Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai
  琉球      拳法      古武術       会

            This site is more for those who wish to learn and teach the Lanten Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu system. The Kobujutsu system can be learned separately from the Kenpo for those who wish. For those who are not interested in changing their system and ways of doing things, but, wish to improve their knowledge and skill levels by joining an organization that is designed for that purpose; see the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai site.

Joining the Association
(Copyright © 2001-9 by the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai.
No part of this document may be used without the EXPRESS PRIOR written consent of D'veed Natan)

            We are a small and growing Organization. One reason we are so small, is our overriding concern about the quality of material taught and its transmission. While others are content to have masses of people, we want only those who are serious about their learning. Dojo, that many organizations would gladly accept, are turned away by us; due to their lack of concern for their students' (not to mention their own) advancement in learning. We have no sycophants who define themselves by their position in the hierarchy of our Association. We take pride in the fact that this Association is one of the hardest in the world from which to obtain and maintain a teaching license (Shihan Menjo)(師範 免状).
            We require hard work; and, unremitting support for the Association; its members and events. This IS an International Association. The World Headquarters are located in Jerusalem, Israel at 17 Strauss. If, after reading the information below, you feel that you would like to belong to our Association, you may contact World Headquarters at: join@ryukyukenpo.org. Any proposals for seminars, trips or events, with Hanshi D'veed Natan, will be finalized with prepaid round trip travel arrangements and half of the agreed upon fees. Contact: WorldHeadquarters@ryukyukenpo.org to make arraignments.

Benefits and Mission Statement 

            The Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai (RKKK) was founded to serve as the International Certification, Accrediting Agency, and Governing body for all Ryukyu Kenpo and Ryukyu Kobujutsu students. We are dedicated to the teaching and preservation of authentic, traditional Okinawan Martial Arts.
            The RKKK is directed, and run under the guidance of Headmaster D’veed Natan, Hanshi, Kudan (9^th Degree Black Belt). Sensei Natan is internationally recognized as one of the foremost Ryukyu Kenpo, and Kobujutsu masters alive today.
            The Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai is structured to serve as the parent body for all the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu practitioners around the world. This Association enforces the technical standards for the system, while also providing a unified focus and direction for all the affiliated “Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Organizations.”
            The RKKK offers a comprehensive system of classical martial arts training, in beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Dojo and members are located throughout Israel, the United States, Europe, and the World with a direct lineage that traces its ancestry back to the mid –1600s. We are one of the very best Kenpo and Kobujutsu organizations in existence today.
            The Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai awards rank certification in both Ryukyu Kenpo and Kobujutsu, that are recognized and accepted throughout the world. We maintain an international archive of rank certificates for all our Dojo and members. We also offer a Kobujutsu only, certification program for the Martial Arts practitioners who are seeking to add traditional Okinawan weapons to their training.
            The RKKK sets minimum standards for promotion to Shodan, and Shihan levels. In addition, all ranks above Sandan (3^rd Degree Black) and all Instructors’ (Shihan) licenses are personally reviewed and issued by Grandmaster Natan.
            Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu is one of only two complete systems of both open hand Kata and Kobujutsu in existence. We offer ongoing training seminars; open to all current members.
            The Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai is dedicated to the enhancement and furthering of traditional Okinawan Kenpo and Kobudo, with an emphasis on the physical, spiritual and mental aspects. We are, truly, an International Brotherhood!
            Join Grandmaster Natan in celebrating and promoting the spirit of International Budo, and return to the roots of Classical Okinawan Martial Arts!

Board of Directors

Requirements for Promotion

            In an effort to allow more flexibility for the individual dojo in the methods of teaching of kata, while at the same time establishing uniformity across the Association the following Kata, Membership and Time guidelines have been established.
Kata Requirements:
            For promotion to Shodan, the following kata are required:

Association Requirements:
It is mandatory that ALL promotions of RKK rank from, and including, the rank of Shodan, and above, for Ryukyu Kenpo and/or Kobujutsu go through the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai. Any student testing for a RKKKR certificate must also be an Individual Member in good standing with the RKK Association.

Time Requirements:

             It is the policy of the Association that RKKK Certified Shihan, Renshi, and Kyoshi should operate their own unsupervised dojo. However, Gakusha Instructors (Shodan through Sandan), should, only teach under direct supervision of their Shihan, Renshi, or Kyoshi instructor.

            All RKK, kata regardless of origin, are expected to be performed and taught in accordance with the teachings of D’veed Natan, Hanshi, Headmaster and Chief Technical Officer of the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai.

Rank Accreditation:

            The Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai is responsible for the overall direction of the technical aspects of the system, with D’veed Natan, Saikou Shihan as the Sole and Final authority. Furthermore, the RKKK is the sole authorizing agent for the use of the “Academy of Ryukyu Kenpo”, “Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu”, “Ryukenkan”, and “Academy of Ryukyu Kempo”, trademarks, including both the Ryukyu Kenpo and Kobujutsu sections of the system. The RKKK is the governing body that sets and establishes the technical interpretation, kata requirements, ranking, and policies of the Association Member dojo and RKKK Affiliated dojo.

            Only Natan, Hanshi has the right to issue RKKK Certificates. No RKKK Rank Diploma, Dojo Certificate, or Teacher’s License can be AUTHENTIC unless: 1.) It is issued by Saikou Shihan Natan; 2.) It contains his signature and Han; 3.) It has the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai Seal embossed on it.

            Individual RKKK dojo issue Kyu certificates, however, these certificates are to be obtained, only, from the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu World Administrative Headquarters. Both Ryukyu Kenpo and Kobujutsu Rank Certificates are available for current Individual Members of the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Association.

Shihan Promotion (Instructor level)

Ryukyu Kenpo
            The practitioner testing for promotion to Shihan in Ryukyu Kenpo must be the rank of Yondan, or above, and is required to know all of the Ryukyu Kenpo Kata currently taught in the RKK system, including the Kata listed as supplemental (list not supplied in this guide).

Kobujutsu
            The practitioner testing for promotion to Shihan in Kobujutsu must be a Yondan or above in rank, and is required to know all of the Kobujutsu Kata currently taught in the RKK system, through Yondan (list not supplied in this guide).

Teaching Certificate Requirements

Saikou Shihan Natan issues all teaching certificates (licenses).

Shihan (Instructor’s License):
recipients must be at least a Yondan (4^th Degree Black); meet Association requirements; be recommended by their Shihan, and meet Natan, Hanshi’s approval.

Renshi (Trusted Instructor’s License):
recipients must be at least a Rokudan (6^th Degree Black); meet Association requirements; be recommended by their Shihan, and meet Saikou Shihan Natan’s approval.

Kyoshi (Master Instructor’s License):
recipients must be at least Nanadan (7^th Degree Red), meet Association requirements; be recommended by their Shihan, and meet Natan, Hanshi’s approval.

Hanshi (Grandmaster Level Instructor’s License):
must be at least Kudan (9^th Degree Red) or higher. Saikou Shihan D'veed Natan is at present a Judan (10^th Degree Red); and, holds that position. In the future, there will be, only, one Judan (10^th Degree Red). There will be ב״ה many Kudan (9^th Degree Red) holders who will have a Menkyo Kaiden.
            Again, NO Teacher’s License can be AUTHENTIC unless 1.) It is issued by Saikou Shihan Natan, 2.) It contains his signature and Han, 3.) It has the RKKK Seal embossed on it.

Promotional Authority

            Only RKKK Certified and Licensed Yuudansha are permitted to promote.

Gakusha (Shodan through Sandan) Licensed Instructors may promote Kyu grades within their respective dojo, only. Gakusha licenses must be renewed every three years to remain valid. License renewal is free and a renewal sticker is issued. Lapsed licenses are null and void.
        Shodan - Through Rokkyu
        Nidan   - Through Sankyu
        Sandan - Through Ikkyu
Shihan Licensed Instructors are permitted to promote up to and including the rank of Shodan.
Renshi Licensed Instructors are permitted to promote up to and including the rank of Sandan.
Kyoshi Licensed Instructors are permitted to promote up to and including the rank of Godan. The ranks of Yondan and above require Saikou Shihan Natan’s review and approval.
            All promotions of Rokudan, and above, issuance of Shihan, Renshi, or Kyoshi Licenses are to be made, only, by Saikou Shihan D'veed Natan.

All promotions and titles issued by the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai and Saikou Shihan Natan are awarded under the authority and pleasure of Saikou Shihan Natan. Any student found unworthy of Association rank, honor or title may have his Rank and Honors revoked by Saikou Shihan Natan. Revocations are by certified mail; and will be posted to the Internet. Persons continuing to misrepresent themselves to the public after a revocation, shall be subject to a very public “Notification” campaign via various media.

 Administrative packages of membership applications and Kyu certificates are available to fully participating dojo.

Dress Code

Student Uniform (Kyu Levels) – It is recommended that all RKK Kyu level students wear the BLACK school uniform (half sleeves with calf length pants); black School T-shirt; cup and supporter; tennis shoes, socks, and appropriate color belt. Women, also, wear black full length hakama; the bottom hem a maximum of four inches off the floor. The placement of various insignia is as follows:

Individual School Crest on the Left chest.
The Association emblem on the Back upper torso.
The Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu emblem on the Right pant leg, knee high.

Yuudansha Uniform (Black Belts) – It is also recommended that all RKK Yuudansha wear the BLACK school uniform. The above examples of insignia placement would also apply. In all formal occasions, such as belt testing, promotions, or traditional martial arts events, a standard school uniform is recommended.

School uniform, sans Gi top, with the black School T-shirt worn outside the pants, is considered appropriate for outdoor and summer time training. For demonstration teams a hakama may replace the school uniform pants.

The above uniform suggestions are an attempt to develop standardization within the members of the Association. The professional image that this presents to the rest of the martial arts community and the public in general serves to show our pride in our system.

Saikou Shihan Natan's ANNUAL VISITS

         The annual visits from Grandmaster Natan are scheduled upon requests received in the Jerusalem Administrative Headquarters from interested dojo. The visits will be coordinated on the basis of Natan Sensei’s schedule, taking into consideration his travel, and time constraints. All visits will include, at least one, formal get together by all Association Individual Members.
         ALL REQUESTS for Natan Sensei’s visits should be received at Association World Headquarters as early as possible. The Headquarters will establish the schedule for Natan Sensei’s visits. The schedule will be communicated to all the currently registered Dojo. Any adjustments or additions to that schedule, that come under consideration, will be communicated to all of the currently registered Dojo, to include Sponsored, and Affiliate Dojo. This will allow an opportunity for all current members to participate.

quarterly Training

         The RKKK authorizes and encourages Quarterly Training. These Training Sessions are to be conducted by member dojo on a rotational basis. A Training Session should be conducted each quarter; spring, summer, fall, and winter. If Saikou Shihan Natan has scheduled visits during a quarter, his visit will supersede the Quarterly Training as the Annual Training Seminar. Each Shihan should take a turn in conducting and scheduling these quarterly training sessions. The Training Session should be managed and scheduled to be affordable and accessible to as many members as possible. Localities will vary between seminars, to make the training available to different geographical regions, without having consecutive seminars in the same area (Example: spring, then, summer should not be held in Missouri). Each dojo and Shihan should support Training Sessions by sending a representative or team to attend and assist with instruction. If there is a dispute over which dojo will conduct the next Quarterly Training, then, Jerusalem will make the determination of which Dojo will conduct the seminar.
         There are no limitations on the type of training that can be conducted at the Quarterly Training. Each Shihan can elect a subject that they would like to instruct; and, are encouraged, to instruct in their personal specialties. Guest instructors may also be brought in for the Quarterly Training. The Host Dojo is responsible for the coordination with the other dojo to determine what type of training is available and desired. The training should be, but is not restricted to the subject of RKK kata. The primary goal of Quarterly Training is to make instruction, leadership and fellowship available to all members of the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai. This is accomplished by supporting each other physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially.

CRITERIA AND POLICY FOR SEMINARS

            Fees for attending the Seminar shall be set at the hosting Dojo’s discretion. It is suggested that all RKK Seminar participants who are individual members in good standing with the Association receive a discount according to their rank of from ($25-35). Attendance at the scheduled seminars shall be open, at the hosting Dojo, to ANY current Association member, for a minimum of two days in a given week’s schedule; and, at the Dojo head’s discretion, for the remaining days in the week. In order to attend on open days, those wishing to participate are encouraged to pre-register (two weeks in advance) with the Host Dojo. The attendance of all others is at the discretion of the Host Dojo.

Fees
 (Taken from the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai site)

As the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai is a Founding Member of the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai, all documentation and fee structures are those of the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai. All members of the Kobujutsu Kai are members of the Rengokai.

Basic Membership                                                                             Free
        Individual Memberships:
                        Muudansha Membership                                          $25.00
                        Yuudansha Membership                                            $35.00
                        Yondan through Rokudan Membership                   $50.00
Master’s Memberships                                                                     Free

Dojo Registrations
        Individual Dojo (one time fee)                    $175.00 (includes Dojo seal)
        Additional Branch Dojo*                                  $  10.00

 *  Branch Dojo are those Dojo in different locations in which the same person teaches. For example: an instructor has a main Dojo where he centers his activities. He, also, teaches in a University club at the University that is separate from his main Dojo; due to University policy. The University club would be a Branch Dojo. Or, he may teach in a number of community centers, Boy’s Clubs, etc. These are not required. Only if the instructor wishes to have additional certificates to hang in his various Branch Dojo should he ask for them.

Certificate and Promotion Fees

*  Muudansha test fees are up to the individual Dojo to set. These are only the prices for the certificates from Association Headquarters; not including Shipping and Handling.
**Jump Test. Applies only to Nidan, Sandan, and Godan. First time test: i.e. a previously ranked Shodan by another organization who wishes to advance to Nidan may Jump Test to Nidan. Cost - $200. To Sandan $250. From Nidan to Sandan $250. To Yondan $400. From Sandan to Yondan - $400. Normal route: i.e. Jump Test from Shodan to Sandan. Cost $150. From Nidan to Yondan - $250. From Yondan to Rokudan - $250.
6^th Rokudan and higher promotions are presented for time in rank and service to Grandmaster Natan and the Association.

*   Initial issue Licenses. Fee for first time issue of License (includes Chinese Name Seal).
** includes Chinese Master’s Name and Title Seal

Home