Shotokan, walking the way: Part 1

George Carruthers and Charles Gidley

The grading process in Shotokan can be a valuable tool, but the grade itself can have both positive and negative attributes. In their eternal search for improved character, the grade is irrelevant, the belt does not matter, the kudos even less, but it does allow an individual to test himself, very importantly against himself. It also allows the individual the appreciation and support of their peers, and therefore recognition by others for their continued struggle to seek the unattainable, that of perfection of self. The negatives are the obvious misuse of gradings due to a lack of standards based on ego, political ends or financial gain.

Within Shotokan, students are encouraged to climb the grading ladder, this in itself is a positive thing, it encompasses a basic human need to succeed and more importantly for some, be seen to succeed. It therefore acts as a mirror to show both our past and our present, and potentially offer an insight into our future and for the sake of the future of the art and Shotokan especially, in our opinions it should not be abused. 

Historical background

Shotokan has used the ranking grading system since the 12^th of April 1924. This was the first record of any ‘Shotokan’ dan gradings when Master Gichin Funakoshi awarded black belts to seven of his students. Some of these students went on to form their own styles, Hironori Ohtsuka, (Wado-ryu) and Shinken Gima (Shoto-ryu) to name but two.

Although there is no evidence to suggest that Master Funakoshi had personally been graded in any dan/kyu system, this initial formal ceremony laid the way for the current Shotokan ranking process as we know it today. Prior to this event the titles of senior (sempai), junior (kohai), teacher (sensei), and master (shihan) as well as the titles (shogo) renshi, kyoshi and hanshi were used in the dojo in Japan. These titles were distinguishable only by the level of proficiency of an individual and their reputation, both inside and outside the dojo.

It is further suggested by other authors, to include our esteemed friend Harry Cook, that Funakoshi Gichin was influenced in his choice to award grades by a similar system introduced into Judo and devised by its founder, Master Jigoro Kano. It was through Master Kano that the dan/kyu ranking system became accepted by the Japanese Ministry of Education which in turn led to its filtering throughout the other budo systems in Japan and after World War II into Okinawa. 

However, only after the cessation of the conflict in the late 1940/1950s, did the individual style associations, to include the original JKA (Japan Karate Association), set down their grading rules. This formulated a process by which recognised grades were awarded to their students and instructors. The award of any grade was initially carried out by a ‘Board/Council’ which had been created by the association to govern the organisation and therefore carried its authority.

The board usually consisted of a group of the most senior instructors with a smattering of political dignitaries. Only one individual would retain the responsibility of signing, therefore authenticating any rank certification (menjo) awarded. This authority would usually be granted to the Chief Instructor, although in some cases it was the role of a Chairman, President or one of the Directors who would be in charge of qualifications. The signature therefore was representative of the decision by the ‘whole’ board/council. Ranking at the most senior level was therefore carried out by an individual’s peers rather than by an individual instructor, a situation which is current in some associations for the higher grades, even today. It is therefore the credibility and pedigree of the members of that board and or the Chief Instructor, which signify the credibility of any grade awarded.

There is evidence to suggest that an organisation (All Japan Karate-do Federation), which included the senior people in each association, was also initiated in the post war era. It is our understanding that master Funakoshi may have been in membership of the same and that this organisation played a major role in an attempt to formalise the dan/kyu grading system throughout Japan, a situation which unfortunately did not occur at that time.

However, the most significant and most successful attempt at standardising the grading system within the karate styles occurred after the formation of FAJKO (Federation of All Japan Karate-do Organisations). This organisation (which became the Japan Karate Federation) formed in the early 60’s had by the early 70’s accepted a global ranking system for all groups. It was around the formation of this organisation and therefore the acceptance of a standards grading structure that the original JKA moved away from their dan grade ceiling of godan and higher dan grades were awarded to the JKA senior instructors. Until that point the JKA grading system reflected the highest grade ever awarded by Master Funakoshi. This situation is still mirrored in the ranking system of the Shotokai, the first major Shotokan group to break away. The JKA format set the standard and more importantly the structure for the vast majority of gradings within the Shotokan system for many years there after. This situation is gradually and dramatically changing due to the destructive splintering within the JKA itself, which in turn has led to a much reduced sphere of influence by this particular group within the world of Shotokan.

Therefore it would seem that if the historical perspective is to be accepted, then grades are issued in part, as a method of setting standards, which initially were meant to represent a ‘universal currency’ both internally and externally to the style. This system has collapsed over the years due to the aforementioned splits and has led to a situation where even the senior Japanese instructors, fellow graduates from the ‘original’ JKA, cannot agree to recognise the grades that they individually have awarded within their own groups. This occurs between both themselves and the remnants of the JKA. Grades offered by western groups, with no direct affiliation with Japanese instructors have a similar, if not more serious problem if the association itself is not deemed to be ‘mainstream’ or its Chief Instructor and their background is not well known. However, as the karate world expands beyond Japan and more high quality senior instructors exist from western cultures, the problem is diminishing.

The rank itself is therefore only relative to the group in which it is held, but its ability to traverse inter-association barriers, if at all, is also dictated by the credibility and pedigree of the individual or group of individuals awarding the grade. The International Shotokan-ryu Karate-do Shihankai (ISKS) being an example of a single style western group with a large membership stable made up of individuals of high quality and therefore one which offers grading credibility to its fellows as required.

The grading syllabus used by any group however must also be recognisable, carry a rigor pertinent to the grade and therefore be appreciated as such by the Shotokan community in general, for any modicum of acceptance or legitimacy within the wider scheme of things. Within Shotokan and karate in general the grading process is further split into two sections, those who wear coloured belts (kyu grades) other than black and those who wear the coveted black belt (dan grades) which will be discussed in the next article.

George or Charles are happy to accept comments and can be contacted through jskagb@aol.com website: www.jskagb.org ___________________________________________________________