Does this dojo sound like a belt factory?

[Asger]

Hi everybody, I'm new here (though I've been lurking for quite some time now). I have a question that I hope some of you Shotokan/JKA people can help me with.

In about a year or so, I'll probably move to another city to go to grad school, and of course I'm already considering the options when it comes to karate at the new place. I currently practise wado-ryu, but there doesn't seem to be any wado dojos where I'm going. So I've started thinking about Shotokan, there's a JKA dojo close by. However, after checking out their website, I was left with a few questions.

It says that the chief instructor has had 4 years of instructors training at the Danish JKA honbu dojo, which sounds pretty promising. Yet, it also says that he archieved his 5th dan at age 30. Am I way off when I think that that's a very young age to be graded this high? Or is this normal within Shotokan/JKA? Also, the assistent chief instructor recieved his 1st dan after three years training. What do you think about that?

Does all of this sound normal to you, or is it something I should watch out for?

Thanks, and forgive if my questions sound naive, I am not that experienced.

[Rick_72]

Yet, it also says that he archieved his 5th dan at age 30.

Tough to say really. Could be he started training when he was like 10 years old. Would twenty years of experience be enough?

Also, the assistent chief instructor recieved his 1st dan after three years training. What do you think about that?

Many people receive their Shodan in three years. There's a lot of factors you have to take into account. How many days/hours a week did/does he dedicate to training? Is he exceptionally skilled at his art? I tested for Shodan in three years, but I attend every class available at the school on a weekly basis. Which add's up to about 12 one hour class's a week, broken down beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I did so because it was always my attitude that without continuing to practice my basic's and my conditioning that my advanced learning would suffer.

I would say the same thing I'm sure you'll hear a lot with this thread, go in and watch a couple class's then determine for yourself if you think they teach well. With a previous martial arts background, it won't take you long to determine if you want to attend training there. Just keep in mind, ever dojo you go to after your first one is going to be different. Not necessarily better or worse, just different.

[sonofkanga]

agree on that.

I personaly know quite a few in our organization that attained 5th dan before the age of thirty.

I know of one individual who received shodan in one year.But he trained three times a day every day, two hour long sessions.

[Shotokan-kez]

If a child in our dojo recieves their first dan they have to be 21 before they can grade for their 2nd dan. If a senior has achieved their 1st dan then its two years for their 2nd and i think 5 years for their 3rd. So i think yeah it's a little strange he got to 5th dan so quickly. My sensei has been doing shotokan for 35 years and he is 5th dan but he is 60.

I'd say three years training is an ok timescale for acheiving first dan.

[lordtariel]

I know a fifth dan that's around that age, and he definitely has the skills to back it up, so I don't think it's too out there. Even if he started training at 16, that's still 14 years of training. Say 3-4 years to shodan, than two or so years between dan ranks. My suggestion is that you check out a couple of classes, then go to a couple other dojos and check out their classes. One time compare the instructors, then the other compare the students.

Welcome to the forums by the way!

[Sohan]

Grandmaster Eizo Shimabuku of Shobayashi Shorin Ryu was awarded his 10th dan at age 34. However, times are different, and dan rank doesn't seem to carry the same authenticity as it used to with all the orgs willing to throw around rank for a buck. Even Shimabuku himself has been quietly accused of selling rank for income.

Perspective is a great equalizer. Like Lordtariel says, try a few classes, try other dojos, and you'll be able to make your mind up before too long.

With respect,

Sohan

[sonofkanga]

If a child in our dojo recieves their first dan they have to be 21 before they can grade for their 2nd dan. If a senior has achieved their 1st dan then its two years for their 2nd and i think 5 years for their 3rd. So i think yeah it's a little strange he got to 5th dan so quickly. My sensei has been doing shotokan for 35 years and he is 5th dan but he is 60.

I'd say three years training is an ok timescale for acheiving first dan.

To each his own I supose.

in Kyokushin karate under Sosai Oyama my Sensei Mr. R.Catz received his 4th dan after 6 years of trainning.

Matsui graded for 5th dan before he was thirty.

as did Midori.To name only a few.

Time by itself is an unsuficiat parameter for judging abilty or reliability.

[danbong]

Just verify with your national JKA representative that he is indeed a member in good standing and a 5th dan. One of the benefits of studying under a large mainstream organization is that it is easy to check claims of rank. As previously pointed out, if you start training early in life, 5th dan by 30 is not that unreasonable. Even if you are not allowed to be a 1st dan until 16 years old (which is typical of many but not all shotokan organizations), you have

2nd dan by 18

3rd dan by 21

4th dan by 25

5th dan by 30

[Killer Miller]

The JKA time scale is technically possible - if never missing training or scheduled tests (assuming he passed them all). From a realistic point of view, it would be very rare to see a 30 yr old Go Dan. Give us the link to his website and I'll be glad to do some research.

- Killer -

[Brandon Fisher]

Though rare not impossible. I started in 1984 and got my godan in 2003 i was getting ready to turn 27.