Join IBCO

Help Us Build the Future of Budo Competition

IBCO is a budo competition organization established by IBMA.

Its official name is the International Budo Competition Organization.

IBCO studies competition rules, judging methods, safety standards, and officiating systems.

Our purpose is not limited to organizing tournaments.

We aim to create an environment where people from different budo traditions and schools can compete, learn, and grow together.

We are looking for people who share this vision.

What IBCO Aims to Achieve

Budo includes many different schools, traditions, and technical systems.

Each has its own history and values.

IBCO does not seek to unify them into a single style.

We respect the independence and identity of each budo tradition.

At the same time, we seek to develop shared competition frameworks.

Our goal is to create fair and safe competitive environments.

Competition results should be as clear and explainable as possible.

Why was a technique considered effective?

Why was a point awarded?

Why was a particular decision made?

We believe such questions should be understandable not only to competitors, but also to judges and spectators.

Activities We Hope to Develop Together

IBCO plans to engage in the following activities:

• Research on budo competition rules
• Development of new competition formats
• Research on judging standards
• Research on point systems
• Research on safety standards
• Development of officiating systems
• Training of judges and referees
• Trial competitions
• Exchange tournaments
• Cooperation with different budo organizations
• Publication of research results

Participation is not limited to experienced competitors.

People interested in budo competition are welcome.

Those who wish to study judging systems are also welcome.

People interested in tournament management may participate.

Those who wish to explore new forms of budo competition may also join.

There are many ways to take part.

How to Join IBCO

IBCO is operated as a project of the nonprofit organization IBMA.

For this reason, continuous participation in IBCO generally requires IBMA membership.

However, applicants do not need to complete two separate procedures.

You may apply for IBCO registration and IBMA membership at the same time.

If You Are Already an IBMA Member

If you are already an IBMA member, you do not need to apply for IBMA membership again.

You only need to apply for IBCO registration.

After registration, you may participate according to your chosen area of activity.

[Apply for IBCO Registration]

If You Are Not Yet an IBMA Member

If you wish to participate in IBCO on a continuing basis, IBMA membership is required.

However, the process is combined into one application.

You may apply for IBMA general membership at the same time as your IBCO registration.

You do not need to submit separate applications.

[Apply for IBMA Membership and IBCO Registration]

If You Only Wish to Enter a Tournament

IBMA membership is not required for those who only wish to participate in a tournament.

We want IBCO events to remain open to people from different schools and organizations.

Participants may enter events according to the requirements of each competition.

[Tournament Information]

IBCO Registration Categories

IBCO offers several participation categories.

Multiple categories may be selected.

General Registration

For people who support the aims of IBCO and wish to participate in its activities.

This may include competition, research, and exchange programs.

Competitor Registration

For those who wish to participate regularly in IBCO competitions.

Separate registration systems may be established for specific competition formats.

Judge and Referee Registration

For those who wish to take part in officiating.

Training and certification systems may be established as needed.

Research and Technical Committee Registration

For those who wish to study competition rules, judging methods, and safety standards.

People with technical expertise or practical experience are also welcome.

Operations Registration

For those who wish to support tournament management, administration, promotion, or other operational activities.

Specific responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Organization Membership

IBCO also accepts applications from organizations.

Eligible organizations may include karate, budo, martial arts, and combat sports groups.

Joining IBCO does not mean joining IBMA Kyokushin Kaikan.

IBCO does not seek to place member organizations under its control.

Each organization remains independent.

This includes its:

• Organization name
• Leadership
• Management structure
• Style and technical system
• Rank and grading system
• Instructional system
• Membership fee structure
• Dojo management
• Independent events and tournaments

Joining IBCO does not require these systems to be changed.

What We Ask of Member Organizations

Each member organization should appoint a representative or contact person for IBCO.

In principle, this person should be both an IBMA member and an IBCO registrant.

However, not every member of the organization is required to join IBMA.

[Apply for Organization Membership]

Principles We Value

IBCO values the following principles:

• Respect differences among budo traditions and schools
• Emphasize fair competition
• Never neglect safety
• Do not treat competition results as rankings of human worth
• Avoid defamation of other organizations
• Respect the principles and competition rules of IBCO

Budo competition is not intended to determine who is absolutely strongest.

It is a way to compare techniques under defined conditions.

It should also be a place where participants can learn from one another.

IBCO Aims to Be an Open Budo Competition Platform

IBCO does not exist to isolate or control participants.

Those who take part continuously are expected to accept a certain level of responsibility.

At the same time, tournaments and exchange events should remain as open as possible.

We seek to combine organizational integrity with openness.

People from different budo traditions should be able to meet.

They should be able to test their skills and learn from one another.

Through this process, we hope to develop a new culture of budo competition.

We welcome those who share this vision.

Join IBCO

For Current IBMA Members

[IBCO Registration]

For Those Who Are Not Yet IBMA Members

[IBMA Membership and IBCO Registration]

For Organizations

[IBCO Organization Membership]

For Tournament-Only Participants

[Events and Tournament Information]

Related Pages

• IBCO Founding Statement
• IBCO Registration and Membership Regulations
• IBMA Membership System
• IBMA Membership Information
• IBCO Competition Rules
• IBCO Events and Tournaments