Rank recognition?

[Colin Linz]

I was reading from another thread and the subject of rank recognition was brought up. I have heard of this before and in fact received emails from organisations offering this (not Australian based). I was wondering how common this is within American Kenpo systems? In Shorinji Kempo there is no such thing, it doesn’t matter what rank you are in another martial art you will start at the normal starting level, and proceed through the normal syllabus and grading schedule. For this reason I have always been sceptical of such grading awards. Is this practice of rank recognition normal or accepted as legitimate within American Kenpo systems? Are all the Kenpo systems in America so related that it doesn’t make much of a difference technically?

[KGS BBS]

Hi Colin, here's my opinion. It seems to be common practice in the Kenpo/Kempo/Kajukenbo related arts in the U.S. but I have also seen the same 'rank recognition' in the Okinawan and Japanese arts, for instance Goju ryu. It's probably done out here in the Chinese and Korean arts also but this is what I got off the top of my head when you asked. I first noticed it in martial arts organizations. I know there are some questionable organizations to say the least but I'm talking about reputable ones. Some of the certificates I've seen and a couple I have has written right on it: 'On the recommendation of: (then the instructor's name who originally promoted you to such rank). I've seen the same regarding schools also, reputable schools. So my answer is yes, it's normal and acceptable out here in the states, from what I've seen anyway.

Your next question can be a controversial one with some and that is the inter-relationship of the Kenpo/Kempo systems taught in America. I have found that once you scrape beneath the surface and look at the 'core' techniques of all the Hawaiian derived Kenpo/Kempo systems today and I mean all of them, that they have far more similiarites than differences. What is different is the teaching methods and where the emphasis lies. Some are more into the rapid fire striking, others are more grounded or rooted with fewer strikes to get the job done, some stress takedowns and groundwork follow up, some stress more jiu jitsu & grappling than others, some have the Korean kicking added, some have more of the low line simplistic kicks to unbalance and distract (set up) and so forth. Taking all that into consideration along with the 'fluff' that is sometimes added, I see similiar techniques in all the popular styles of today. I would also like to state that some of the Kenpo/Kempo systems are nearly identical in curriulum and are simply either political or commerical breakoffs of the original system. Many organizations in Kenpo/Kempo will recognize your rank if you are a direct subsystem of them. Still many other legtimate seniors will do it out of respect and as a courtesy of another legitimatley recognized senior of another art. However, Colin, I understand your feelings on this because this 'courtesy' can also come back and bite you in the butt, lol.

There is a strong school of thought today that our Hawaiian derived Kenpo/Kempo systems (James M. Mitose) have an Okinawan origin. Sijo Adriano D. Emperado, the founder of Kajukenbo who was Professor William Kwai Sun Chow's first black belt firmly believed this along with all the old Hawaiian seniors. I have Gm. Robert Trais' book, "The Hand is My Sword", (I have the 1973 publication which has some additions over the 1957 original). The techniques in this book show a clear realtionship, again, 'core' techniques to Mr. Ed Parker's 1961 publication of "Kenpo Karate- Law of the Fist & the Empty Hand". Trais' lists his style back then as Okinawan Shorei ryu Karate and later changed it to Okinawan Shuri-te. One of Mitose's largest groups (Hanshi Bruce Juchnik's Sei Kosho Shorei Kai)) now calls their art Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo and teaches many Okinawan kata.

In closing, some organizations' motives in the Kenpo/Kempo arts are simply 'ohana' (family) to bring everyone related together under a common umbrella of unity and family with no hidden agendas. Others are self serving and only motivated by financial gain. Shorenji Kempo is probably much better off with their policy, less instances of getting burned.

Respectfully, Prof. Joe Shuras

[Colin Linz]

I know very little about American systems of Kenpo, but I am starting to learn a few things. It seemed to me that many of them were directly related and had a common terminology. From this aspect I could see how rank recognition would work, it would be like a Go Ju Kai Karate teacher giving a rank to a Go Ju Ryu Karate student that changed to his style. Essentially the two arts are very similar and have a common terminology and kata base. From Shorinji Kempo’s aspect I don’t think it would be possible as I’m not aware of any arts that share our kata or terminology. For example, often we are described as a cross between Karate and Aikido. Superficially this is understandable, but our goho (hard system) is much softer than Karate, we punch with a vertical fist usually using the lower three knuckles, we use a lot of body dodging and our blocks are quite different in technique and philosophy. Our juho (soft system) probably has more in common with Aikido than our goho has with Karate, but still it has different terminology and is a little less soft than Aikido. Our Seiho (medical system using pressure points, manipulation and massage) is also not practiced in many arts. Then of course there is the study of Kongo Zen philosophy, another grading requirement, while anyone could source some basic information on this from the web I doubt that without some guidance and further teaching from an instructor they would have a sufficient understanding of it.

There does seem to many burnt fingers with regard to rank recognition. I read a link that you posted in another thread and I have seen a number of similar stories regarding different people. This was when I started to wonder about how it is perceived in America. I have also received emails from different American schools offering me rank in their art. I wondered how can they do this, I know nothing about their art. A poster on ebudo had his dogs rank recognised by one high profile instructor. I know that these types of examples are not the norm, but the fact that they do happen would seem to indicate to me that the practice should be avoided.

[KGS BBS]

Colin, in Kenpo/Kempo cross ranking, the forms aren't neccessarily the same either, but the 'core' techniques and basic foundation is essentially the same. The forms, may not be the same pattern, but are simply, more or less, rearranged patterns of similiar movement. Some cross ranked systems share the same kata also. All in all, you're right, it should probably be avoided. What we try to do in the Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu Black Belt Society is to only allow those systems which are of the same offshoot (lineage) of the original Karazenpo system, in other words, your system has to be of a subsystem of the KGS art. Since the unpleasant encounter that you refer to from another thread, we have tightened up things a great deal.

Let me explain the reason it was done in the first palce. Great Grandmaster Victor 'Sonny' Gascon didn't decide on his own to start this organization (KGS BBS) and recruit membership. It was just the opposite. Hawaiian Shaolin Kempo people were in search of their true roots and seeked out Gm. Gascon. They explained to him how they were all curious of their heritage or lineage as an adopted child someday grows up and seeks out its biological parents. Many stated they were 'orphaned' from their system's founder for political reasons and such and were looking for a new family, ohana, to belong to and feel a part of. Gm. Gascon granted them their request and began the Karazenpo Go Shinjtutsu Black Belt Society to bring them all under one umbrella, the original family of whom they sprung from. Far from self serving or political. You see, the motive behind the KGS BBS was not for monetary gain or any self serving interests. What we discovered was that some individuals are simply 'paper chasers' and extremely egocentric and when they don't get what they want the b.s. begins. What the heck do they expect an organization can do for them besides support, commarderie, meet new people (extended family), exchange ideas through correspondence, hold seminars, and schedule visits to various schools within the organization. This has all been done, just check our website. Hey, sometimes, personal and family matters come up and events have to be postponed but that is part of life and if someone can't except that then that's their problem. Sh_t happens! Perhaps some of these people are looking for some magic pill that will make them the next Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris or perhaps they would rather have some slick talking b.s. artist promise them the world but never deliver. Essentially, Colin, that is the problems we face as an organization today but then again that is a major problem in the martial arts world in general. It is what it is. Respectfully, Joe

[Colin Linz]

I think this is where Shorinji Kempo differs. We don’t tend to attract these types of people, even though WSKO is a huge organisation internationally. This possibly stems from the not for profit ideology of Shorinji Kempo. Instructors are not allowed to make money from teaching the art or running a shibu (branch). Other aspects that tend to keep the paper chasers away are the slow gradings. It is very rare to see very many people over 6th dan, in fact the two head instructors at our Hombu in Japan are 6th dan, and we don’t have a 10th dan at all. Though nothing is perfect, we probably suffer in some other ways from these very same circumstances.

On a side note, I think I understand the circumstances of your organisations beginnings. When I started Kempo it was with a club in my local area. The instructor had told us he was a Shorinji Kempo 5th dan that started his own style. Anyway one thing led to another and many of the students were unhappy as he hardly ever showed up at training unless he wanted money. We as a club ditched him and approached some Shorinji Kempo kenshi that were in Australia to do demonstrations as part of Japan week in Sydney, hoping to be able to learn the real Shorinji Kempo. This led to us being introduced to Todoroki sensei and becoming Shorinji Kempo kenshi. It was later that we learned that our previous instructor was only ever a brown belt and how much better the techniques were when done correctly.

[KGS BBS]

Yes, Colin, I hear ya. Take the green stuff out of the equation and you weed out a lot of the undesirables, As they say, money-the root of all evil. The KGS BBS is not about making money as can be seen in our yearly membership fee of $36. The fee was $26 for years but Professor Rash and Gm. Gascon were dipping into their own pockets to pay expenses and was forced to bump it up $10. The KGS BBS entourage has paid their own travel expenses also. They have charged as little as $20 a head for seminars and there is no testing fee for rank promotions. Not too many organizations can match that today.

In the Hawaiian derived Kenpo/Kempo systems many schools in the 60's and 70's grew into large franchise operations. Then, as with any franchise, the splinter groups emerged. Many individual instructors had a different idea on the direction they wanted to take their schools in. Many didn't like the over commercialism of some of these groups, were tougher on ranking and believed in a more 'rough & tumble' method of training. Some just wished to follow their own path. So, they became independant. Problem was when these indivduals broke away, they had no one to go to and began a quest to seek out qualified instructors to keep their training and ranking updated. This is the aim of the KGS BBS, to aid and assist these individuals in self development and by the same token to have a family (ohana) to belong to. Gm. Gascon's heart is certainly in the right place and it's a shame some charletons 'attempt' to take advantage of him. This has forced the KGS BBS to revamp it's membership provisions with strict and thorough background investigations including criminal history checks.

As far as time between ranks, Colin, maybe that's what everyone needs in American martial arts these days for the amount of 10th dans running around is ludicrious! Absolutely absurd, to the point when one of us hear's he or she's a 10th dan ,we roll our eyes back with a 'Ya, right, another founder'.....time to re-invent the wheel again'. However, you must also realize that the systems of all these early Hawaiian derived Kenpo/Kempo were based on the 'war arts', to learn and master self defense concepts and principles in a reasonably and realistically short period of time for actual combat or protection in the streets. Take Mr. James Ibrao, Mr. Ed Parker's first black belt. He made his black belt in Kenpo way back then in one year. The abridged curriculums in these early years (by today's standards) were not mean't to take a lifetime of study. The goal was to put out a street effective fighter in a relatively short period of time. So, there's still probably a bit of carry over to that in our rankings which can be good and bad at the same time, lol. Respectfully, Joe

[Colin Linz]

I must admit that your association’s philosophy of existence is somewhat surprising to me. I had the impression that the Kempo systems originating in America were all commercial in ideology. It seems we have some common ground as one of the main concepts in Shorinji Kempo is the building of human relationships as a method of reducing conflict. Shorinji Kempo is a form of budo, as you may be aware of this translates as a way of ending conflict. While the self-defence techniques are a method of this, so is the building of relationships and understanding between people.

We have a once only fee of $30 AUD to join WSKO, they do source additional funding through licensing of equipment and dogi sales. Apart from the administration of the 1.5 million members WSKO produce training resources, provide regular training seminars through out the year at Hombu (our headquarters in Tadotsu), International seminars every four years, regional seminars every two years. They will also cover the cost of WSKO instructors visiting a region every second year (in my case the Oceania region); at other times WSKO instructors will attend if we pay the air fares and accommodation expenses. Fees are also used to improve the understanding of how techniques work. As early as the late 1980’s WSKO developed a computer imaging program using three dimensional tracking of all the joint positions and centre of balance points. This allowed them to scientifically examine the techniques and gain a greater understanding of why they work. Over recent years they have also used this funding to develop better protective equipment. While I was initially sceptical about the value of this new equipment I am now converted, it really is very good, and far superior to anything else I have used.

I meant to post a reply to this earlier, but I have just returned to work after my leave and it is a little busy.

[KGS BBS]

Yes, Colin, I do admire and respect the way you association operates. Good luck in your training. Feel free to keep in touch and/or discuss other topics. jshuras@hotmail.com Take care & be safe, my brother. Sincerely, Joe