Regulations
Effective June 24, 2008, the management of the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation and the domestic Japanese organization are now being administered by the Aikido Yoshinkai Foundation (AYF). The AYF now replaces the IYAF in name and management, however the IYAF bylaws are still in effect. The following are the key changes and take effect immediately.
1. NAME CHANGE:
International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation (IYAF) now becomes Aikido Yoshinkai Foundation (AYF).
2. KYU AND DAN CERTIFICATES:
When applying for 1st Dan recommendation to Honbu, examinee's Kyu grading records and copies of their 3rd-1st Kyu certificates obtained from Honbu MUST be attached to applications.
The signature of the recommending qualified instructor is required on each copy as proof to say: "Original certificates are confirmed and these copies are same as the original".
Dan Certificate Fees if tested by internationally registered instructor
| Rank | AYF | Time Requirements | |
| 1st Dan | ¥12,000 | From 1st-2nd dan is 1 year | |
| 2nd Dan | ¥25,000 | From 2nd-3rd dan is 2 years | |
| 3rd Dan | ¥40,000 | From 3rd-4th dan is 2 years | |
| 4th Dan | ¥60,000 | From 4th-5th dan is 3 years | |
| 5th Dan | ¥90,000 | From 5th-6th dan is 4 years | |
| 6th Dan | ¥120,000 | From 6th-7th dan is 5 years | |
| 7th Dan | From 7th-8th dan is 6 years | ||
*One half of the above fees goes to the Honbu Dojo and the other half stays with the AYF instructor/dojo. If the dan grading is conducted by a Honbu dojo instructor, the following processing fee is also required and the full amount goes to the Honbu Dojo.
Dan Certificate Fees if tested by honbu instructor
| Rank | Processing Fee | Total Honbu w/Proc Fee | Time Requirements |
| 1st Dan | ¥2,000 | ¥14,000 | From 1st-2nd dan is 1 year |
| 2nd Dan | ¥3,000 | ¥28,000 | From 2nd-3rd dan is 2 years |
| 3rd Dan | ¥3,000 | ¥43,000 | From 3rd-4th dan is 2 years |
| 4th Dan | ¥3,000 | ¥63,000 | From 4th-5th dan is 3 years |
| 5th Dan | ¥3,000 | ¥93,000 | From 5th-6th dan is 4 years |
| 6th Dan | ¥5,000 | ¥125,000 | From 6th-7th dan is 5 years |
| 7th Dan | ¥155,000yen | From 7th-8th dan is 6 years | |
Instructor Certificate Fees
| Dan Level | Grading Responsibility | Upgrading Fee | Total Cumulative Cost |
| 1st Dan | 4th Kyu | ¥20,000 | |
| 2nd Dan | 1st Kyu | ¥5,000 | ¥25,000 |
| 3rd Dan | 1st Dan | ¥5,000 | ¥30,000 |
| 4th Dan | 2nd Dan | ¥10,000 | ¥40,000 |
| 5th Dan | 3rd Dan | ¥30,000 | ¥70,000 |
*Full amount goes to honbu dojo
Dojo Registration
The AYF can provide registration certificates for Yoshinkan Aikido dojo's. These certificates prove that dojo's are officially recognized by the AYF. Only individuals approved by the Honbu Dojo may receive dojo registration certificates. Individuals must be AYF registered instructors.
Cost: ¥20,000Kyu Certificates
Set of Five: ¥5,000 (previously ¥7,500)Set of Ten: ¥10,000
*Please note that Kyu certificates come in sets and cannot be sold separately.
3. PAYMENT DETAILS:
* When sending fees, AYF only accepts cheques and payment through the bank. Cash is only accepted in Japan and in Japanese Yen.* Payment should be made out in your local currency (dollars, euros, pounds, etc)
* To cover shipping and handling, please make sure to add 10% of the total cost to a maximum of ¥5,000. Documents will not be processed without the 10% cost.
* Cheques must be written out to: AYF
* Bank Remittance details. (Contact the honbu dojo for bank information)
[Additional Bank Processing Charges]
* There will be a new additional charge to cover bank/cheque processing.Bank Remittance = ¥2,500 / per remittance
Cheques = ¥3,500 / per cheque
* To summarize payment details - please send payment by cheque/bank, remembering to add 10% shipping/handling plus the relevant cheque/bank processing charge.
4. OPENING AN OVERSEAS DOJO:
Listed below are approval regulations for opening an overseas branch dojo and details regarding the scope and activities of an overseas branch leader.
Regulation 1:- All applications for opening a new branch overseas must be approved by Aikido Yoshinkan Soke and then finally by the President of the Yoshinkai Foundation.
- The Soke and President will look into the applicant's proposed dojo area, its members, the branch leaders back ground, etc. A decision will be made once the application/applicant is deemed suitable to the Foundation.
Regulation 2:
- The branch leader is authorized only to instruct and grade students in the branch he/she has registered to.
- If the branch leader wishes to instruct and/or grade outside his/her own branch, regardless if it's temporary or permanent, they must get approval in advance from Soke. A request for approval to instruct/examine in another dojo has to be sent to the Honbu dojo office.
- (2) this also applies to the case if the branch leader wishes to instruct and/or examine outside of his/her country.
Regulation 3:
- All branch leaders shall be careful and diligent in promoting Aikido and their dojo. They must not cause any trouble with Honbu or with any other branches (here in after referred to as "Other Group") with regards to membership.
- No one shall directly invite anyone who is a member of the Other Group to become a member of his/her own group.
- When a member of one Other Group changes to another Other Group, the new branch leader has to notify the leader of the original Other Group.
- Any leader who breaches Clause 2 and/or 3, may be penalized by the President with a warning, suspension, expulsion or any appropriate action depending on the seriousness of the breach.
- Grading tests for 4th dan and above have to be done by Soke himself in principal. However, Soke can appoint a designated person to do it from Japan if deemed necessary. If there is a financial or other unavoidable reason that the host branch can't invite Soke or a designated grader, alternatives can include doing a grading test by 3 qualified graders (the requesting branch leader and 2 other qualified graders from other dojo's near the branch). However, the branch leader must request authorization from Soke.
Disclaimer: The information provided above is from the official letter sent to all AYF (IYAF) registered dojo's dated and signed June 24, 2008 by Shioda Yasuhisa Soke. Modifications to the pricing section and some wording have been updated to avoid confusion within the international community and come directly from the IYAF Bylaws. Please contact the honbu dojo for the "official" letter if need be.