IUKF PROJECT - Rank vs. Titles

[Gene DeMambro]

I found them. Please note the bold sections by me:

Uechi-ryu Master Titles are a separate award, awarded separately from regular Dan Rank Promotions. These titles allow the recipient to wear the gold bars (stripes) on one's black belt.
(No Testing/Certificate Fees)

UECHI-RYU TITLES: A Uechi-ryu title of Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi and Hanshi-sei are awarded to individuals who have achieved a high degree ofoverall excellence in Uechi-ryu karate and who possess abilities and skills which make these individuals outstanding examples to the Uechi-ryu community over and above their ability to teach the art of Uechi-ryu. Only the most talented individuals will achieve the title of Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshiand Hanshi-sei.

In order to be awarded the Renshi title, the student must be a Godan or above, be at least 28 years old, have at least five years experience as a Shihan Instructor, be an IUKF member for at least one year and must submit a thesis or other acceptable accomplishment. The candidate must be actively contributing to the art of Uechi-ryu, must be recommended by another black belt of at least Godan or above and reviewed by the IUKF certification committee. The awarding of this title allows the recipient to wear one gold bar on both sides of their belt.

KYOSHI: Must be at leat 45 years old and meet the same requirements as a Renshi. The recipient of the title may wear two gold bars on their black belt.

HANSHI: Must be at least 55 years old and meets the same requirements as a Renshi. The recipient of the title may wear three gold bars on their black belt.

Hanshi-sei: Must be at least 65 years old and meet the same requirements as a Renshi. There are no special belt designation at this time for Grand Masters who attain this title.

Bill, if people are self-styling themselves a title, solely by virtue of their rank, and not the other requirements listed, then that's a policing problem on the part of IUKF leadership to deal with...and firmly if you ask me. Not to hang out any dirty laundry, but why is this not being dealt with? IMAF, for example, will drop you like a bad habit if they find you are using a title that was not awarded you. But it appears that, again, these titles are to be earned separate from rank. The framework is there, but why no enforcement?

Cheers,
Gene

[Bill Glasheen]

But it appears that, again, these titles are to be earned separate from rank. The framework is there, but why no enforcement?

Cheers,
Gene

Indeed the framework was set up, Gene, but there was no process in place either for enforcement or execution.

A more formal process starts right now for the next group of candidates. Those who are eligible for the title by rank and time-in-grade are formally being informed of such, and are being asked to submit documentation. At the request and guidance of the IUKF board, Joan Neide has created a first ever letter of communication to candidates.

My own Renshi and Kyoshi work is online for all to review. My Renshi work was done a little more formally as a kind of prototype for the process that subsequently has been developed and will now be implemented. I plead ignorance to where my material actually exists; that's George's organizational bag. But my written document is online, as well as part of a video that I produced.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

Here is the paper document I submitted as the "Renshi Prototype". I'm amazed George was able to get it out of an old version of WordPerfect and have it look as good as it does.

http://uechi-ryu.com/articles/glasheen_renshi_doc.doc

George, could you locate the Thirty-Eight Special portion of my video that you digitized? It exists somewhere on your site.

Oh and for what it's worth, I'm still tweaking that form. Only my Richmond students know what it looks like today. That alone should tell you something about forms, how they are created, and why they may look different when practiced by different people. Even the author tends to tweak his own "best work" over time. Is there value to that lesson?

- Bill

[Roy Bedard]

Bill,

The reason we have passionate arguments when we agree in principle is primarily for the purpose of getting information out there. I think that the nature of arguments in a public forum is for the debators to use each other as a vehicle to express ideas, and then to shape them through the argument process to give a greater clarity to the intended meaning, flesh out new points, and allow others to chime in so we can argue with them as well . In the end, I hope we reach a larger audience and not waste time with the esoteric banter that sometimes appears to be a me vs you dialog. Our points are just crackling embers in what I hope to be a greater fire of resolution to these organizational issues.


Frankly, if you weren't as smart as you are about these things, I wouldn't have cared so much to respond. But your points are compelling and deserve rebuttal; and I hope you understand the spirit of this following expression when I say I'd prefer to argue with you than most anyone .

Roy

[Bill Glasheen]

I'm humbled, Roy.

- Bill

[hthom]

<Those who are eligible for the title by rank and time-in-grade are formally being informed of such, and are being asked to submit documentation. >

<My own Renshi and Kyoshi work is online for all to review. (---------etc---) But my written document is online, as well as part of a video that I produced.>

- Bill

Just to give another example of work product being acceptable for a Title
(and at the risk of appearing as shameless plugging), I did a DVD on Seisan and Senseiryu for my Kyoshi at the last Summer Camp. Later at the suggestion og GEM, I have turned it into a commercial DVD. A sample is shown on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3_2-2HFNe8

Henry

[Kuma-de]

Here is the paper document I submitted as the "Renshi Prototype". I'm amazed George was able to get it out of an old version of WordPerfect and have it look as good as it does.

http://uechi-ryu.com/articles/glasheen_renshi_doc.doc

George, could you locate the Thirty-Eight Special portion of my video that you digitized? It exists somewhere on your site.

Oh and for what it's worth, I'm still tweaking that form. Only my Richmond students know what it looks like today. That alone should tell you something about forms, how they are created, and why they may look different when practiced by different people. Even the author tends to tweak his own "best work" over time. Is there value to that lesson?

- Bill

Hey Bill,

Nice work but my new MS Word picked up a few sentence fragments under lining them in green!

j/k, I like!!

[Bill Glasheen]

Hey Bill,

Nice work but my new MS Word picked up a few sentence fragments under lining them in green!

j/k, I like!!

Joke well taken.

Kidding aside... I look at this piece of work 15 years later, and see mistakes in my Japanese language that I don't make today.

I learned my martial arts Japanese from some people <ahem > who had little formal training either in Japanese or in Hogen before learning Uechi Ryu. I guess I count my blessings that my terminology was as good as it was when I produced the document.

Thankfully a few good resources are out now to help with that. Alan Dollar's book on Uechi Ryu is almost flawless in its terminology. It took me several years of reading and referring to it before I found the first mistake. Gary Khoury has a CD he sells elsewhere on the Website where he goes over all our karate terminology. And if you ever run into Nestor Folta, he's another great resource for both Japanese and Hogen. (It helps to have an Okinawan wife... ).

I suspect there will be a lot of "scholarly discussion" as various translations of Uechi Kanei's Kyohon come out in the next few years.

- Bill

[f.Channell]

I came across this and thought it was well written and might be a good addition to this thread.

http://www.doshikai.org/bushido/article ... karate.pdf

F.

[Paul Haydu]

Thanks Fred.

This is an enlightening historical review, which reminds us to resist our impulse for recognition, by external artifacts.

I think C. Miyagi was correct, that ranks create more misunderstanding and problems, than they solve. We all know that watching a unknown karateka perform kata or kumite will reveal the level of their skill and understanding. Often the rank doesn't match the ability.

Given the current environment, the Titles Committee offers sanity and a method, in the midst of a rather fractured and uncoordinated system in martial arts in general.

Paul

[f.Channell]

Yes,
I also agree with this page.

http://www.doshikai.org/bushido/articles/sensei.pdf

I'm thinking this summer I have to go out and swing a sword with him for a while.

F.

[mikemurphy]

This is directly from Shizuya Sato sensei, 10th dan Nihon Jujitsu, and 9th Dan Kodokan Judo regarding the history of titles:

In Japan, the granting of titles in martial arts can be done only by authorized institutions.
The use of titles was begun by the Do Nippon Butokaukai, an organization sponsored by the Imperial family of Japan. Following WWII, a few organizations were granted permission to issue titles. Among these institutions are the All Japan Kendo Renmei, All Japan Iaido Renmei, All Japan Kyhudo Renmei, and Kokusai Budoin, IMAF.
In Japan in order to qualify for higher ranks, or titles, one must have studied for many years with an outstanding teacher. These days it is all too common to hear of individuals overseas claiming to have Renshi, Kyoshi, or Hanshi titles.
These titles are uniquely Japanese in origin, unlike the titles of doctor or professor. In western terms the titles Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi might roughly be compared to a holder of a bachelor's, master's , or doctorate level degree, respectively. It is necessary to belong to one of the Japanese organizations mentioned above that has the authority to grant one of these titles for such a title to be valid.
The title system was developed to promote Budoka throughout the world. The "ka" in Budoka means "professional," "expert," or "authority". This implies that titles granted to Budoka are done so on the basis of outstanding achievement, contributions to Budo, and to individuals who have demonstrated thorough understanding of the art.
Because Budo titles represent more than knowledge alone, but the building of strong bodies and minds through dedicated training, self-granted titles or titles from unauthorized sources are considered fraudulent and not valid Budo.


Sato, S. (1999). IMAF authorized to grant titles: Other sources fraudulent.
[/i]Imaf-USA Journal 1(1).

Hope that helps,

mike

[gmattson]

" In Japan, the granting of titles"

They are not attempting to dictate their rules to other countries.

[mikemurphy]

George Sensei,

"In Japan, the granting of titles"

They are not attempting to dictate their rules to other countries."


I would respectfully disagree with you here from my personal experience with the Japanese organization. Not that I agree with them (for the record, I do not agree), but they are total control fanatics where it comes to rank and titles. I have never experienced a more strict organization. In fact, I have known high ranking, and well published, black belts to be unceremoniously kicked out of the Kokusai Budoin for attempting to issue rank and titles under the name of the organization, even though they were well qualified to do so under any other circumstances.

I don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing, but it is what it is and I can't change it. So, the point is that I believe the Japanese want total control over this part of the Art.

mike

[gmattson]

No one should award a rank or title, stating that it is coming from the Do "Nippon Butokaukai", unless it is authorized to do so by this organization.

However, the "Do Nippon Butokaukai" would not have (or shouldn't have) any objection if another organization awarded rank or titles, under their own organization's name.

If thy object to the titles of renshi, kyoshi and hanshi being awarded because they believe they created these titles and therefor own them. . . well . . .

I guess I would own the rights to "stripes" being put on white, green and brown belts, since I started this practice on Okinawa in the 50s. Should I object to schools that have copied this practice? After all, before I convinced Tomoyose to adopt this practice, there was only white belt and black belts on Okinawa!