Samurai Arts

What does your Rank mean to you?

Thirty years ago I was asked by the New Zealand Martial Arts Magazine to write an article on grading systems – comparing modern with traditional.
A copy of that article is attached. It can be used for reference if you choose but there is a lot of detail. This detail gets more complex as organisations and individuals take it upon themselves to invent their own unique systems to identify advancement, and it seems that the simple and transparent times of old have long disappeared.
This discussion is about rank, but from a different angle. It is more about perception and ambition of rank rather than the technicalities of them.
In ancient Japan, martial artists were not so concerned about the colour of the obi, or belt. In fact it was either white or black. This was the Menkyo system. The Menkyo system had only 3-5 levels.

MENKYO SYSTEM:
Mokuroku
A Mokuroku names a person as a student of a specific system and provides written confirmation of this, sometimes with acknowledgement of their stage of progress.
MENKYO
After a certain time, when a level of seniority within the art is attained, a Menkyo is granted. The Menkyo is a “Licence” and is acknowledgement of competence via the authority of the Master or Ryu offering it.
A typical Menkyo system is as follows:
Shoden Menkyo First Level
Chuden Menkyo Middle level
Okuden Menkyo High level
Menkyo Kaiden Expertise in full system (Total transmission)
Menkyo Hiden Secret transmissions

KYU-DAN SYSTEM:
The Kyu-dan system was created in 1883 by Prof. Jigoro Kano. It was with good intent at a time when Japan was undergoing rapid change. Professor Kano was a reformist and recognised that Bugei (old martial arts) were also changing and needed to reflect and accommodate the international world in which Japan was now living.
The Kodokan is the martial arts institution in Tokyo where Professor Kano was the founder. His move to modernise Budo attracted attention from other martial arts which followed suit. Funakoshi sensei (Karate) came to Japan to give demonstrations and taught at the Kodokan around 1922, was one of the first to adopt a similar training dogi with coloured obi. Ueshiba sensei had studied Aikijutsu under Takeda sensei using the older Menkyo system and graded his early students, Mochizuki, Shioda and others in the Menkyo system, but around 1940 the Aikikai also changed to the Kyu-Dan system. With the three major systems in unison regarding the issuing of rank it was only time before others fell into line. This system is now adopted worldwide.

Of course standardisation can be a very good thing.

That is of course until westerners assume ownership of the system and begin to add their own decorations to what was a perfectly good system. Ranks and colours were added, corners cut and the meaning of it was all but lost. The objective became one of accumulating belts and certificates rather than being content with learning a comprehensive system of martial arts.

One website visited today correctly describes the situation thus:

“We will no longer use the popular Kyu-Dan system as we feel that it has become diluted and abused and everyone nowadays seem to be a “High Rank”. The use of the Menkyo system brings us closer to the ancient ways and puts focus on attaining knowledge and mastering martial arts rather than accumulating Dan Ranks”.

As shown above, many have noticed this trend, to the point that Kyu-Dan ranks have been manipulated for personal gain. The people who are affected are those who issue and those who allow themselves to receive these ranks which are becoming increasingly meaningless along with all who follow in the footsteps of that recipient.
Kokusai Budoin, the International Martial Arts Federation based in Tokyo attempted to encourage martial arts schools to maintain high standards in what they do. Sato Sensei, Chief Director at the time said to me in person
“of course you can train with whomsoever you wish. But please only train with good people”.
I knew exactly what he was saying, without him having to be explicit.

SHOGO SYSTEM
Kokusai Budoin also issue martial art titles, which are recognition of teaching experience, knowledge and expertise. A summary of the titles available, along with prerequisites for their issue, is contained in the images attached to this post.
It is important to note how the Kokusai Budoin introduction there begins
“Kokusai Budoin IMAF is alone in the granting of titles in martial arts”.
The key word is "alone".
This is an important point and again was explained to me by Sato Meijin, 10th Dan, IMAF Chief Director.
He advised that originally such titles were issued solely by the Emperor of Japan. This authority was delegated to Kokusai Budoin during the organisation’s formation shortly after WW2. At the time the Kokusai Budoin had as its Founding Chairman, Prince Tsunenori Kaya of the Japanese Royal Family, and it is through this association with the Japanese Royal Family that authority to issue teaching licenses was delegated to Kokusai Budoin and to one other organisation now no longer operating. Nowadays of course, titles are issued by organisations worldwide at their own discretion. The history of Bujutsu is immense and the meaning is lost on many as they divert from tradition.

Many years ago, the International Shinkendo Federation which I was then a part of, also recognised and distanced itself from the uncontrolled issuing of ranks and licenses worldwide. This is why, in the attached article from 1996 you see their's is the Menkyo system rather than the Kyu-Dan System.
Obata Toshishiro, founder and Soke of the organisation recognised the danger of poorly qualified instructors in martial arts, particularly in the teaching of samurai-swordsmanship, but it can be argued that the dangers extend much further than a single art. He became aware of accidents occurring at dojos with razor sharp swords being used and taught by people with little formal instruction. He insisted that the International Shinkendo Federation be an organisation which stood out as being professional, skilled and highly competent as well as being completely safe.
Wouldn’t it be good if all martial arts organisations held and implemented the same values as this?
Of course many senior martial arts teachers and organisations meet these high standards admirably. Bravo to these incredible leaders and teachers from all corners of the globe, giving their time and energy selflessly to the development of others!

But equally, many do not meet these standards.

The pursuit of rank ahead of skill and knowledge gets in the way of this very noble objective. When the pursuit of belts, ranks, certificates and self-recognition get ahead of the values they are supposed to represent, of course we stumble. Martial arts stumble as a whole when individuals attempt to re-engineer and bypass the system and the values the system itself was intended to uphold.

A NZ Martial Arts Legend turns 80 years old! Time to celebrate!

The internationalisation of martial arts means that few people nowadays receive their ranks from Japan. Ranks are generally available from many sources worldwide.
But there remains a special sense of dedication and belonging for those who make the effort to train and gain the acceptance of the country where the martial disciplines which they study originated.
Chris Dessa Hanshi is one of the few who has received his Karate knowledge direct from the highest levels in Japan, training extensively under Ashihara Hideyuki Kancho until his passing. Then for many years under Sato Yosh*toshi Hanshi, Shorin Ryu 10th Dan Hanshi receiving the balance of his ranks until 9th Dan and Hanshi teaching license which, even in Japan, is a rare commendation. This of course has entailed a lifetime of dedication, personal expense in terms of time and travel committments as well as financial expense and effort to ensure that every rank granted to him is legitimate beyond reproach.

Dessa Hanshi has established a worldwide organisation titled “Kokusai Yudansha Renmei”. It is established to provide up and coming instructors with a channel of legitimacy to ensure their own ranks are checked for validity and stand up to scrutiny. This is essential for the future of martial arts so that students and the public have a means of identifying authentic martial arts training centres with a credible background. The public has a right to know.

Last evening was a celebration of Chris Dessa Hanshi’s lifetime in martial arts.
Lenny and I were greatly honoured to receive an invitation to his 80th Birthday held at a restaurant in Greenlane, Auckland. Those in attendance included a large extended family including past and present students many of whom have now become martial arts legends themselves.
It was an absolute pleasure to share the evening with this man who has been a solid anchor and a foundation for Martial Arts in New Zealand and internationally for many decades, and with his wonderful family whom I have been fortunate to have shared time with on many occasions.

Well done Chris Dessa Hanshi. New Zealand Martial Arts is indebted to you.
Dave Butler

This post relates to both Jujutsu and to Karate. But not just any style of Karate - Wado Ryu Karate, and for good reason.
Hironori Otsuka, the founder of Wado Ryu was a very senior Master of Jujutsu before he became a Master of Karate. He was certainly impressed with what he learned in Karate but according to this historical account Otsuka sensei retained the principles of Jujutsu and fused those he thought applicable into his karate.
Also of interest is that the Soke of Hokutoryu Jujutsu and the World Federation of Ju-Jitsu, Auvo Niiniketo studied this style of Karate for many years, becoming Go-Dan and Karate champion of Finland. So Wado Ryu has some common ground with our activities at Samurai-Arts. The video provides good backgound information.

The Jujutsu Master Who Shaped Modern Karate | The Forgotten Founder of Wado-Ryu Of the four major karate styles, only one was founded by a jujutsu master — and that man may have done more to shape modern karate than anyone realizes.Hiron...