The Canadian Kendo Federation works to support and promote Kendo, Iaido and Jodo in Canada. However, recent changes in the membership and grading fees are making the membership question whether the CKF is dutifully fulfilling it’s primary role.
In March 2012 it was announced that the Canadian Kendo Federation would be increasing the fees for grading for kendo, iaido and jodo in Canada. Many CKF members are concerned about these fee increases. Those who sign this petition, do so because we feel that this fees increase will be detrimental to the membership and the CKF.
The arguments against this fee increase are as follows:
1. The CKF already had high fees prior to the increase when compared to other kendo federations in the world. The average grading fees from 1-kyu to 7-dan was about $190, while the CKF was about $300. It is now more than $350.
The chart below compares CKF grading fees to those of the European Kendo Federation, British Kendo Association, Australian Kendo Renmei, AUSKF and Japan:
Link to chart 1: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/68333514/CKF%20Fees%20Chart%20%231.JPG
2. While as a flat average the grading fee increase may seem minimal (17%), another issue with the fee increases is that the lower dans saw the biggest increase as a percentage – 40% for 1-kyu, 57% for shodan and 37% for 2-dan and 3-dan.
Chart 2: How CKF grading fees increased as a percentage across the grades:
Link to chart 2: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/68333514/CKF%20Fees%20Chart%20%232.JPG
3. These fees present a large financial barrier to a beginner. If a beginner progresses quickly enough to grade for 1-kyu and 1-dan in the same year they will need to pay $215 in fees, including the membership fee, in order to do so. Kendo and iaido are already quite expensive when it comes to equipment ie. bogu/iaito are required to grade. A beginner may well turn away from these arts because they are too costly in favour of another martial art (the Canadian Aikido Federation requires fees of $40 for a year's membership and first two grades).
4. The relatively high grading fees may encourage CKF members to for or postpone grading, avoid grading in multiple CKF arts or grade in other countries with lower grading fees, especially at high dan ranks where the difference is larger. This would result in lost revenues, as well as delay the progression of the arts practiced under the CKF.
The undersigned members of the CKF are requesting that the directors of the Canadian Kendo Federation return grading fees to the 2011 levels in order to keep kendo, iaido and jodo gradings accessible to all those in Canada who wish to practice the CKF arts, until such time as such increases can be re-evaluated and brought before the membership at the next annual general meeting. Those signing, please add the art you practice in the comment section Thanks!
