Gasshuku Resources
The Gasshuku Director and Gasshuku Manager will decide in advance who will teach during the Gasshuku. This advanced planning is necessary for budgeting purposes.
As a co-founding member of SOA, Michael Thompson is to be invited to attend all SOA-accredited gasshukus free of charge.
Michael Thompson and H.F Ito (1942-2023), are the co-founders of SOA.
Gasshuku Arrangements FAQ
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- Who directs or teaches a gasshuku?
- How do I schedule a gasshuku?
- How do I select a Gasshuku Manager?
- How do I select the Director of Instruction?
- How do I invite Instructors?
- How do I invite a Guest Instructor?
- How do I invite a Guest Examiner?
- How do I schedule an Advanced Workshop?
- How do I select a Gasshuku Consultant?
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Shintaido Qualification System
If there will be examinations during your workshop or gasshuku, please consult the following chart to determine who may challenge for rank and what Examiners will be required.
DISCIPLINE |
RANK CHALLENGED |
INTERVAL BETWEEN EXAMS |
NECESSARY EXAMINERS |
| CORE | Instructor | 1 year | Two General Instructors |
| “ | Graduate | 1 year | One General Instructor OR Two Senior Instructors |
| “ | Assistant | Two Instructors | |
| “ | Advanced Student | Two Instructors | |
| KARATE | 2nd-dan | 1 year | Two 4th-dan holders |
| “ | 1st-dan | 1 year | One 4th-dan holder OR Two 3rd-dan holders |
| “ | 1-kyu & below | Two 2nd-dan holders | |
| BOJUTSU | 2nd-dan | 1 year | Two 4th-dan holders |
| “ | 1st-dan | 1 year | One 4th-dan holder OR Two 3rd-dan holders |
| “ | 1-kyu & below | Two 2nd-dan holders | |
| KENJUTSU | 2nd-dan | 1 year | Two 4th-dan holders |
| “ | 1st-dan | 1 year | One 4th-dan holder OR Two 3rd-dan holders |
Gasshuku Instruction Fees
Gasshuku Director or Guest Instructor Fees:
Travel expenses, paid gasshuku expenses, plus fee:
| Master Instructor: | $500 per gasshuku |
| General Instructor: | $400 per gasshuku |
| Senior Instructor: | $300 per gasshuku |
| Instructor: | $200 per gasshuku |
Invited Goreisha
Travel expenses, paid gasshuku expenses, plus fee:
| Master Instructor: | $200 per class |
| General Instructor: | $150 per class |
| Senior Instructor: | $100 per class |
| Instructor: | $50 per class |
Guest Examiner
Per class fee for each class taught, as noted above.
Exam Fee Distribution
One third to go directly to SOA, and the remaining two thirds are divided among all the examiners.
Gasshuku FAQ
WHO DIRECTS OR TEACHES A GASSHUKUS?
SOA-certified instructors are available to direct and teach at gasshukus around the United States and Canada. However, the planning and administration of gasshukus is the business of regional groups. SOA provides guidelines for the production of these events, and offers such assistance as a national mailing list. It is recommended that a “national gasshuku” include an advanced workshop and upper-level examinations. An advanced workshop is defined as a workshop led by a General Instructor or above, intended for Graduates and above, and sometimes open to other SOA members with permission of the instructor.
For information about producing an SOA-affiliated gasshuku, see “How do I schedule a gasshuku?”
HOW DO I SCHEDULE A GASSHUKU?
When planning a gasshuku or workshop in your region, notify the Chair of the National Technical Council (ntc-chairperson@shintaido.org) of the date you have planned, to make sure that no other gasshukus are scheduled for that same date. You will have access to the SOA mailing list to help you publicize your gasshuku.
When planning an inter-regional event, or when inviting an Instructor from outside your region to teach at a regional event, notify the Chair of the National Technical Council. This avoids scheduling conflicting events, and provides guidance on policy issues and event planning (such as financial issues.) A national Gasshuku is an opportunity to offer an advanced workshop and upper-level examinations.
In return for accrediting instructors who are qualified to teach at gasshukus, SOA asks that all gasshukus offer a registration discount for SOA members. Please plan this discount into your budget.
SOA encourages all gasshuku managers to schedule an Advanced Student event (discussion and/or keiko) as part of the gasshuku.
HOW DO I SELECT A GASSHUKU MANAGER?
The group hosting the gasshuku selects the Gasshuku Manager. The manager should be a member of the host group and if possible, have acted as an assistant to a Gasshuku Manager at previous Shintaido workshops or gasshukus.
The Gasshuku Manager oversees the organization of the gasshuku and in conjunction with the Director of Instruction determines the budget for instruction and keiko schedule. The Manager or his/her designee (e.g., Exam Coordinator) reports examination results to the SoA Membership Secretary on the Board of Directors.
HOW DO I SELECT THE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION?
The host group and the Gasshuku Manager selects the Director of Instruction. The Director should have extensive teaching experience and does not have to be a member of the host group.
The Director oversees all instructional matters and in conjunction with the Gasshuku Manager determines the budget for instruction and keiko schedule.
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate, informing him/her of the gasshuku dates and remuneration.
HOW DO I INVITE INSTRUCTORS?
If you plan to invite one or more Instructors from outside your region to teach at your gasshuku, you may consult the Chair of the National Technical Council if you wish. To prevent confusion, please always consult the Chair of the National Technical Council before inviting a Shintaido Instructor from outside the United States.
HOW DO I INVITE A GUEST INSTRUCTOR?
The Director of Instruction and the Gasshuku Manager decide who will be invited as Guest Instructor(s). Since the selection of Guest Instructors is an educational as well as budgetary concern, both the Director and Manager need to agree on the candidate(s).
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate(s), informing him/her/them of the Gasshuku dates and remuneration. If necessary, be sure to include a request to serve as an examiner.
HOW DO I INVITE A GUEST EXAMINER?
The Director of Instruction and the Gasshuku Manager decide who will be invited as Guest Examiner(s). When selecting the Guest Examiner(s), make sure to consider the level of examinations to be given. Refer to the Shintaido Qualification System above for required qualifications of examiners. Since the selection of Guest Examiner(s) is an educational as well as budgetary concern, both the Director and Manager need to agree.
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate, informing him/her/them of the Gasshuku dates, level of examinations to be held, examination schedule and remuneration.
HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN ADVANCED WORKSHOP?
SoA Advanced Workshops may be scheduled at any gasshuku with the approval of the Chair of the National Technical Council. An advanced workshop is defined as a workshop led by a General Instructor or above, intended for Graduates and above, and open to others with permission of the instructor.
HOW DO I SELECT A GASSHUKU CONSULTANT?
The Gasshuku Manager decides who to invite as a Gasshuku Consultant. Historically, a Gasshuku Consultant has been hired only for large National and/or International events.
The Gasshuku consultant must have extensive experience in all phases of gasshuku management and must have acted as Director of Instruction for at least one National and/or International Gasshuku.
It may be helpful to hire a person who has exposure to the international Shintaido movement, especially if the gasshuku will include members from other countries.
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate, informing him/her of the Gasshuku schedule and remuneration.