Black Belt ceremonies

[Rateh]

Where I got my black belt, there were two of us that earned it together, and no one had earned one in years so the head instructor (who was head instructor for about 1 year at that point) made up his own. We each individually went up and broke three boards, each with a saying like "dedication" on it. Then was kneeling, blowing out a candle at the same time as the instructor, drinking tea, presentation of a sword, and then the regular belt presentation (all belts are presented by both the instructor and student kneeling, instructor places the belt to their forehead, student copies, instructor places the belt to their heart, student copies again, then the instructor ties the students belt on), then some sort of oath by the new black belt. Some where in all that the instructor gave a speach about the new black belt.

Current school I only saw once...lets see...well I can't remember all the details. One part I remember though. All the black belts on the judging panel (even if you arent high enough to judge, you still sit on the panel, you just dont get a vote) stood in a line in ready stances. In front of them a bit stood all of the new black belts (of any degree) in ready stances. Starting on the spectators left, each new rank was presented individually. The students instructor, and someone on the black belt panel signifigant to them would go up to them. The signifigant black belt would hold the students new rank. The students instructor (this was 3 schools wide so there were different instructors for students) would give a long speach about the person. Then the old rank was taken off and the new put on by the instructor. The signifigant black belt was the belt holder for both the new and old belts.

Then there was a rose thing, passing a rose from a signifigant black belt (representing all black belts) to a new rank to someone(s) who were there for them in their journey. (rose was given from one to the next to the next person).

I think there were other parts but I'm not sure.

Its a very long ceremony. I mean there were 13 new ranks at the one I went to, and each new rank had at least 5 minutes talked about them. The whole time you have to stay in your ready stance. This is also directly after the testing, with the only break being for the judges to deliberate.

[IcemanSK]

I have a friend who runs a Christian MA program in his church. He is both the instructor & church's pastor.

His school has the belt ceremony in the church sanctuary apart from regular Sunday worship. The new BB is given a stamp with a name in Japanese that fits their personality & character. They have a book of all the BB's from that school. Each BB has their own page. The other BB's write an encouraging note of the new BB's page. All of the students & past BB's in the school are invited to the belt ceremony. Any one is allowed & encouraged to stand & say how this new BB has encouraged them &/or a word of encouragement to that person. The instructor kneels in front of the student & ties on the new belt. It is quite a nice ceremony.

[bushido_man96]

Although not so much a long the ceremonial lines, my Daito school has something pretty nice.

Dan grade certificates are made out of hand made paper and are hand written / painted by Shihan himself.

Here's the cool bit though. The certificate is in two halves. Prior to tearing (not cutting) the certificate in two, the "Shihan" puts his unique stamp across the tear line. Then the certificate is torn in two, ending up with half a stamp mark on each part.

The successful candidate gets his half and School's Shihan keeps the other. The theory being that if anyone should bring into question your training and qualification, they can offer it up to the school's "official" copy and the Shihan stamp will become complete (tear and all).

Nice touch me thinks.

That is a cool idea. Neat that the certificates are hand written, too.

[NewEnglands_KyoSa]

After successfully passing your BB Pre Test and Test our chief warns you a week in advanced and asks you at which school and during which class you'd like to recieve your rank. you usually choose your 'home' school and whatever night you think will be biggest or according to your schedule, or whatever. everyone lines up with masters, and instructors at the front while you stay in line. you are called up one by one by the chief master&founder. you will run to where he is, by stepping back in line and going around to the right of the room, you will stand in front of him and bow he will shake your hand(the traditional way of course) and hand you your certificate(once again, traditionally) and you will 180 turn to everyone in line and the audience and he will say everyone face mr/ms/mrs/master and then call the commands to bow, at which point everyone bows to you. and then the next master down the line will hand you your belt in the same fashion as before. you will go down the line and bow and shake hands until you find yourself at the end of the line where you will turn around, put your belt on, and join the line.

the certificate is 11x14 i think. it's beautiful parchment paper, signed by your instructor and the chief master with the date your rank, all that stuff. the school's beautiful gold seal. and all the signing and filling in is done in beautiful calligraphy.

the belt you recieve here is the ceremonial belt, the association name down the right side, your name as you want it with your rank bars down the left. you get a new one everytime you're promoted but im stuck on my original one from when i was a cho dan. i use the ones given to me for my rank display.

then usually after everyone gets their rank, if you are one of the more senior black belts or are an instructor he will say a few words about you and then address the rest of the class as to what it means to be a Black Belt, etc

its interesting to see what everyone's is like. good post!

[Zanshin]

Although not so much a long the ceremonial lines, my Daito school has something pretty nice.

Dan grade certificates are made out of hand made paper and are hand written / painted by Shihan himself.

Here's the cool bit though. The certificate is in two halves. Prior to tearing (not cutting) the certificate in two, the "Shihan" puts his unique stamp across the tear line. Then the certificate is torn in two, ending up with half a stamp mark on each part.

The successful candidate gets his half and School's Shihan keeps the other. The theory being that if anyone should bring into question your training and qualification, they can offer it up to the school's "official" copy and the Shihan stamp will become complete (tear and all).

Nice touch me thinks.

That is a cool idea. Neat that the certificates are hand written, too.

Sadly I don't have one as I am but a boy in this great Koryu art, but because the Yudansha in Daito (like my sensei) are so rare these days the certification is something else.

No glitzy gold razzmatazz, but written on paper hand made by one of the 70 "living treasure" of Japan.

Sounds great in theory but apparently you can wait for years for your certificate.

My sensei achieved the equivalent to the Gendai rank of Nidan in 2000 but has yet to receive his certificate, and he is now the equivalent of Sandan.

Still I would wait to get something that quite frankly would be priceless.

[NightOwl]

Where I got my black belt, there were two of us that earned it together, and no one had earned one in years so the head instructor (who was head instructor for about 1 year at that point) made up his own. We each individually went up and broke three boards, each with a saying like "dedication" on it. Then was kneeling, blowing out a candle at the same time as the instructor, drinking tea, presentation of a sword, and then the regular belt presentation (all belts are presented by both the instructor and student kneeling, instructor places the belt to their forehead, student copies, instructor places the belt to their heart, student copies again, then the instructor ties the students belt on), then some sort of oath by the new black belt. Some where in all that the instructor gave a speach about the new black belt.

Current school I only saw once...lets see...well I can't remember all the details. One part I remember though. All the black belts on the judging panel (even if you arent high enough to judge, you still sit on the panel, you just dont get a vote) stood in a line in ready stances. In front of them a bit stood all of the new black belts (of any degree) in ready stances. Starting on the spectators left, each new rank was presented individually. The students instructor, and someone on the black belt panel signifigant to them would go up to them. The signifigant black belt would hold the students new rank. The students instructor (this was 3 schools wide so there were different instructors for students) would give a long speach about the person. Then the old rank was taken off and the new put on by the instructor. The signifigant black belt was the belt holder for both the new and old belts.

Then there was a rose thing, passing a rose from a signifigant black belt (representing all black belts) to a new rank to someone(s) who were there for them in their journey. (rose was given from one to the next to the next person).

I think there were other parts but I'm not sure.

Its a very long ceremony. I mean there were 13 new ranks at the one I went to, and each new rank had at least 5 minutes talked about them. The whole time you have to stay in your ready stance. This is also directly after the testing, with the only break being for the judges to deliberate.

Ahhhh! too long for my ADD addled mind! At my place all that happens is that you stand up, get your belt, and people clap. Unless you are unpopular and they throw tomatoes but I haven't seen that yet.

[Montana]

Nothing special, really. The belt is given, and acknowledgement is given in class. Hand shaking and congrats happen after class.

That's pretty much the way we do it. We don't place any "God-like" significance on a BB, or getting one.

However, we have been known to have a bottle of sake handy and have a toast at the end of class for the recipient. And after class, we've been known to toss back a brew or two.

[BDPulver]

When I recieved my black belt it was a 72 hour test (or thats what my sensei called it at the time ). From friday at 6am till sunday 6pm.

Pretty much we ran countless miles, sparred every black belt and brown belts. Did kata's in the river. Ran obstacle courses in the dark of night. Built the zen stairs (to this day are still not finished ).

Took a written test on what we thought isshinryu meant to us. Couldnt speak during this entire time.

Now this is just the run down on what me and 3 other individuals did. He always changes the test but it is still grueling and demanding on testing your spirit.

[Zanshin]

When I recieved my black belt it was a 72 hour test (or thats what my sensei called it at the time ). From friday at 6am till sunday 6pm.

Pretty much we ran countless miles, sparred every black belt and brown belts. Did kata's in the river. Ran obstacle courses in the dark of night. Built the zen stairs (to this day are still not finished ).

Took a written test on what we thought isshinryu meant to us. Couldnt speak during this entire time.

Now this is just the run down on what me and 3 other individuals did. He always changes the test but it is still grueling and demanding on testing your spirit.

Blinkin Flip!

I hope your black belt presentation ceremony was up to matching the exam.

Did you sacrifice some virgins or something lol!

[NightOwl]

Nothing special, really. The belt is given, and acknowledgement is given in class. Hand shaking and congrats happen after class.

That's pretty much the way we do it. We don't place any "God-like" significance on a BB, or getting one.

However, we have been known to have a bottle of sake handy and have a toast at the end of class for the recipient. And after class, we've been known to toss back a brew or two.

'Throwing back brews' is a time honored Samurai tradition.