What do I do if I have a Complaint?

by Evan Davidson, VI dan
Director of Standards and Discipline

Taekwon-Do is a martial art, which is more than just a means of combat and self defence. The "Do" literally indicates the path or a discipline and philosophy with moral and spiritual meaning, the ultimate aim being self-enlightenment and personal development. This is what we should be training towards. To be a better person and a just human being.

We would like to think that our instructors, and seniors and students of the Art could do no wrong. Unfortunately as human beings things can and do go wrong.

So what do you do as a member, or as a parent or guardian of a member, if you have an issue or complaint about the organisation or against another member, instructor or senior?

To keep things simple, the approach to take depends on the type or gravity (seriousness) of the incident or offence.

First you must decide to whom the complaint should be reported. Should it be reported to your Instructor, another senior member, your Regional Director, a parent, or even to the Police?

If the complaint involves a possible criminal offence, eg, theft, threats, intimidation, assault or fraud then you should discuss it with your Instructor, your Regional Director, or another trusted senior.

If ITFNZ rules or procedures are breached, then the most appropriate person to advise would be your Instructor or another senior member who can then decide where the complaint can be further directed, eg, Regional Director or higher.

The Instructor or Regional Director will make a decision as to where, when and how the complaint should be dealt with. A result could be given there and then.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome given at club or Regional level, then you should put the complaint in writing. Your document should include an explanation or response from the accused party, and must include the Regional Director's recommendation. You should then forward this document to the Standards and Discipline Subcommittee.

Resolutions

As indicated above, complaints can be resolved at various levels within ITFNZ. These are:

1. By your club Instructor. We suggest this decision should also involve the club's committee or other senior members if necessary.
2. By the Regional Director, through Region Instructors' resolution at a regional meeting.
3. By referral to the Standards and Discipline Subcommittee who makes a recommendation to the ITFNZ Executive for their final decision.

All parties involved are then advised of the decision.

Penalties

This section comes from the Standards and Discipline document.

For a complaint made at club level on breaches of rules or etiquette, the Instructor may counsel, warn, or even recommend suspension of a member through the Standards and Discipline Subcommittee.

The Standards and Discipline Subcommittee can counsel, warn or suspend a member until the Executive Committee makes an ultimate decision.

The Executive Committee, or when delegated, the Director of the Standards and Discipline Subcommittee may counsel, warn, suspend or dismiss any member.

Where any member is suspended from a club, no other club, student, or instructor shall allow that member to train formally or informally at an ITFNZ club or otherwise.

If a member is suspended from his or her club, they may, after a suitable period, have their case reviewed by the club Instructor, who shall make a recommendation to the Director of the Standards and Discipline Subcommittee.

For more information, the Standards and Discipline document can be downloaded from: http://www.itfnz.org.nz/ref/documentation.htm

Members' agreement

Remember, a club Instructor has the ultimate role of control and guidance over his or her own members. This is delegated to the Instructor by the declaration we all sign when joining an ITFNZ Taekwon-Do club, which reads as follows:

I hereby agree to abide by the following conditions:

1. The instructor has the right to withhold tuition from me if I disturb the class in any way.
2. I hold myself responsible for any injury that I may sustain in the course of my training.
3. I agree not to misuse the knowledge gained through the classes.
4. There shall be no refund of my membership or training fees paid in advance.

Privacy Act

I give my permission for the International Taekwon-Do Foundation Inc. to collect, store and use any information provided by me as well as any information collected about my progress or activities in Taekwon-Do, for it's own purposes and business only. I understand that this information will not be disclosed to any other organisations without my prior consent. I recognise the right to view this information and make corrections where appropriate.

I have read and accept the above conditions.

The applicant, and the parent or guardian if the member is under 18yrs, signs this declaration.

Basically this says to the Instructor, that if a member does not abide by the rules and regulations of the do jang, the Tenets of Taekwon-Do, or other rules laid down by the organisation, then the Instructor has the power to withhold tuition and not teach the student any further (a power not to be abused).

Note: all clubs should be signing up new members using the correct ITFNZ Joining Application Form, which contains the above declaration.