.2.5 [Gradings & Certifications] Grading certifications and licenses awarded by ADL are not necessarily held for life. If an aikidoka’s conduct on or off the mat is contrary to the core values held by the association they may be withdrawn. Such decisions can only be taken by a majority vote from the association’s club representatives.
5.3 [Certifications & Discipline] As with the article 4.3 on discipline, any aikidoka who does not follow the core values of ADL and the standards set out by the BAB, can also risk permanent expulsion from the association. This action can only be decided by the entire ADL membership after a majority vote. If the aikidoka holds certificates from other organisations, or holds any grade prior to joining ADL, they are naturally permitted to keep those as they have been earned independently of ADL.