Interesting Fact...10th Degree Black Belt in Karate

[Shorin Ryuu]

Yeah, I've heard that before, but I haven't seen it elsewhere than a few websites (usually dojo websites, although well-meaning, will often have incorrect info on them). Where did you see that? I'm not saying you're wrong, and if anything else, a judo person can resolve this either way, but this just demonstrates the arbitrary nature anyway. All the same, there are extremely excellent 10th dans out there, and then there are others. Sadly, the "others" form a majority of the ones out there.

[TangSooGuy]

There's still no 10th Dan in TSD...at least none I've ever heard of. They may do it posthumously for Hwang Kee at some point...

 

..and the highest ranking person I know in TSD is 8th dan, and has been for many many years....

[nago]

an official 10th dan can be awarded to an individual by two organizations in japan. The all japan karate federation and the all okinawan karate association any other way is not acknowleded or respected. Most 10th dans are eventually awarded one from both organizations. There is a third way: the government of japan can bestow this on an idividual that is considered a national treasure for their dedication to the martial arts.

[Shorin Ryuu]

Just as a side-note...

 

In Japan, the title of "Soke" is pretty well-established as the founder of a style. On Okinawa, however, most all respectable Okinawan karate masters shy away from claiming to be the "soke" of their style...I think Nagamine Shoshin's son gets some flak for calling himself the Soke of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, from what I hear.

 

I think it falls under the line of "there's nothing new under the sun" in martial arts, and claiming to be a soke is rather arrogant, in the Okinawan view. Once again, this is in contrast to the Japanese view (apparently), and definitely in contrast to the American view of "soke", where anyone and everyone seems to be one.

 

Now this does have implications on the nature of styles and systems itself, but I'm just commenting more upon the fact that the title of "soke" is used very little among traditional Okinawans, just as a matter of course. The whole notion of rigid styles and such in Okinawa is relatively new anyway (1930s), but once again, I'm just talking about the specific usage of the title "soke".

 

Granted, this is really nothing more than an excursion into the world of semantics, but I'm interested in what others feel about this as well.

[47MartialMan]

Well lets not stop there....how about a 11th, 12th, 13th-(oh no-skip 13), 14th, 15th......

[Karate-addict]

My sensei has his sandan for over 12 years and has been practising karate for over 30. Yet he doesn't seem to care going to test for yondan. He says it's just politics and as long as there are no candidates for sandan in our dojo he won't test for higher rank.

 

By the way a huge welcome to nago-san, a fellow Uechi-ryu karateka. Under which sensei do you study karate?

[AngelaG]

***Deleted until I can find the proper url I wanted to post ***

[nago]

here in Okinawa the word SOKE is used to designate the headquarters dojo of an association. Some styles use the word HOMBU. In the Uechi Ryu Karate Do Association. Futenma dojo is reffered to as simply SOKE.

[Shorin Ryuu]

I see, but in many other parts of the world, Japan and America especially, "Soke" is used to indicate a person rather than a place. Would you agree with me that "soke" very rarely refers to a person on Okinawa?

[nago]

I would agree it refers to a place in Okinawa. It is also referring to a place in Japan as it is a Japanese word and has the same meaning in both areas. It is not a word that refers strictly to martial arts. It loosely translated means " the highest" in an area. So the SOKE in martial arts refers to the highest ranking dojo in that style. It is a little different than the word HOMBU which basically means headquarters. I was a little unclear of the exact difference so I called Uechi Hiroyasu sensei, the grandson of the founder of Uechi-ryu, to get his interpretation.