"Honorary" Rank Certificates

[delta1]

"It can't even stand up by itself." -- Michael J. Sanders, referring to the black belt

[foreveryoung001]

I have had a similar experience. I received my 1st dan in the USCDA in 1988 after almost 4 years of hard work. I graduated the same year and moved about three hours away, and there were no Chung Do Kwan schools anywhere near me. To keep in shape, I worked out with a co-worker from time to time. He was a 3rd dan in a style I don't recall. One day he came to work and gave me a dan certificate for an organization that he was trying to start, the Universal TKD Assoc of Michigan, or some such nonsense. We had only worked out together a 1/2 dozen times, nothing to intense, but it didn't stop him from giving me something that was most likely ordered out of the back of some magazine. He offered to make it for a 2nd dan if I would help promote his organization. Long story short, I am still a first dan with the USCDKA. I had no idea this type of thing was that common.

[CloudDragon]

After doing some research on the web, I found that you can be awarded just about any rank that you want for just knowing the right person, or worse yet, paying the right person. The question is: Is this person legitimate? For those seasoned in the MA, it is no big deal to determine this, but as what has been said before, the new and uninitiated to the MA are what concern me the most.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

After doing some research on the web, I found that you can be awarded just about any rank that you want for just knowing the right person, or worse yet, paying the right person. The question is: Is this person legitimate? For those seasoned in the MA, it is no big deal to determine this, but as what has been said before, the new and uninitiated to the MA are what concern me the most.

 

Exactly! I used to get Black Belt Magazine every month and in the ads in the back, you could buy uniforms, belts, weapons, videos, books...and certificates! heck, everything you needed to start your own system...except knowledge! lol

[47MartialMan]

Yeah, it is a "shame" that magazines "sell out"

[aefibird]

My karate organisation does give out honarary dan grades, but it is made clear that they are just that - honorary and do not reflect any skill or training in the art.

 

To my knowledge, the Chief Instructor has only ever presented 2 honorary dan grades, both 1st Dan.

 

One was to a person who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the organisation in an admin role, and the other was awarded post-humously to a high kyu grade student involved in a tragic accident.

[ramymensa]

I don't racall anything similar in our dojo. I wouldn't give something like that. You train and test, you get a rank, if not .. there are so many other "titles" to have? I really don't understand why does anybody have to be a x dan in a certain style, if the person isn't training and testing there. And the confusion is indeed the problem. Not to mention corruption.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

My karate organisation does give out honarary dan grades, but it is made clear that they are just that - honorary and do not reflect any skill or training in the art.

 

To my knowledge, the Chief Instructor has only ever presented 2 honorary dan grades, both 1st Dan.

 

One was to a person who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the organisation in an admin role, and the other was awarded post-humously to a high kyu grade student involved in a tragic accident.

 

Hmmmm...you know...that I can agree with. Giving a "Honorary Dan rank" to a non-martial artist that isn't going to abuse it, and for the reasons you specified. I would drefinitely want to make sure Honorary was displayed on the certificate somewhere prominently...just in case!

[kempocos]

Perhaps thats how things like this happen, I do not know the man however this many ranks of such a high level make me think.

 

O'Sensei Philip Porter

 

10th Dan in Jujitsu

 

10th Dan in Taiho Jitsu

 

10th Dan in Jun Kin Shin

 

10th Dan in Shihan Ryu Aikido

 

10th Dan in Shihan Ryu Jujitsu

 

10th Dan in Shihan Ryu Karate

 

10th Dan in Shihan Ryu Kendo

 

10th Dan in Shihan Ryu Kobudo

 

9th Dan in Judo

 

9th Dan in Wushu

 

9th Dan in Moo Hap Sul Hapkido

 

8th Dan in Shotokan Karate-Do

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I think I've seen that guy before kempocos. Isn't he arounds mid-50's or so? IMHO, it's just not possible to get even ONE legitimate (emphasis on legitimate) 10th Dan in any system by that age. Unless of course, you start your own system..then sure, give yourself a 20th Dan if you want to. Does it make you more skilled? Of course not. It just makes you a running joke in the rest of the martial arts community. Anybody that knows anything about LEGITIMATE martial arts knows that that sort of ranking in that many systems is just pure crap.