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Post by robbo78 on Mar 20, 2012 23:06:55 GMT
Hi all, this is a weird question lets just say that i know someone who's brother does ju jitsu and he had told me he was 4th dan a few years ago, to be told a few days ago that he is now 9th dan!? now i aint stupid and i have some knowledge of how the grading system works either this is true and he has been promoted under special circumstances or my friend is telling me a load of bull####! (note):- he has been know to talk a lot of S###
his brother is in his early 40s so the likelihood of him being 9th dan is impossible!! what do you think??
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Post by malk103 on Mar 20, 2012 23:41:34 GMT
It depends on what system he is referencing, if it's similar to ours then he would be looking at almost a lifetime of dedication to Martial Arts - or he is best friends with Dr Who and managed to go back in time to train some more....
I suspect he is either talking sh1te or he has the misfortune to belong (or own) one of the many splinter groups that think they can change the rules or can award themselves a new grade because they think they are worth it!
I know I can put my hand on my heart and say that i've earnt every grade up to and including Shodan within the Shotokan Karate style. Ask him if he can do the same?
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 21, 2012 2:04:28 GMT
One of my Sensei the awesome Steve Cattle once said to me 'My Grade is as useless to me as the Blackbelt I wear, when push comes to shove it is how I cope that matters as my Obi is likely to be in my Kitbag and my Certificate is on the wall at home' The grading structure died a death many years ago as being credible due to the shennanigans and 'deals' that occur even within Organisations that are held in esteem (give me a £1000 and i'll sign your 7th Dan certificate and the conveyor belt gradings that go on and on - in droves; when people pass cos NO ONE could claim to have genuinely assesed such a volume of people over such a long day etc! :  . Judge The knowledge and ability of the individual rather than the certificate and go from there. Otherwise you'll become so disheartened that it'll do yer head in! |
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Post by kensei on Mar 21, 2012 13:41:17 GMT
To give you perspective, a friend of mine trained at the Gracie Acadamy in cali. On average a Black belt takes 10 years to get in BJJ, and a ninth dan is almost unheard of...their are three or four. in Japanese JJ....you can mail order a black belt and be one in six months....its all in the style and organization!
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Post by jimlukelkc on Mar 22, 2012 10:08:02 GMT
Many years ago we had a guy train with us up to 5th kyu. He left to take up some form of kick-boxing for a while. Then we learned he had opened a karate class. As it was relatively local , we went to pay a friendly visit, only to find him teaching some strange hybrid style and wearing a black-belt. this was within the space of just over 6 months.
The sickener was he had quite a healthy turnout for these classes which only goes to show that uninformed students are gullible enough to fall for this bull and dan grades are subjective.
Quite honestly if the public perception of karate was not so caught up with the grading system and I could think of a more appropriate motivating tool i would be happy to see the back of the grading system.
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Post by kensei on Mar 22, 2012 14:32:17 GMT
two quick notes.......a friend of mind has been training with my instructor now for almost a year and just has his Green belt in Shotokan. Apparently he had a yellow in Wado in Alberta but he was off for some time. His techniques are kind of week and he is stiff as a board. But he holds a black belt in kick boxing...that took him less than a year to get......I guess its quantity (of money) over quality (of form) in some cases.
The other one that cracked me up was a guy that used to teach at the University that I attended, and I am sure I mentioned this before....I was in University second year when I found out about him...a 3rd dan in Shotokan Karate...No idea what org. I went and watched and he was a Ego case with poor form but lots of anger issues that came out when he taught! Then I came back for 3rd year and he listed himself as a 5th Dan....not bad two Dan ranks in a 4 month summer break!
Rank is relevent only when high standards and requirements are upheld!
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 22, 2012 18:04:23 GMT
Kensei and I have decided to award all OSS members the Rank of 57th Dan in NINGANANGARYU JUTSU. Please send $1000 and we will send you an official certificate printed on Genuine Okinawan Rice based Toilet paper! (James - we'll split the earnings less cost of the toilet paper printing  |
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Post by kensei on Mar 23, 2012 13:32:33 GMT
Kensei and I have decided to award all OSS members the Rank of 57th Dan in NINGANANGARYU JUTSU. Please send $1000 and we will send you an official certificate printed on Genuine Okinawan Rice based Toilet paper! (James - we'll split the earnings less cost of the toilet paper printing Deal, However we are also now working on a new set of "titles" or "entitlements" for those that participate in our 1/2 hour masters class....a low low cost of $200! So far we only have Master, Grand master, Great master and Grand Poobah! Still working out some other levels but by the time we are done...all 70 levels will be up for sale....er earnable ranks. |
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Post by Bob Davis on Mar 23, 2012 13:58:03 GMT
Somebody actually refered to me as "Grand Master" just the other day. I suggested to Stella (my wife) that she might like to adopt the title when addressing me. I probably don't need to say any more......... ;D ;D |
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Post by malk103 on Mar 23, 2012 21:13:48 GMT
Conversations like that Bob normally end with "Yes dear"......
We had a family join us that used to train with a club that insisted everyone called the Sensei "Master", even the parents!
Being a proper Army wife she told him where to go and what to do with parts of his anatomy when he got there. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 25, 2012 14:23:29 GMT
'HELL HATH NO FURY....' Springs to mind  I had a lovely conversation with Jane Naylor Jones and her lovely Mum quite recently (Both of them very distinguished and proficient Karateka). Enoeda Sensei was not only thier Senior Sensei but he was also a very close family friend (Best Man at Mum's Wedding to Charlie Naylor RIP etc) and Jayne said how she knew Sensei in two ways - One as the formidable Karate Master he truly was but also as 'K' the loving and much loved family friend whom she grew up with - playing with him, sitting on his knee and all that stuff and watching him be soundly chastised by her Mum and Mrs Enoeda when he did something daft or dishes needed washing after a family meal - now that is a MASTER IMHO! Great anecdotal story as well  |
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