[Frjrbefd]

Apologies but I couldn't find this on my search attempts both here and at the AUSKF's website:

There isn't anything tricky about changing federations, right? Just find a new home dojo and the next time your AUSKF membership needs renewing, do it through the new dojo? No paperwork to fill out and I don't need to get any letter or menjo or whatnot from my current subfederation? I'm not sure precisely which new federation I'm moving to, but I have been out of work for a while where I currently live (AEUSKF) and finally have job offers in two other locations -- so we're moving to one of them (btw, the locations are in the SEUSKF or SCKF/SCKO). Thankfully both have what sound like excellent Kendo options.

[bpejjssoe]

No problem changing Federations. The only caveat is if you are still a member of AEUSKF and move to another Federation you will have to get the signature of your previous Federations president in addition to your new sensei to test for rank until you register under your new Federation.

[DonnyKong]

something i've always wondered is can you be a member of 2 regional federations? It certainly would help avoid some akward political problems with being a kendo nomad.

[Wavgbtif]

Not sure about that one. I think it would be a little frowned on but don't know. We have people that live here but still belong to the Federation (and pay their yearly dues to the AUSKF and their home Federation but pay the local clubs membership fees) they belonged to before moving and it hasn't been a problem but as for registering with 2 Federations simultaneously just not sure.

[juptVatoSoito]

something i've always wondered is can you be a member of 2 regional federations? It certainly would help avoid some akward political problems with being a kendo nomad.

Considering that you need to get a copy of your menjo to the testing board each time you test outside your federation, it is probably a safe guess that the federations don't talk too much to one another membership wise.

im sure its frowned upon, but might be needed depending on your circumstances.

[rorsvierwelia]

something i've always wondered is can you be a member of 2 regional federations? It certainly would help avoid some akward political problems with being a kendo nomad.

I think the only way that's possible is if you pay your AUSKF dues twice through two different federations, which is costly. Also, not certain how possible it is considering that when you submit your dues, the treasurer of that federation also submits your AUSKF ID number which is used to identify who you are.

[Thigmaswams]

Considering that you need to get a copy of your menjo to the testing board each time you test outside your federation, it is probably a safe guess that the federations don't talk too much to one another membership wise.

im sure its frowned upon, but might be needed depending on your circumstances.

Speaking of which, how do I actually go about getting my menjo? I passed ikkyu four months ago and I've never seen it. In all events, it sounds like all I should do is join the new federation when I move and bring a copy of my hopefully-extant menjo with me.

Thanks guys.

[dserbokim]

Well RKF membership...that depends on the regions. The way the AUSKF specifies dues/membership (and the elder Marsten sensei can correct me if this changed).. is that you as an individual don't actually belong to the AUSKF [pay no attention to the fact that you actually get a membership card and a membership number]. The Regional Kendo Federation (RKF) does. It is supposed to submit a census of >it's< membership (which are assumed to be individual people). It is then supposed to fork over a certain amount of money for each member they have...so yeah, probably you'd be asked to pay AUSKF 'dues' by both federations.

[shieclulaweew]

Speaking of which, how do I actually go about getting my menjo? I passed ikkyu four months ago and I've never seen it. In all events, it sounds like all I should do is join the new federation when I move and bring a copy of my hopefully-extant menjo with me.

Thanks guys.

You will need a copy, eventually it will get forwarded to your old instructor and hopefully they can mail it on to you. I have experienced wait times of as little as 2 months to a year or more, I am currently waiting on one from early march.

I am unsure what happens if you don't have it. Recently one of my dojomates took her first test in 17 years, so I am curious what she did.

I am running under the assumption that ranking records aren't held nationally like in judo?

[YpbWF5Yo]

maybe you will need to start the US Kendo Confederation (all the federations united for paper work and stuff like this.)

[MarlboroCig]

Move to SCKF or SCKO !!! California !!! yeahhhhhhhhh

Apologies but I couldn't find this on my search attempts both here and at the AUSKF's website:

There isn't anything tricky about changing federations, right? Just find a new home dojo and the next time your AUSKF membership needs renewing, do it through the new dojo? No paperwork to fill out and I don't need to get any letter or menjo or whatnot from my current subfederation? I'm not sure precisely which new federation I'm moving to, but I have been out of work for a while where I currently live (AEUSKF) and finally have job offers in two other locations -- so we're moving to one of them (btw, the locations are in the SEUSKF or SCKF/SCKO). Thankfully both have what sound like excellent Kendo options.

[zatronanec]

You will need a copy, eventually it will get forwarded to your old instructor and hopefully they can mail it on to you. I have experienced wait times of as little as 2 months to a year or more, I am currently waiting on one from early march.

I am unsure what happens if you don't have it. Recently one of my dojomates took her first test in 17 years, so I am curious what she did.

I am running under the assumption that ranking records aren't held nationally like in judo?

Ranking records are held at a national level from my understanding as they are assigned to your AUSKF membership number but I don't know how accurate this is. As for waiting for your menjo, as mentioned by HL1978 it can vary greatly. If you are greatly concerned you should contact the regional Federation you belong to when you passed your exam as they will get the menjo from the AUSKF. After I passed my nidan exam I waited almost 2 years before I got my menjo but I have also received them in at few as a couple months.

I concur with Miyu ( Hi Tina!) that if you were to register with two regional Feds you would likely have to pay AUSKF dues twice due to the way membership registration is set up, but I really don't think that this is something you would be advised to do. As I mentioned you can belong to one Federation and continue to pay your dues to them and practice (and test) in another Federation you just need to be aware that there is more paperwork as your home Federation president needs to approve your shinsa form before you can test.

[kvitacencia]

That may be acceptable (paying AUSKF dues twice) , I doubt I will run afoul of anyone in the short term, but if I visit a certain dojo more frequently it would help smooth things out a bit. I can always get along by playing dumb gaijin, though I suspect certain sensei dont realize how much japanese I can understand :-P