IUKF Application Forms Here

Black Belt Application & Test Information

Join the IUKF:
Open to students of all ranks and from all Uechi related groups. Members may send video clips or tapes (VHS format) to me for critique and suggestions for training advice.

First year membership: $50. Receive a special membership and rank certificate, with room to place a IUKF seal for all kyu and dan ranks. An IUKF crest,Federation I.D. number and Membership certificate and membership Passbook. The Passbook documents all your membership information and provides space for you to list all seminars, camps, tournaments and special workouts attended. Additionally, your first black belt promotion (or most recent) will be registered in the Black Belt Registration Bureau. All members will now be receiving a copy of the Black Belt Test Guide, 2nd edition. This new e-Book contains links to teaching video clips and members only sections that are updated on a regular basis. If you are a "paid-up member" and did not receive your new book, please email the membership director to receive yours.

Please fill out and send appropriate membership application. Payment may be made on our secure server. Active membership, beginning with your second year is only ($35) To apply for membership, email Membership Director. Attractive discounts are available to members in the Uechi store, seminars, Summer/Winter Fests and many other valuable programs and activities.

To all Uechi-ryu based dojo: IUKF would like to work with you, providing services and activities that will help you build a successful dojo. Contact our Membership Director to learn how joining IUKF will be beneficial to you and your students. (IUKF recognizes all major Uechi based organizations and are not looking to replace them or in any way diminish their relationship with your dojo and students. IUKF believes that its services and benefits nicely work with your dojo and your Okinawan organization.)

The IUKF Board of Directors welcomes the opportunity to help redefine the mission and role of this important organization.  After much thought and discussion, the Board has agreed on the following picture of how the IUKF should best function, for the benefit of its members, and the art….

The IUKF will operate as a professional association made up of its practitioners and teachers.  Its purpose is to serve the needs of its members, to enhance the practice of Uechi-ryu, and to grow the membership of the IUKF community.  It will not be regulatory, or governing.  Besides promoting the practice and enjoyment of the art, it will establish minimum qualifications for promotion, and for the granting of teaching and honorary titles.  It will issue the certificates of such achievement.  Through the Uechi-ryu.com website, through regional and individual dojo activities, and through Summer Fest, the IUKF will facilitate the study of Uechi-ryu.

The IUKF will assist both teachers and students.  While it will help the setting of voluntary standards for each rank, it will not pass judgment on students, outside of recognizing their accomplishments.  Decisions on who passes Black Belt tests will be in the hands of the student's instructor and seniors in that student's lineage.  The chain of command will be observed in all situations, so that the student is responsible to his/her teachers. It is the responsibility of these teachers to interpret and maintain the requirements and minimum standards of the IUKF.

The IUKF Board of Directors sees the teacher as the key to the growth and success of Uechi-ryu.  The student strives to learn what s/he has been inspired to accomplish by their teacher.  No one is more qualified to know about the work the applicant for rank has put in, nor about what's in the applicant's heart.  Dojo may carry out their own tests, or join with other like-minded dojo for more formal testing. Master rank ceremonies will continue to be conducted at the annual SummerFest. 
IUKF will appoint a Test Board Administrator in every region. The role of Test Administrator is to represent IUKF in the following areas:

• Receive test applications and fees prior to deadlines.
• Determine that all candidates meet IUKF test standards regarding total time studied and time in grade.
• Make sure that a Master instructor (in the lineage of the student if possible) will be supervising the test.
• Receive the results of the test.
• Communicate these results to IUKF, make sure certificates are received and results posted on the IUKF Black Belt (and Titles) Registry.
• Test Administrator may be invited to tests, but is not required to attend.

Darin Yee has been appointed the New England Test Board Administrator. In his additional role as Public Relations Director of IUKF, Darin will be working with other Region Test Administrators. If anyone has any question or suggestions regarding this document, please contact Darin or other members of the Board.

The IUKF Board of Directors
Paul Haydu , M.D. Chairman
Roy Bedard, Director
Darin Yee, Public Relations
Harry Skeffington , Committees
Henry Thom , Director
Advisors To The Board:
George Mattson, President
John Page , Legal Advisor
David Berndt , Treasurer/Membership Director

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

The IUKF would like to announce the establishment of a Scholarship Committee. Brian Finnerty, the son of the late William Finnerty has volunteered to chair this committee under the direction of Paul Haydu, the current chairman of the IUKF Board of Directors.

Our current goal is to provide funds for children of Uechi-ryu dojo who normally cannot afford to attend the Junior Fest held during SummerFest. We all know that the Martial Arts do more than just teach valuable self-defense skills, including the building of self-confidence, higher self-esteem, improved concentration and focus, and improved academic performance and "skills for life", plus greater respect for themselves and others. Therefore, the long term goal of this committee is to raise funds through local businesses, and individuals, to help assist children with tuition money to enable them to enroll in local Uechi schools, so that they can acquire those skills.

To accomplish these goals we are looking for IUKF members and Uechi-ryu practitioners to assist on this committee. Anyone wishing to help or thinks they may be interested can contact Brian Finnerty or Paul Haydu.

IUKF is also working on a building fund program, that Board Director David Berndt is heading up. David's goal is to build a martial art museum and training facility in the Orlando Florida area. A current building is under consideration for a first phase facility. A goal of $500,000 is needed to complete this first phase. Eastern Arts, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation will be accepting donations for this first of its kind building. Click here for details.

IUKF members have their own private Forums, where the Board of Directors are available to answer questions or to discuss membership issues. To gain access to (or even see) this private forum, you must be a registered member of the forums, then send me an email with your IUKF I.D. number and username.

IUKF members also have access to "Building a Successful Dojo" Blog, monthly on-line conferences and access to many "hidden" features of the Uechi-ryu.com web site. Once you have been issued your IUKF I.D. number, send me an e-mail with your name, email address and ID number and I'll add you to our special forums and features.