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The ranking system of martial arts holds a special position in that community. It is a hierarchal system much like any other system especially military. Since this system, called in Japanese the dan-i system, comes from Japan you can make a pretty good assumption that it is based on the feudal hierarchal system that governed the entire social structure. It would best be remembered that this type of system is also, fundamentally, a survival system and yet a whole lot more.
This socially feudal driven survival system gave birth to the dan-i system. We can best relate to that from our military system, i.e.:
Enlisted ranks of E-1 through to include E-9 can be represented by the “Kyu or Mudansha” system, i.e., 10th kyu up to include the Ik-kyu rank. Then there are the Officer ranks of O-1 to O-10 that would be represented by the “Dan or Yudansha” system, i.e., Lieutenant to four star General, i.e., in dan-i it is “Sho-dan up to Ju-dan.” Granted there are more enlisted ranks or levels than in dan-i with the same being said regarding the officer ranks or levels in the dan-i yudansha system.
Now, as to the military ranking system there are criteria that are used to determine how one rises in the structure. Normally they consider both “Seniority” and “Time in Grade.” There are means to determine “skills, proficiency and performance” as well. This resulted in efforts of individuals to stand out by demonstrating there being special to gain rank. This seems adequate but one factor few see or consider in the military are attributions due to end of service or death in combat. Add in another concerning experience and performance in combat. Although both of these are important for military they are not exclusively required simply due to periods of peaceful existence where combat experience is not possible. Don’t forget, once a military combat operation is triggered and military personal enter harms way things can happen fast, i.e., those without the potential tend to either get gravely harmed taking them out of combat or they simply get killed. Lets not forget that a hierarchy ranks structure is also about survival as well with a goal that military enter into the profession because of a need for social or societal survival in a world still about conflict and violence.
Now. what I thought of as an Inactive Martine who experienced ten years of that military system I began to think and theorize a model that would be similar to achieving rank through the dan-i system for martial disciplines. Consider that in essence martial disciplines are about conflict and violence so it goes to show that similar requirements should be in place to qualify for grade, rank or levels. Hmmmm …
Dan-i therefore should consider the following as minimal criteria for rank/promotions, etc.:
1. Skills.
2. Proficiency.
3. Performance.
4. Time in Service.
5. Time in Grade.
6. Experience toward Understanding.
7. Combat Experience.
The following are some clarifications to this list. Look to the numbering to relate to the list.
1. Skills mean those necessary to become proficient in applying all aspects, models, traits, etc. that make a martial practitioner.
2. Proficiency not just in the application of technique but a full and complete understanding based on principle based training. Proficiency may not include actual combat-like experience simply because in modern times for self-defense it is best to reach goals like avoidance or escape and evade to remain within that SD-square but to have hands-on experience would be a bonus. If this is about professionals, i.e., military, police or corrections officers and so on then you can expect to gain experience with understanding OJT or “On the Job.”
3. Performance will be one of those most difficult aspects to perceive by mentors, teachers or instructors but is doable. It is about avoiding a “Technique based training” model but rather a model that allows a more natural but chaotic learning where the such ROTE systems open to criticism over a principle-based training involving a fuller and more comprehensive understanding of principles and how to apply them while in a chaotic environment, i.e., under attack dealing with adrenal stress conditions, etc.
4. Time is service actually refers to time on the dojo floor. Not just going through the motions but actively working to “Make things work” while in as close to chaotic and stressful conditions. This is a true balancing act so like 3 above warrants a considerable amount of study, etc.
5. Time in grade is meant to make sure one takes “Time” to achieve goals. It is one of those fluid things that has to be judged solely on an individual basis. Why? Because each of us are unique and progress in different ways. It gives time to allow for a building of experience and understanding. It gives time especially in a case where actual live experience is encountered - rare as that may be. If a professional that time also allows for group dynamics of a team to develop so they all work together to get the job done especially when life and limb are on the line.
6. Experience toward understanding is one of those things that never gets considered in modern martial discipline ranking. As one professional stated in an article, “Understanding comes from actual experience. Play can be a start and may provide insight but experience is required.” Understanding as defined HERE ( http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/2015/08/concretes-and-abstracts.html ) means “Understanding principles and applying them in Chaos.” Don’t confuse “Knowledge with Understanding.” One needs the other like yin-yank but as to Understanding - that is different in this instance.
7. Combat experience is actually experiencing conflict and violence from the lowest levels to the highest where grave bodily harm and death are on the table. Not sport competitive; not sparring; not kumite; not drills and especially not fantasy driven commercial types but real-reality-based stuff.
Don’t “ASSUME” what I am suggesting herein is the end all and definitive answer to the topic. It is just a suggestion of what would be a minimum set of requirements toward grading, rank or achieving a certain martial discipline level.
Will you find this in modern martial disciplines? No, nope, never happen for so many reasons it ain’t even funny. The current system and community is well entrenched in society so it is here to stay. When you consider humans and human nature you begin to see how I can make this statement. Even when I propose, comment or even recommend such theories, thoughts, ideas and truisms in groups, threads, forums and so on the thread will always go directly to what the individual knows and believes over anything stated otherwise. Rarely do any of them actually experience a shift away from that teaching and belief but when one does, it is awesome!
Note: being honest with myself if this were true and actually used then my rank, grade or level would still be somewhere in the lower mudansha area, maybe. I am ok with that, for the moment :-)
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