Shihan Menkyo - Masters Licenses... Are they truly what we think they are?

Recently, with my Blog going live, I have been getting a lot of questions through personal email channels asking about Shihan Menkyo or Master's Liceneses.  The inquiries have been eye opening to say the least and I hope I can shed some light from one who has been educated in the process of how and when they are awarded.

Now before I go any further, I would like to explain and express that this post is NO way in ANY shape or form disrespecting any practitioner who was awarded a Shihan Menkyo.  I just hope that they hold themselves to the level of professionalism, dedication, and example that the licenses represent and were developed to uphold.

So now we've got that out of the way...

What exactly are Shihan Menkyo?  Well most practitioners wonder what a Renshi, Kyoushi, and Hanshi mean and scratch our head when someone calls themselves a Shihan.  First let me tell you, Shihan and Shihan Menkyo stand apart... while they are similar they are used differently.

Shihan - 師範
The biggest misconception is that the title Shihan is regularly given out to someone who has earned a certain Dan.  In Japan, there are no entitlement issues because to receive a Shihan title is special... it is usually conferred upon you becuase you are an all around model sensei, usually hand picked to succeed or be a contingent successor of the kaiha or ryuha. The Shihan title is usually reserved for the highest ranked dojo sensei who can "educate" (there is a huge difference in the actual meaning behind educate and "teach") not only technique but can be the example not only in the dojo but in life.

Shihan Menkyo are usually used as a tool by Ryuha and Kaiha to setup a legitimate succession plan and are usually hand picked by the Soke (founder) or the surviving successors to keep organizational structure alive.  Most of the time, those with Shihan Menkyo titles will be those instructors who are at the highest ranks/quality and for SMALLER kaiha's (not ryuha) there are usually only one of each. (Hanshi, Kyoushi, and Renshi).

While most of us here in the United States look at Shihan Menkyo as one of the highest awards given by a certain Ryuha or Kaiha, the spirit behind, not the award, or more so the spirit behind the conferrment is what they stand for.  The Japanese sometime explain the awards with a little more flash than they should be because it is very difficult to explain what I am about to explain in english.  Sometimes, you are told that you are receiving the award (in reality it is a conferrment) for just your contribution however, this goes beyond what you have already contributed... but what you will continue to contribute for a lifetime.  In turn, it should represent the continuing hard work, continuing dedication, and the contiuous ability to lead by example.

Shihan Menkyo and their Meanings - Conferrment Responsibilities

Renshi - 錬士

"熟錬した人。  訓練したした人"

Renshi is a title that is conferred upon an instructor who has trained rigorously and thouroughly. A Renshi continually trains hard with the dojo members being an example for the Kyoushi, especially when the Kyoushi needs an example for the dojo student body.  A ryuha or kaiha acknowledges the contributions that the instructor made not only to his seniors but as a benchmark to his students and kohai.

Kyoushi - 教士

"技術を身につけて教える事の出来る人"

Kyoushi is a title that is conferred upon an instructor who has committed the technique to the body and one who can teach (not educate... big difference) others. A Kyoushi has gone through the thourough and rigorus training and has close to flawless technique.  Committing a technique to body is only done to through the countless hours of repetition under a Hanshi level instructor and building the highest level of muscle memory in order to teach the same technique according to the Hanshi's instruction (not abandoning his own interpretations) for the sake of the organization.  Usually a Kyoushi will become a Hanshi's right hand man and will be his tool to set an example for the dojo student body.

Hanshi - 範士

"技術の手本に成る人。模範になる人"

A Hanshi level instructor is one who has the ability to use the techniques he has learned and "educate" others while being example for the dojo student body.  While a Renshi still trains and the Kyoushi teaches, a Hanshi "educates" by showing examples of technique, opens the minds of karateka by introducing his or her interpretations of the set cirriculum and how they relate to traditional training.  Anyone can teach a technique but Hanshi's should have the continual ability to eductate a karateka so their karate grows and evolves.  This title conferred for the HIGHEST level of instruction... and it is recognized by the governing body... never self-proclaimed.

While many have observed their instructors rank progression and the conferrace of Shihan Menkyo, the one aspect that must be considered is that the recipients must continue to grow and be humble.  In the homeland (Japan), while there are many sensei who achieved Karate greatness, in my experience, I have NEVER heard of an instructor refer to themself as a Shihan or by their Shihan Menkyo title.  Even the great senseis just refer to themselves as just "sensei" and respect the Senpai/Kohai system and respect the honorifics they use to speak to someone of higher stature.  Like the Japanese language, certain main topics are just understood and there is no reason to highlight what is already known.

Here in the United States, it is pretty difficult for me sometimes because I do not see the reflection of the spirit of the Shihan Menkyo in some of the practitioners I have met. Most are self-proclaimed without the knowledge of how the Shihan Menkyo System or the Dan system works. (Are there such things as 9th Dan and 10th Dan?  That's for another post) and do not understand that it is not title that is simply given out, that it is a conferred by a larger group that recognizes the talents and contributions made to the organization(s).  This could be partially be at fault of cultural incompatibilities or the lack of translators that have the experience... but any sense I have seen this go to many instructors heads rather than remain humble and continue the legacy that they had started.

While I still respect them and hold them to esteem, I just bite my tougue hope someday, if I am ever conferred with the GREAT responsibility, that I can be that example for my karate flock.

Until then keep practicing hard to become the example!

PS... good talk with my Karate bruddah +Johnpaul Williams. I will have a part 2 of this topic about how you can over do it by calling your senseis by their Shihan Menkyo titles or Shihan... pretty good insight for next time.

Kumite: A Story

Kumite:  A Story



What do you think about when you think about Karate?  When I was a child, I used to get all excited when I saw old Kung Fu movies or when there were Bruce Lee specials on during holiday.  All the high kicks, jump kicks, spin kicks and nunchuku kung-foolery had me on my toes and my father had me on lock down whenever I came close to putting my foot through the wall or my mother's favorite lamp. 

Growing up, I had all the delusions of grandeur thinking that I was bigger than myself.  This continuously got worse as I entered adolescence and noticed that I was capable and that I was bigger than everyone else in my age brackets whenever I competed.  The one thing that I lacked was confidence.  If my kumite started out strong and if I had my opponent on the run, I was very hard to beat.  However, if I had made a mental mistake or if I could not figure out my opponent, there were many a time where you could literally see me sink in quicksand and not be able to recover because my self-confidence was shot.

Luckily, I had very patient senseis willing to work with me and found ways for me to work on my self-confidence so that my kumite outings were more consistent with my ability.  However, this did not happen overnight.  My senseis really had to work on my perception on what Karate was really about. 

The problem was that I was a little man trapped in a big man's body... meaning that I wanted to do little man karate in a big body.  It didn't help that my senseis, Takafumi Hamabata (7th Dan Eibu Kan / JKF) and Katsuhide Kinjo (6th Dan Eibu Kan/JKF) are both mid to high 5 feet weighing about 140, respectively.  In contrast, I am 6 feet and weighing in about 250.  Coming from an organization that does not believe in churning out students that are cookie cutter versions of their senseis, I believe it was a major project for the both of them to try and figure out how to get me to become an effective fighter, both in and out of the ring (competitive and traditional).

Looking back, I believe that their solution was brilliant.  Taking a young karateka with self-confidence issues and focusing on a reactive style of kumite so that blocking was a primary factor in the style of combat was their answer to his many Karate issues.  Lessons and drills included many blocking and intercepting drills to negate offensive momentum, working on instinctual training by focusing on timing and jamming techniques, and finally the endless drilling and repetition back and forth on the dojo floor after class until my body learned how to react without having to think (developed mushin and my zanshin through repetition).  While this worked for this Karateka, I yet to test this similar style of training with my kohai because it may not be what is necessary for them.

I now can say that I have taken what was developed and have made it my own. I can proudly say that no one in my dojo has my exact style of kumite... and I can proudly say that my senseis do not want exact replicas of each other either... they would like to see more individual growth like myself and the other black belts in my class.  When I step out on to the floor, I have the confidence to say, "come and hit me... if you can..." and be in position to go toe to toe with anyone.  This is a good feeling to have.

Have you thought about how your senseis have drawn your Karate out of you?  Do you know your own story or are you still currently figuring that one out.  Sit down and think about it.  Your Karate is continuously being developed.  What is your focus?  Traditional or Competitive?  Both?  There is a lot to think about in developing your Kumite.

ps.  While my adolescent training in Kumite was mainly for competition, the training forced me to see application of kata better because of the defensive mind set I was trained with.  ALL Goju Ryu Kata begin with blocks... and that was the start of another chapter in my Karate life.

三戦 - The Three Battles (Sanchin)

三戦 - The Three Battles (Sanchin)

Goju training is deeper than you think.  Even as we train, we may not know the how deep our technique goes.  Kata Sanchin is one good philosophical example within the Goju discipline and maybe I can help you understand why Sanchi is so important.

Sanchin is traslated into "3 Battles."  The three battles in Goju is the representation of the continuous battle between your body, mind, and spirit.  While Kata Sanchin has zen buddhism (zazen to be specific) aspects of training, it is practiced not only to strengthen the "GO" or hard aspect of Goju but bring the three elements of training together in alignment.

Breathing, posture, muscle tension, basic technique, stance, and movement... there is a lot to deal with when practicing Sanchin.  With help from your senpais and your sensei, working to improve your muscle memory in the correct fashion will help you develop your body.  The mind and spirit are another story. 

I have always equated the development of my spirit to the development of my self-confidence.  I have always looked at the improvement of self-confidence to be the culmative successes of short-term and long-term goals. These successes, no matter how small or how large, affect who we are and affect our perspective in life.  Our failures only amplify the successes we achieve. 

Your mind is the hardest to develop.  For practitioners, this is undoubtedly the most frustrating to develop as well because it ties both your physical attributes as well as your spiritual ones.  Our mind, our consciousness, is the start.  How many times while training have you thought, "wow... I would like to learn that technique?" And how many times have you gathered enough courage to attempt that technique only to utterly fail in your first attempts? 

This is becuase our minds are the gateway to bigger and better things.  When our minds touch something that touches our heart... then passion is born.  When passion is born... we physically get involved.  As a good friend told me... this is a cycle... Wash, Rinse, Repeat.  This cycle, regardless if you succeed or fail, is one of the most natural cycles that we as humans face.  It applies to many different things and can be experienced at different levels of intensity.

While it is easy to "ingnite" your mind through passion, keeping or maintaining that passion is the hardest to do.  This is where it gets difficult to train your mind. We have a natural tendency to travel the path of least resistance and find ways to make things easy for ourselves.

Thinking, moving, and developing your personal faith (religious or just personal resolve... doesn't matter) is easily done when focusing on the aspects individually.  Even when praticing Kata Sanchin, it is very simple to learn, memorize, and understand the basic concepts of this basic kata.  However, the Kata does not come "alive" until you have learned how to bring all the aspects together.  Kata Sanchin teaches us this and was developed as such. 

While Kata Sanchin has the most simplest of movements in all 12 Goju Kata, It is definitely the most difficult technically.  This is because of the demands on the body.  Simple (basic) movements means that the karateka must show his mastery of the techniques.  With demostrating mastery of basic technique, your body and breathing must be in sync with the natural flow of the Kata.  Any practitioner will tell you that this more difficult that it seems and can be quite frustrating as many have experienced light headedness from trying too hard.

There are many aspects beyond what I have explained above that need to be mastered by the body (zazen) and the body alone. The mind and spirit fall into balance when that can be accomplished (which is developed simultaneously).  You cannot make progress with Kata Sanchin unless you hone all three aspects together.  It is the continuous battle between the three aspects that helps us find our own unique equilibrium. 



Why do I study Karate?

While my direct instructor pulls lineage from Yamaguchi Goju Ryu and Toguchi Shorei-kan, I have been very lucky to be studying under Takafumi Hamabata (Eibukan 7th dan, Kyoshi) as he has been able to pull in his experiences with both aforementioned lineages of Goju Ryu Karate along with JKF Goju-kai standards, and Eibukan; under the tutelage of Yoshihiro Hisanaga (Eibukan Soke / Kagoshima Goju Kai - 8th dan, Hanshi).

I began my Karate journey January 1st, 1990 - 22 years ago.  It was an odd morning, as I remember curled up in a warm bed.  There was a heavy marine layer that built up along the foothills of the Angeles Crest and I recall heavy moisture in the morning air.  As I heard Rose Parade announcer blaring from the TV in the other room, I'd figured that the rest of my family was immersed in eating Osechi (traditional New Years food) along with Ozoni (either made from vegetables and chicken/seafood or sweetened red bean and rice cakes) while watching the parade coverage before the Rose Bowl game came on.

That morning, my father, Masato Sakaue (Eibukan 5th dan, Renshi - RET) threw a Karate Gi at me and told me that I was going to start my "training."  Now mind you that, I had been immersed in Kendo under the tutelage of my uncle, Masataka Sakaue (Covina Kendo 6th dan) for six years at that point and now THAT training was over.  According to my father, Karate was going to be my path. When you are 12 years old, you do not really understand much.  Heck when I was 6 years old and thrown into Kendo... I didn't know anything at all.  However, it took almost another 6 years of training for me to understand and accept my "path" in life.

In 1996-1997 I received my Shodan... during my pre-yudansha training I worked hard on my kihon, most of the time coping with my time between playing high school football, wrestling, and just being a teenager.  Per my senseis at the time, competition was mandatory to test our skills outside of the dojo regardless if we won or lost as pre-requisite qualification for intra-dojo ranking, especially for black belts. The other pre-requisite was to compile a essay justifying your reasoning of why you study Karate. While these are not mandatory for other dojos or for even JKF / JKF Goju kai, it was mainly adapted so that one could understand that his or her Karate is effective in practical / simulated use.  Our senseis didn't care about the points... they cared about developing quality karateka.  The first was no problem.  I liked competition and I like taking what I learned in the dojo and applying them in free form competitive kumite.  However, the latter, I had trouble with.  How do you express yourself when your path was laid down in front of you to follow? 

Sixteen years later, I find myself asking the same question and in another capacity.  Why do I study Karate?  Sixteen years ago, I don't think I could have told you.  I think I was still in the experimental mode.  I thought it was fun and competitive but lacked the depth of knowledge to explain the reasoning why. Today I can explain it very simply.  I study Karate because I like it.

I like the people who I train with.
I like the people who train me.
I like the depth of Goju Ryu Karate.
I like the connection that Goju Ryu Karate has with my family and my family's history.
I like that Karate has developed me as a person.
I like that Karate keeps me connected to my cultural roots.

The list goes on and on.  If I can pass any of the "likes" above to anyone who wants to learn or who wants to be apart of the Eibukan Family, then it is worth my travel as a karateka.  There is no other reason for me to study Karate.

The Path. Choose Wisely.

Most karate practitioners may not know beyond the basis of their own dojo or ryuha / kaiha.  However, that is to say that many karateka yet to master their own style before pursuing another.  While I have dabbled in many different types of martial arts, I am one of the philosophy that one style is enough regardless of what strengths or weaknesses may lie in the foundation of the style.  The depth in technique and philosophy alone can be studied a lifetime and depending on your instructor and your development complete mastery can never be achieved.

That is what the "DO" in Karatedo, Kendo, Chado, Sado, Judo, etc. represents.  The continuous path of which the practitioner chooses to study the depth in length.  The "kanji" or the Chinese character represents this by bringing two distinct characters 1) longevity and 2) Neck to describe the spirit behind your training.  It is training that you are willing to pursue with your neck stuck out in a vulnerable fashion representing that it can be cut at any time. (Sorry for the Samurai reference).

Many traditional karate practitioners may ask... what does Samurai and Bushido have to do with Karate?  Especially when known that Karate comes from the oppressed Okinawan regime by the Satsuma Government predating the Meiji era.  The founders of Eibukan feel that while Bushido and Karate were formulated at different times and for different purposes, the ideals behind the 7 precepts are valuable to any karateka.

Eibukan and Bushido:  How they tie together

1 – GI (Justice / Moral Righteousness): A Karateka should deal openly and honestly with others and cleaves to the ideals of justice. Moral decisions do not come in shades of gray, only right and wrong.

2 – YUU (Heroic Courage): A Karateka should never fear to act, but lives life fully and wonderfully. Respect and caution replace fear.

3 – JIN (Benevolence / Compassion): A Karateka should take every opportunity to aid others, and create opportunities when they do not arise. As a powerful individual, a Karateka has a responsibility to use that power to help others.

4 – REI (Respect / Polite Courtesy): A Karateka has no reason to be cruel, and no need to prove his strength. Courtesy distinguishes a Karateka from an animal, and reveals one’s true strength.

5 – MAKOTO (Honesty / Complete Sincerity): A Karateka’s conscience is the judge of his honor. The decisions he makes and how he carries them out are a reflection of his true nature.

6 – MEIYO (Honor): When a Karateka has said that he shall perform an action; it is as good as done. He need not make promises; speaking and doing are as if the same.

7 – CHUUGI (Loyalty / Devotion / ***Duty***): A Karateka feels responsible for his actions and their consequences, and is loyal to the people in his care.

***One should reflect upon the samurai’s loyalty to his lord and understand that it was unquestionable and unquestioning.***

(Outdated… however the spirit of this is what helps us understand CHUUGI)