Can A Style Survive?

[tallgeese]

Keep training.

I've seen things move forward with limited oversight from a hard established hierarchy before and it works fine. In fact, without heavy organizational involvement you can see some real leaps forward in the progress of an art form.

[bushido_man96]

Interesting posts and fair enough!

The management team has always been in place, but now, minus the 'headmaster', but, what if, for example, the current 'headmaster' is incapacitated for one reason or another, and the current 'headmaster' can't/hasn't name(d) a successor for one reason or another? What's the management team suppose to do meanwhile?

Then the headposts that remain, and the board, should begin deliberating on this matter, and decide what the best course of action would be.

[isshinryu5toforever]

I was going to say, keep training, keep teaching good karate and hope for the best. Sometimes the hierarchy really does get in the way of things.

[bushido_man96]

And another problem with the hierarchy is that if it has been around for a long time, and no one in the organization knows any other way, there can become some mad panic to fill in the voids, in which some bad decisions can be made.

I think what needs to be evaluated is 1: what the position is there for, and 2: can the organization get along without that position.

[ps1]

In all, it's really just semantics. Why would it matter if you use foreign words to describe the positions? It only matters if you're trying to keep to the tradition of said style and that style's tradition included those terms.

[sensei8]

Interesting posts and fair enough!

The management team has always been in place, but now, minus the 'headmaster', but, what if, for example, the current 'headmaster' is incapacitated for one reason or another, and the current 'headmaster' can't/hasn't name(d) a successor for one reason or another? What's the management team suppose to do meanwhile?

Then the headposts that remain, and the board, should begin deliberating on this matter, and decide what the best course of action would be.

Yes!

[sensei8]

I think what needs to be evaluated is 1: what the position is there for

1> Simply stated, Soke are generally considered the ultimate authority within any said style of the martial arts.

2> Soke has the final discretion and authority regarding:

* promotions

* curriculum

* doctrine

* disciplinary actions

The Soke has the authority to issue a Menkyo Kaiden. This right belongs only to, under the Soke definition, the Soke of any said style of the martial arts. The issuing of the Menkyo Kaiden certification, according to my style's By-Laws, belongs only to the Soke, therefore, it's without contestation.

2: can the organization get along without that position.

Until very recently, I'd say, no. But, I'm not really sure at this time. I'm sure that it could. I guess the current executive team could. But, for me, it would be really weird because having a Soke/Dai-Soke is all I've ever known. Remember, both my Soke/Dai-Soke are very old school from Okinawa, and every Shindokan karateka emulates these two exceptional karateka's!

Change is enivitable, in that, change can't be refused or disputed because after one doesn't embrace the change, that, whatever it is, will end. Just like the two mouse, Hem and Haw, in the book, "Who Moved My Cheese", one mouse accepted the change while the other mouse didn't, the mouse that didn't accept the change...well...that mouse died. One must be willing to move with the change, therefore, accept the change, or...well...it's not good to refuse change.

[bushido_man96]

It appears that the Soke has an important role, then, and perhaps should be reviewed as to who would replace him. That is, if you organization is determined to keep with the Okinawan tradition of things.

[JusticeZero]

Does, say, Boxing have a 'soke'?

[bushido_man96]

No, it doesn't, but it the big Boxing associations do have their hierarchies and the red tape that goes with it. It just depends on if you go to a Boxing club, or want to compete. The MAs can be the same way.