Member JJIF

Introduction

There is an old saying pertaining to martial arts, which states, “One must first learn civility before he learns the art, and one must first know his ethics before he knows his skills”.

Civility here refers to good manners, courtesy, respect and consideration for others. Ethics, on the other hand, is a fundamental set of acceptable behaviour which codifies the spirit of martial arts and which martial artists can rely on to cultivate their body and mind, and to guide their everyday actions and judgement.

Ethics is an indivisible part of the study of martial art and sets the moral guidelines for martial artists. Ethics principles serve as the traditional, cultural and social standard by which practitioners are trained in martial arts. Central to these principles is the concept of non-violence, respect for oneself and others, loyalty to one’s family and country, and the following of the natural way.

The adherence to ethics confirms our moral obligation to society and fellow human beings as well as towards nature which surrounds us. The concept also includes the attitudes, lifestyle as well as the social and moral behaviour of the practitioner. It is the manner in which one behaves in both word and action. A practitioner of martial arts is not only a superior athlete, well-versed in combat, but also upstanding citizen with good moral and social virtues.

Fulfilling the ethical principles is the true spirit and ultimate goal of the way of martial arts inspire all of us (less than perfect beings) to continually strive for perfection within ourselves.

JU-JITSU INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION (JJIF) 

 JJIF CODE OF ETHICS 

 MEMBER of  GAISF Global Association of International Sports Federations  and  IWGA International World Games Association   

PREAMBLE 

The Ju-Jitsu International Federation and each of its Federal structures restate their commitment to the Olympic Charter and its Fundamental Principles, and reaffirm their loyalty to the Olympic ideal inspired by Pierre de Coubertin. “The JJIF parties”, hereinafter defined, undertake to disseminate the culture of ethics and integrity within their respective areas of competence and to serve as role models. They specifically undertake to comply and ensure compliance with the JJIF Code of Ethics in the following areas, circumstances and context: • the International Ju-Jitsu Federation, (JJIF), each of its Members and its Administration; • the National Ju-Jitsu Organization or Federation Member of JJIF and their officials in all their relations with the JJIF; • all participants to JJIF activities, throughout each edition of Competitions and Events for which they are accredited; • the cities and their officials taking part in any type of candidature procedures for the JJIF, throughout the procedure in question; and • the Organising Committees for the JJIF Competitions and Events and their officials, throughout the existence of each such Committee. Each one of the JJIF Parties, though a written declaration, undertake to adopt, for their internal activities, a code of ethics based on the principles and rules of the JJIF Code of Ethics. A) FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES Article 1 Respect for the universal fundamental ethical principles is the foundation of Olympism and is at the base of the JJIF Code of Ethics. These principles include:

 1.1 Respect for the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play;

 1.2 Respect of the principle of the universality and political neutrality of the Olympic Movement;

 1.3 Maintaining harmonious relations with state authorities, while respecting the principle of autonomy as set out in the Olympic Charter; 

1.4 Respect for international conventions on protecting human rights insofar as they apply to the JJIF activities and which ensure in particular: - respect for human dignity; - rejection of discrimination of any kind on whatever grounds, be it race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status; - rejection of all forms of harassment and abuse, be it physical, professional or sexual, and any physical or mental injuries. 

1.5 Ensuring the participants’ conditions of safety, well-being and medical care favourable to their physical and mental equilibrium. 

1.6 Promote in all activities of JJIF the principles of the Code of Bushido which calls for responsibility, truthfulness, integrity, bravery, benevolence, sincerity, loyalty, devotion to the Community and respect for Environment and Nature, living in harmony and spiritual balance. 

1.7 Ensuring rigorous behaviour in Dojo by all parties involved (Sensei, Coaches, Referees and Practitioners) training the body and cultivating the mind. 

B) INTEGRITY OF CONDUCT 

Article 2 

The JJIF parties must use due care and diligence in fulfilling their mission. At all times, they must act with the highest degree of integrity, and particularly when taking decisions, they must act with impartiality, objectivity, independence and professionalism. They must refrain from any act involving fraud or corruption. They must not act in a manner likely to tarnish the reputation of the Olympic Movement. 

Article 3

 The JJIF parties or their representatives must not, directly or indirectly, solicit, accept or offer any form of remuneration or commission, nor any concealed benefit or service of any nature, connected with the JJIF Competitions and Events.

 Article 4 

Only tokens of consideration or friendship of nominal value, in accordance with prevailing local customs, may be given or accepted by the JJIF or third parties. Such tokens may not lead to the impartiality and integrity of the JJIF parties being called into question. Any other form of token, object or benefit constitutes a gift which may not be accepted, but must be passed on to the organisation of which the beneficiary is a member. Article 5

 For hospitality shown to the JJIF parties, as well as those accompanying them, a sense of measure must be respected

 Article 6 

The JJIF parties must refrain from placing themselves in any conflict of interests, and must respect the rules concerning conflicts of interests affecting the behaviour of JJIF parties. C) INTEGRITY OF COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS 

Article 7 

The JJIF parties shall commit to combat all forms of cheating and shall continue to undertake all the necessary measures to ensure the integrity of sports Competitions and Events. Article 8 

The JJIF parties must respect the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code and of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions and Events. 

Article 9 

All forms of participation in, or support for betting related to the JJIF Competitions and Events and all forms of promotion of betting related to the JJIF Competitions and Events are prohibited. 

Article 10 

Participants in the JJIF Competitions and Events must not, by any manner whatsoever, manipulate the course or result, or any part thereof, in a manner contrary to sporting ethics, infringe the principle of fair play or show unsporting conduct. 

D) GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCES 

Article 11 

The Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement, in particular transparency, responsibility and accountability, must be respected by all JJIF parties.

 Article 12 

The JJIF resources and the resources of the JJIF parties must be used only for JJIF purposes. 

Article 13

 13.1 The income and expenditure of the JJIF parties must be recorded in their accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. An independent auditor will check these accounts. 

13.2 In cases where the JJIF gives financial support to JJIF parties: a. the use of these JJIF resources for JJIF purposes must be clearly demonstrated in the accounts; b. the accounts of the JJIF parties may be subjected to auditing by an expert designated by the JJIF Executive Board. 

Article 14 

The JJIF parties recognise the significant contribution that broadcasters, sponsors, partners and other supporters make to the development and prestige of the JJIF Competitions and Events throughout the world. In order to preserve the integrity and neutrality of the various candidature procedures, the support and promotion of any of the candidatures by broadcasters, sponsors, partners and other supporters must be in a form consistent with the rules of sport and the principles defined in the Olympic Charter and the present Code. However, the JJIF TOP Sponsors and other JJIF marketing partners must refrain from supporting or promoting a candidature within any of the JJIF candidature procedures. The broadcasters, sponsors, partners and other supporters must not interfere in the running of sports organisations. 

E) CANDIDATURES 

Article 15 

The JJIF parties shall respect the integrity of any candidature procedure initiated by the JJIF, in order to allow equal access to the promotion of each candidature and the refusal of any risk of conflict of interests. Out of respect for the principle of neutrality of JJIF members, no public declaration appearing to give a favourable opinion of one of the candidatures may be made.

 Article 16 

The JJIF parties will respect the requirements of the various procedures published by the JJIF, particularly regarding the selection of Competitions and Events host cities, as well as the Rules of Conduct Applicable to All Cities Wishing to Organise the JJIF Competitions and Events. 

F) CONFIDENTIALITY 

Article 17 

The principle of confidentiality shall be strictly respected by the JJIF Ethics Commission in all its activities. It must also be strictly respected by any person concerned by the activities of the JJIF Ethics Commission.

 G) REPORTING OBLIGATION 

Article 18 

The JJIF parties shall inform the JJIF Ethics Commission, in the strictest confidentiality and by using the appropriate mechanisms, of any information related to a violation of the JJIF Code of Ethics. Any disclosure of information must not be for personal gain or benefit, nor be undertaken maliciously to damage the reputation of any person or organisation.

 H) IMPLEMENTATION 

Article 19 

The JJIF Ethics Commission may set out the provisions for the implementation of the present Code in a set of Implementing Provisions, subject to the approval of the JJIF Executive Board in accordance with the Statutes and Bye-law of JJIF. 

Article 20 

The JJIF Board and its Officers are available to the JJIF Ethics Commission to disseminate and implement the present JJIF Ethics Code. 

The text has been prepared by the JJIF Ethics Commission composed by Rinaldo Orlandi Tsegaye Degineh Ray Nassiri Tomasz Knap January 2017