CAN  MY  DOJO  APPLY  FOR  MEMBERSHIP?

Membership in the AJA is open to any dojo where Traditional Japanese Ju-Jitsu is taught. The most important requirement is that the instructor must posses at least a Shodan grade in Ju-Jitsu from a verifiable sensei, dojo, or organization. The application-evaluation process takes about 2-4 months. Download our AJA Membership Package which contains all the necessary forms. You may also contact the Mark Jordan, majik8@usa.net, and a copy will be mailed to you. Send the filled out package to: American Ju-Jitsu Association, PO Box 1357, Burbank, CA 91507-1357. If you have any specific questions or concerns you can contact George Kirby (Board Chairman) for additional information. Additional contacts are Mark Jordan [Vice President] and Dennis McCurdy [President].

AJA  BACKGROUND

The American Ju-Jitsu Association was founded in 1972 for the purpose of bringing different ryu of the art together in an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and respect. Since that time it has grown from two dojo to approximately 24, plus international affiliates. The AJA has established itself as a reputable organization within the martial arts community and works closely with other major Ju-Jitsu organizations in the United States and internationally in areas of mutual concern.

The AJA is the United States representative for a number of international organizations.

The AJA is a non-profit amateur athletic association registered with both the state of California and the United States government [IRS code 501(c)(3)]. To our knowledge the AJA is the only martial arts organization in the U.S. that is classified in this manner as an amateur athletic association. The AJA supports a variety of safe competitive formats for a martial art that basically is not a sport. The AJA also issues certificates of rank to qualified members who meet the criteria of their particular ryu.

WHEN  YOU  BECOME  A  MEMBER

The AJA will not tell you how to run your dojo. Once your ryu and dan grade has been accepted by the AJA, all rank holders promoted by you will also be accepted on a similar par as other ryu in the AJA. There are at least four different ryu represented by the board of directors and there are a large number of high-ranking sensei who can offer guidance when needed, or conduct seminars at your dojo.

CLASSES  OF  MEMBERSHIP

AJA Memberships
The AJA currently offers only one class of dojo membership. All member dojo have a liability/accident policy through the American Ju-Jitsu Association. The liability portion is for $1,000,000. The accident coverage is $25,000 excess coverage. The policy covers you, the instructor, as well as the AJA. It will provide coverage in a variety of activities. The only arts it will NOT cover are Muy Thai & kickboxing. The dojo fee for the year 2000 will be $25 - the same as the regular AJA dojo fee. Individual AJA memberships in an AJA dojo are $20/calendar year for 2005. It is mandatory that ALL students MUST HAVE individual AJA membership so that the dojo and sensei are covered.