Bylaw

The bylaw of Global Kyokushin Budokai, in force from 18 October 2026. This is an English translation of GKB's Hungarian original; where the two differ, the Hungarian text applies.

Preamble

Global Kyokushin Budokai – hereinafter: GKB – works to preserve, pass on and further develop the Kyokushin Budo heritage of Sōsai Masutatsu Ōyama, and to run an international professional community and knowledge centre that connects traditional martial arts values with modern scientific knowledge and teaching methods.

GKB understands Kyokushin not only as a separate competitive sport or a technical system, but as a Budo path that serves the joint development of body, soul and spirit.

GKB's work rests on mutual respect, professional integrity, continuous development, putting love at the centre, cooperation, openness and the spirit of Budo.

GKB rejects all discrimination and prejudice on national, ethnic, religious, political, gender, age or other unjustified grounds. Its aim is not competition or conflict with other martial arts organisations, but the preservation, development and passing on of knowledge, and the strengthening of international sporting friendship, tolerance and peaceful cooperation.

GKB's members are open to learning from others and are ready to share their own knowledge with all who accept the principles of mutual respect and professional development.

BACK TO THE ROOTS

GKB understands Kyokushin as a complete Budo system. The four defining pillars of its professional system are Karate, Newaza, Kyusho and Goshin. By applying them together, GKB strives to preserve the original martial arts values of Kyokushin while running a modern system, capable of development, that remains of value to the next generations in the 21st century as well.

I. The organisation and the legal entity that operates it

1. Global Kyokushin Budokai (GKB) is an international professional community, an organisational network that maintains a sports-competition element, and a knowledge centre.

2. The Hungarian legal basis for GKB's operation and for its economic and administrative tasks is provided by Global Kyokushin Budokai Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság (GKB Kft., a Hungarian limited liability company).

3. GKB's professional organisation and GKB Kft. are not the same thing: GKB means the international professional community and system, and GKB Kft. the legal entity that supports its operation.

4. GKB's founder and president: Hanshi Dr. István Adámy, 9th dan – Kaicho.

5. Details of the operating legal entity:

• Name: Global Kyokushin Budokai Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság
• Registered office: 1027 Budapest, Bem József u. 9. fszt. 10., Hungary
• Company registration number: 01-09-397709
• Tax number: 27783571-2-41
• EU VAT number: HU27783571
• Official website: globalkyokushin.com

6. Bank account details, personal contact details and other changing administrative data are contained in the official records, contracts and financial documents in force at the time.

II. GKB's mission and aims

1. GKB's fundamental mission is to preserve, pass on and further develop the Kyokushin Budo heritage of Sōsai Masutatsu Ōyama.

2. GKB's aim is to contribute to the values of society through the wisdom of Kyokushin, and to support people's physical, mental and spiritual development through the complete Budo system of Global Kyokushin Budokai.

3. GKB connects traditional martial arts knowledge with modern scientific, educational, sports and organisational development knowledge.

4. In particular, GKB:

• teaches and develops the complete Budo system of Global Kyokushin Budokai;
• runs its own professional, teaching, examination and grading system;
• supports the continuous development of dojos, instructors, masters and leaders;
• may organise national and international training courses, seminars, training camps, forums and competitions;
• collects, organises, researches and passes on knowledge related to Kyokushin and Budo;
• promotes international professional cooperation and the exchange of knowledge;
• supports the long-term, sustainable development of Kyokushin and the preparation of the next generations of instructors, masters and leaders.

III. Professional principles

1. GKB's professional principle is the idea of "Back to the roots".

2. GKB intends to carry the original martial arts aims of Kyokushin forward in a continuously developing teaching system adapted to the requirements of our time.

3. The four main pillars of GKB's professional system:

• Karate – the system of stand-up fighting, the technical foundations, kata and kumite;
• Newaza – ground fighting and the related control techniques;
• Kyusho – knowledge of the vulnerable and sensitive points of the human body and an understanding of their application;
• Goshin – the system of self-defence and of handling real conflict situations.

4. GKB's professional approach is built on the unity of body, soul and spirit. It considers important the spirit of Budo, the traditions of self-knowledge and attention connected with Zen, and all the physical and mental methods that serve the development of practitioners.

5. A higher grade, title or leadership position does not mean technical knowledge alone; it also presupposes teaching experience, community-building work, a personal example, taking responsibility and a deeper understanding of Budo.

IV. GKB as an international knowledge centre

1. As an international knowledge centre, GKB collects, organises, develops and makes accessible professional knowledge belonging to Kyokushin, Budo and the related fields of martial arts.

2. GKB's Knowledge Base may include in particular books and e-books, professional studies, instructional films, technical and methodological material, historical documents, seminars, training courses and digital educational content.

3. The Knowledge Base is a continuously developing international professional system. Its aim is not merely to preserve existing knowledge, but to organise, verify, further develop and pass it on to the next generations.

4. GKB receives and passes on knowledge. It may cooperate with other masters, researchers, instructors and organisations, provided that their work is professionally and ethically compatible with GKB's principles.

V. Membership and forms of connection

1. Direct GKB membership

1.1. A club, association, federation or other organisation engaged in martial arts, from any country in the world, may be a direct member of GKB, provided that it accepts the principles of this Bylaw and that its professional activity, operation and aims are compatible with GKB's values.

1.2. The conditions of direct membership are an appropriate professional background, the club's or organisation's fitness to operate, acceptance of GKB's spirit, and meeting the membership conditions in force at the time.

1.3. A natural person cannot be a direct member of GKB in their own right. Individuals belonging to GKB are connected to GKB through a club or organisation that holds direct GKB membership.

1.4. Direct membership means the actual organisational and professional joining of the club or organisation to Global Kyokushin Budokai.

1.5. The detailed conditions of the validity and renewal of membership and of the membership fee are set by the membership and financial rules in force at the time.

2. Partner Membership

2.1. GKB offers partner cooperation to organisations that do not wish to merge organisationally or to take up direct GKB membership, but wish to take part in professional and sports-technical cooperation and the sharing of knowledge.

Cooperation without subordination – sharing knowledge without losing identity.

2.2. A partner may keep its own name, emblem, organisational structure, professional and examination system, grades, titles and membership, and its existing ties with other national and international organisations.

2.3. Partner Membership does not mean a merger, exclusivity or organisational subordination.

2.4. The detailed conditions of Partner Membership are set out in separate Partner Membership Rules.

3. Access to the Knowledge Base

3.1. Certain parts of GKB's professional knowledge may also be made accessible to persons and organisations that wish to establish neither a direct nor a partner membership relationship with GKB.

3.2. Access to the Knowledge Base does not in itself create GKB membership, organisational subordination, or any right to examine or to represent GKB.

VI. The rights and obligations of direct members

1. Direct member organisations and the individuals belonging to them may take part in GKB's training courses, seminars, training camps, examinations, competitions and other official programmes under the professional and organisational conditions in force at the time.

2. Individuals belonging to direct member organisations may access GKB's professional and educational material on preferential terms, in particular books, e-books, professional films, video series, training courses and other paid content of the Knowledge Base.

3. A member organisation must respect GKB's principles and professional requirements, protect the organisation's good reputation through its own conduct, and promote the continuous professional development of its leaders and instructors.

4. GKB's direct members are free to keep professional contact with other clubs, masters and organisations for their own development and that of their students. Loyalty to GKB does not mean professional isolation or a ban on cooperating with other organisations.

5. GKB keeps a record of membership and the rights attached to it in its registration system in force at the time; a diploma or an electronic certificate may also be issued to confirm membership.

VII. Organisational and leadership system

1. GKB's president – Kaicho – is responsible for GKB's professional and strategic direction and its international representation, and for safeguarding the organisation's principles and long-term development.

2. To support the organisation's professional and international work, GKB's president may set up an International Committee, professional committees, advisory bodies or other working groups.

3. The members of the International Committee are appointed by the president. Their mandate may be ended if they seriously violate GKB's spirit, obstruct its work, significantly damage GKB's good reputation through their conduct, or are permanently unable or unfit to carry out their duties.

The Shibucho – Branch Chief system

4. The Shibucho, that is Branch Chief, system created by Sōsai Masutatsu Ōyama plays an important part in GKB's professional and organisational development.

5. A karate leader of at least 3rd dan may be appointed Shibucho who has the appropriate professional and leadership experience, ensures the running of at least three further clubs with their own dan-grade students, and whose Shibu has a combined membership of more than 150.

6. Within their own area of operation and among the clubs belonging to them, a Shibucho may have independent kyu examination rights under GKB's professional rules.

7. The appointment of a Shibucho, the exact scope of their rights and the maintenance of their mandate are within the president's competence. The mandate may be reviewed periodically.

8. A Shibucho must continuously promote their own professional and leadership development and the growth of their Shibu in quality and in numbers.

VIII. Professional, examination and grading system

1. GKB has its own professional, teaching, examination and grading system.

2. The system is built on the principle of gradual progression, professional integrity and the continuous development of the practitioner.

3. GKB and its member organisations provide or help to provide the professional conditions and infrastructure needed for learning and for taking examinations.

4. The detailed kyu and dan examination requirements, examination rights, grade prerequisites and procedures are set out in separate professional rules.

5. When higher grades and titles are awarded, teaching experience, work for the community, a personal example, organisation-building activity and a deeper understanding of Budo may be taken into account besides technical knowledge.

IX. Competition system and professional events

1. GKB may run its own competition rules and competition systems, whose aim is to give participants suitable opportunities to practise and develop.

2. GKB's member countries and member organisations may hold national and international competitions, seminars, camps and other professional events.

3. GKB strives to keep its events – while maintaining the safety and professional conditions – open to suitably prepared practitioners of other organisations and styles as well.

4. GKB's members may take part in the open events and competitions of other organisations, provided that this serves their own and their organisation's professional development and sporting friendship.

X. International cooperation

1. GKB is open to cooperation with every Kyokushin and other martial arts organisation, club, master and expert that accepts the principles of mutual respect, professional development and the sharing of knowledge.

2. GKB's aim is not to weaken other organisations or to draw away their members, but to create a space for cooperation in which common professional development can take place while the different organisational identities are preserved.

3. GKB's cooperation may extend to joint training courses, competitions, research, publications, digital knowledge material, professional forums and other projects.

XI. Name, emblem and professional identity

1. Global Kyokushin Budokai has its own name and emblem – the GKB kanku.

2. Direct member organisations may use GKB's name and emblem in their printed and digital appearances and on their sports equipment, under the brand and usage rules in force at the time.

3. The use of the Kyokushin kanji is natural, in keeping with the traditions of Kyokushin.

4. Representatives of other martial arts styles keep their own name, emblem and professional identity in their partner cooperation.

5. The use of GKB's name, emblem and designations must not give a misleading impression of membership, representation or professional rights.

XII. Suspension and termination of membership

1. The membership of a direct member organisation may end:

• by withdrawal;
• by persistent failure to meet the membership conditions;
• by persistent failure to meet the membership obligations falling due;
• by expulsion in the case of a serious professional, ethical or organisational offence;
• in the case of conduct that seriously damages GKB's good reputation.

2. If the membership conditions or financial obligations are not met, membership may be suspended after appropriate notice. Once the shortcoming has been put right, membership may be restored under the rules in force at the time.

3. Expulsion may not serve as retaliation for professional or personal differences of opinion.

4. Before membership is ended, the organisation concerned must be given the opportunity to present its position, unless an extraordinary circumstance requires immediate action.

5. The detailed rules of procedure may be set out in separate ethical, membership or operating rules.

XIII. Financial principles

1. In their economic operation, GKB and its member organisations follow the principles of transparency, sustainability and responsible management.

2. Direct member organisations manage their own membership fees and the income of their own operation independently, under the local laws that apply to them.

3. GKB may make professional knowledge, educational content, events and services available either free of charge or for a fee.

4. GKB may pay for valuable professional knowledge and services created by other experts, masters and organisations.

5. The detailed rules of membership fees, examination fees, training fees, Knowledge Base access, discounts and other financial conditions are set by the financial rules, fee schedule or contract in force at the time.

6. The validity of this Bylaw does not depend on attaching a separate financial annex.

XIV. Rules and decision-making

1. This Bylaw is GKB's unified basic document on its organisation and operation.

2. The professional, examination, competition, financial, membership, partner, ethical, data protection, brand and other detailed rules may be set out in separate rules.

3. The separate rules may not contradict the principles of this Bylaw.

4. GKB's management is entitled to draw up, review and amend the detailed rules needed for its operation.

5. The member organisations concerned must be informed appropriately of changes that substantially affect the rights or obligations of membership.

XV. Amendment and entry into force of the Bylaw

1. Amending this Bylaw is within the competence of GKB's president – Kaicho – who takes into account the opinion of GKB's leadership and professional bodies as needed.

2. Amendments must be published in a consolidated version, so that the rules in force at any time can be known from a single document.

3. The unified Bylaw in force at the time, as published on GKB's official website, is to be regarded as the official public version governing the organisation's operation.

4. This Bylaw enters into force on the day of its approval.

Budapest, 18 October 2026

Hanshi Dr. István Adámy
9th dan – Kaicho
Global Kyokushin Budokai