Constitution

INTERNATIONAL COMBAT ORGANISATION
CONSTITUTION

TITLE. The title of the organisation shall be the
 hereinafter called the (ICO)
OBJECTS. The objects shall be:-
1. To promote the sport and practice of martial arts.
2. To promote codes of safety in the sport and practice of martial arts.
3. To promote the moral, mental, physical and social well-being of the members.
4. To obtain, collect, receive and administer money and funds for these purposes.
5. To provide members with such services and support as may be available through
their membership of the ICO
6. To operate and maintain a register of current membership
7. To raise, administer and expend funds in its discretion according to this Constitution.
8. To arrange for the supply, purchase, sale and hire of all materials, goods and services
as may be required.
9. To act as an advisory body on matters appertaining to martial arts.
10. To co-operate with other bodies having similar aims and generally to do all such
things as are conducive to these objects or any of them for purposes recognized by law
as charitable.
11. MEMBERSHIP shall be open to all persons and clubs who subscribe to the
“Purposes” above and who shall abide by the constitution and bye-laws in force from
time-to-time under the direction of the Executive Committee.

Membership shall consist
of:-Individual Members who shall be in current membership of a member-club, and
who shall hold a current registration/licence issued by the ICO.
12. Honorary Members shall be elected by two-thirds majority of the Executive
Committee present and voting.
13. Member Clubs shall have paid due fees and who meet the technical and other
requirements of the ICO.
14. Provisional Clubs shall have paid due fees and await acceptance of their technical
and other requirements of the ICO.
15. The Executive Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions as it deems
necessary.
16. FEES : Members and Member Clubs shall pay such fees and be subject to such
rights and conditions as are determined by the ICO.
17. INSURANCE: Members and Clubs shall be covered by insurance, which shall be
determined by the Executive Committee.
18. DISCIPLINE. A member or club or group of members may be asked to resign or
have application or renewal of membership refused or be suspended or dealt with in
such a manner as may be determined by the Executive Committee. Disciplined member/

 shall have the right to appeal and such shall be placed on the agenda of the next
Executive Committee meeting.
19. LICENCES: Annual Licence/insurance/receipt/and Record Book shall be issued on
approved application and payment and the Licence renewed annually.
20. GENERAL MEETINGS: Shall be called by the Executive Committee at its
discretion or following a written request in the form of a resolution signed by not less
than ten club representatives. Shall require not less than twenty-eight days notice and
shall specify the business of the meeting. No other business may be transacted at such
meeting except by leave of the Chair. Notices sent to Club Secretaries at their last known
address for communication to their members or representative shall be deemed to have
been properly served.
21. A General Meeting shall be the highest authority of the ICO.
22. VOTING AT GENERAL MEETINGS. Every individual member may attend a
general meeting and may exercise one vote. Except as otherwise herein provided, any
motion or resolution moved and seconded shall be decided by a simple majority of votes
of those present and entitled to vote.
23. The Chair may exercise a second or casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.

24. Only members or Executive Officers may propose or second motions. No person may address the meeting except by leave of the Chair.
25. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING shall be held once in each calendar year to
transact the following business:
26. To receive and consider the adoption of the Annual Reports.
27. To receive and consider the adoption of the certified accounts for the preceding year.
28. To elect the financial accountant for the coming year. The said accountant shall be a
certified accountant who is independent of the Executive Committee.
29. To elect the members of Executive Committee who shall hold office until the next
Annual General Meeting.
30. No other business may be conducted at an Annual General Meeting. Other notified
business shall be referred to the Officers and the Executive Committee or dealt with
under article #20 of this Constitution.
31. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The business of the ICO shall be managed by the
Executive Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office until the next A.G.M.
32. The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than eight and not more than twelve voting members.
33. Nominations for the Executive Committee must be received not less than 28 days
prior to the date of the A.G.M. except for retiring members, or by leave of the Chair in
the absence of sufficient nominations.

34. The Executive Committee shall appoint the Honorary Officers from
35. The Executive Committee may fill vacancies arising between A.G.M’s. These by
persons to hold office until the next A.G.M. Such co-options shall not exceed 50% of the
total number of elected members of the Committee.
36. Quorum for a meeting of the Executive shall be half plus one of the total
membership of the Committee.
37. The Executive Committee shall meet from time-to-time as it deems necessary.
38. The Executive Committee may delegate powers of interim action.
39.The Executive Committee may appoint Technical Officers and/or Committees and
other Sub-Committees and Chairs/Conveners of same -determining such duties and
duration as it deems necessary.
40. The Executive Committee may appoint salaried or paid officers, servants or
employees of the ICO; determining such payment, duties and duration as it deems
necessary.
41. The Executive Committee may present By-Laws to the next following General
Meeting for ratification.
42. Voting members of the Executive Committee shall not receive any pecuniary
advantage by reason of controlling interest in the ICO.
43. ALTERATIONS: These rules of the Constitution and order of reference may not be
altered in effect except - by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and entitled
to vote at a General Meeting called for the purpose. Any alterations shall be notified to
any relevant approving authority or governing body concerned.

44. INTERPRETATION. The rules of debate shall follow the rules laid down for
Parliamentary Committees.
45. Any matter not provided for in these rules shall be referred to the Executive
Committee whose decisions shall be final and binding.
46. DISSOLUTION. A motion to dissolve the ICO. may be made only at a General
Meeting called for the purpose, with due and proper notice, and to succeed shall
require the approval of not less than two-thirds of the members present and entitled
to vote.
47. On dissolution, any property or assets shall be disposed of for similar or charitable
purposes subject to the approval of any grant-aiding authorities concerned. Such
property or assets shall not be distributed among the remaining members.
Translation:Transpose for different arts and styles to -fit the requirement: Dan/Degree/
Master/Sifu Kyu/Kup/Pupil/Student.

BYE-LAWS
6/7/75/a TECHNICAL OFFICERS shall be responsible for the promotion of their own
art/discipline/style of martial art. Assessments and discipline of a technical nature shall -
in the first instance- be referred to the nearest officer or instructor of sufficient Dan
grade of the style who shall report to the Executive Committee.
6/7/75/b: GRADINGS: Examiners may not enter or update a grade on a Record Book
which has an out-of-date annual licence.
6/7/75/c: Kyu gradings shall require a minimum of three months between gradings.
6/7/75/d: Only licenced Dan grade instructors may examine Kyu levels.
6/7/75/e: Dan gradings shall be conducted by a panel of 3 Dan graded persons led by a
Senior Dan Grade of the same style and at least three grades higher than that of the
person being examined.
6/7/75/f: Gradings to first Dan shall require a minimum - of three years continuous
training through the Kyu grades. Gradings to second Dan shall require minimum of
two further years from first Dan. The progression is then: Three further years for
second to third Dan; four further years to fourth Dan; five further years to fifth and so
on. Note that these are MINIMUM times and not to be taken as automatic times.

6/7/75/g Statement of Equality, Equal Opportunity and Anti Racism Policy adopted.
30/6/77/a In very exceptional circumstances an Honorary Dan grade made be awarded
for services rendered to the ICO and the Martial Art. Such honorary Dan grade shall
have no technical standing unless so defined.
30/6/77/b Gradings to 3rd Dan and above require the permission and examination by a
panel approved by the appropriate Technical Committee.
30/6/77/c All Dan Gradings must be reported to Executive Committee for registration.
30/6/77/d Instructors must be of contractual age, i.e. over 18 years of age. the term cadet leader will be used for those under 18
8/6/98/a A Dan under 16 years of age must be marked as a “Cadet “1st Dan and must
take a senior 1st Dan grade at or after 16years of age.
16/7/99/a “Health & Safety” Policy adopted.
10/7/04/a Child Protection Policy adopted.
10/7/04/b Coaching qualifications required by all instructors.
10/7/04/c First-Aid certificates required by all instructors.
10/7/04/d CRB-Criminal Records Bureau clearance required by all instructors teaching
children.