Kyu & Dan Examinations
All Kyu examinations are the sole responsibility of the national group. Whilst each country may have unique national requirements to fulfil, the HDKI strongly recommend the use of the official HDKI grading syllabus, so seamless transition to the HDKI Dan examinations can be facilitated. Groups are free to regulate Kyu examinations as they see fit, however, a process of examiner qualification is recommended that fits in with the overall HDKI Examiner Qualification process.
All Dan examinations are regulated and processed by the HDKI Headquarters. Any instructor who is fourth Dan or above may qualify as a HDKI Dan Examiner. It is expected that all Dan examinations take place on special, pre-assigned Dan Exam seminars, ensuring the graduation process is befitting to the occasion. An exam panel is encouraged whereby a number of senior instructors are invited to give feedback on candidates. These seniors may or may not be Dan Examiners as the officially qualified examiner has the final say.

Examiner Status

D Rank This allows individuals to grade up to 1st kyu and is governed by the national body.

C Rank Suitable candidates (at least 4th Dan) must present a research paper on aspects of the Shodan Syllabus. Successful candidates will be allowed to grade up to 1st Dan.

B Rank Suitable candidates (at least 5th Dan) must present four research papers on topics determined by the Chief Technical Director. Successful candidates will be allowed to grade up to 2nd Dan.

A Rank Suitable candidate (at least 6th Dan) must spend an extended period (at least one month) at the HDKI Headquarters participating in Instructors’ Training. Research papers must also be written. Successful candidates will be allowed to grade up to 3rd Dan.

A+ Rank Certain individuals who have shown a deep understanding of and commitment to the HDKI will be awarded A+ Rank which will allow them to grade beyond 3rd Dan.

HDKI Fees
The HDKI will use a system of banding in according of the core values to respect and facilitate the HDKI communities throughout the world. Following the World Bank’s figures of GDP per person, four bands will be used to allow national affiliates and individual members to pay proportionally similar amounts. Countries and Bands (subject to periodic change).
Hombu Dojo Ltd is a limited company whose accountants are publicly available.

Payment and registration of Dan Examinations
If a candidate is successful, the official examiner must register the grade within one month of the exam. Registration for all Dan grades is €100. Once this money has been transferred to the Headquarters, certificates will be issues.
If the candidate is unsuccessful, 50% of the fee will be returned to the candidate. It is then the responsibility of the examiner to give a detailed review of the exam and provide a strategy for the candidate to be successful on their next attempt.
Payment bands refers to the country in which the candidate is resident.

Events
The HDKI will work towards inaugurating International Championships and International Summer Camps, as well as facilitating National Technical Seminars and trips to Japan and other centres of excellence for karate. As the group grows, the community will endeavour to make these events as inclusive as possible for the entire membership. All HDKI membership will have free access to the Headquarters, Dublin. Each year Kangeiko (Cold Training) will take place during the last week of January and Shidoin Keiko (Instructors Training) will take place during the middle week of August. These two week-long gasshuku will be open to all seniors of the HDKI where they can stay and train for free. Beyond these events, HDKI members are free to invite and organise seminars with any instructor regardless of rank or association. Furthermore, the HDKI community will strive to collaborate in the organising and coordination of visiting instructors. Where possible, costs of hosting visiting instructors will be shared, facilitating the maximum activity with the minimum of financial risk.

Membership
Any group wishing to join the HDKI should contact the HDKI Headquarters directly or consult a HDKI representative. They should provide a brief resume of their senior instructors and at the same time address any queries they may have. They should inform the HDKI how they wish the community to support them and investigate how they can develop within the community. Once approved by the International Council, national affiliates will be given a separate page dedicated to them on www.hdki.org and any support they require to set up or promote their group. They will also be able to avail of high quality HDKI License books, certificates and other HDKI resources. All these are available directly to the national affiliate through the HDKI website. All new members will have a probationary period of one year were both the international community and the new members can adjust and develop to the organisation’s growth.
If, after a year, the affiliation is not mutually beneficial, the Chief Technical Director can terminate membership. However, once affiliates have passed the probationary period, all disagreements must be rectified privately by the International Council. Affiliated members can only be expelled with a two-third majority of the International Council.

Individual membership is possible, but only through an existing HDKI affiliated dojo.