Dear CKF Members,
The CKF Board of Directors has recently announced our new fee structure for grading, registration, and the issuance of dan certificates. These fees have not seen a substantial increase in the past decade.
Some may think that these increases are quite large. However one must not view the percentage increases solely compared with last year; that is, the actual annual rate of increase over time is quite nominal, since increases have not been implemented for many years.
Moreover, we would like members to appreciate that these increases are needed to cover costs for many areas of our on-going operations that have risen appreciably. We have new costs in areas such as legal fees, PayPal, information technology, and Webpage administration, in addition to higher expenses related to grading itself.
Furthermore, we have implemented new development programs for all three arts, kendo, iaido and jodo. We are also starting an important outreach program to areas in Canada that are just beginning to organize, such as the Atlantic provinces, which is showing much promise. All these initiatives require additional resources.
Please note as well that we have made separate categories for junior CKF members. As an incentive for younger members to grade, there is no increase for juniors at 1st-kyu level and a very nominal increase for the 1st-dan level.
After you consider the above factors, we hope you will kindly understand, appreciate, and accept our rationale for increasing CKF fees at this time.
Thank you very much.
Hiro Okusa, President
John Maisonneuve, Treasurer