You have me and Sandninjer mixed up I think Peter. I have been doing martial arts since 1979 and the Takamatsu related arts since 1986. I am not a Genbukan member or bujinkan member, LOL, its ok, I am still not done with my morning coffee either ha ha
yeah matt, you know, it was just menkyo kaiden in general and probably should be on another thread, I wasnt specifically referencing Ishizuka, Kacem or his comments. It just hit me in the head LOL
No, Matt, I'm just recognizing what Menkyo Kaiden actually is. It is constantly applied to things it doesn't refer to, and has absolutely nothing to do with the Bujinkan whatsoever, or the skill, experience, ability, knowledge, or similar as a Bujinkan instructor. Every single time I have seen Menkyo Kaiden be invoked, it's been done by someone who doesn't understand what Menkyo Kaiden is, what it applies to, or why it's actually completely irrelevant.
Does Menkyo Kaiden have anything to do with the Bujinkan? That can be argued. However, it does matter if you mention the (which the Bujinkan has something to do with). It's funny how people with little or no clue about the entire curriculum of the schools encompasses can know so much about the traditional grades of the schools and what they mean. Wonder who told them? It's kind I like dismissing Kuden because their teacher(foreign naturally) told them that all that Japanese mumbo jumbo is all Greek to them. Of course since they haven't had Kuden shared with them, how do they know if it's mumbo jumbo or not? Is there a difference between the Menkyo Kaiden holders in any of these schools and other teachers who only have Dan ranking in the arts? If you don't think so, feel free to enjoy that belief.
Simple test, ask your teacher if he has MK in any Takumatsuden Ryu ha. If he says yes then you're likely in a good place to study, if No... YMMV
Frankly, Matt, that is another example. Having Menkyo Kaiden really doesn't make any difference unless the teacher is claiming to teach (and licence/rank in) the specific Ryu-ha themselves. So, simple test... what is it a Menkyo Kaiden in? Then, what are you being taught/ranked in? If they're not the same, then they're not the same.
Chris is right. If your teaching isn't teaching you the actual Ryu, then it doesn't matter what he has. Which also means that the opposite is true. So the thing would be to ask your teacher what he's teaching(assuming you don't already know). If it's a hodgepodge of different things mixed together, then having it doesn't matter(well you could still argue it does to some extent).
Well there are two things that I disagree with. 1. Old school Booj teachers holding any MK are going to be good places to learn booj. Even I it's not something from their MK as long as you take it with a pinch of salt, as they have a wealth of other relevant experience. 2. I've been taught from naninani ryu by a MK holder in that ryu, when they say why it's done that way you know they are more likely to be right about that.
No, Matt, it's a "that's irrelevant". Which again shows a lack of understanding of what Menkyo Kaiden really is.
Nope, it's different. The guys who hold a MK in the booj are good teachers of the booj. Anything else is a desire to focus on the semantics of the meaning of the MK. Quite simple, if your teacher has one, or more, then he has Mattts seal of approval, if he doesn't, I'd have to see him move.
No, they're actually unrelated, and, as an appeal to authority, fail. Holding Menkyo means nothing in terms of teaching Bujinkan. It really is simple as that. The particular holders might be great teachers, but that's got nothing to do with the Menkyo they hold, and is more to do with their time in the Bujinkan and with Hatsumi. Menkyo Kaiden, once more, when it comes to the Bujinkan, means nothing.