Creating my own style. Don't desire a higher rank. Possible?

[The Greatest Disciple]

So, I want to create my own style, my credentials and discussion about my style are not the subject. What I want is some feedback on my choice not to declare myself a 10th Dan. I will wear my black belt, which I have never put rank on, while in class. I will disclose my experience and achievements in all of my styles, and I will go without rank.

Is this wrong? Or should I find someone to promote me? I don't feel that the creator of a style needs a rank, but other people do. This has been bugging me for months now. Please no trolling.

[bushido_man96]

I don't think it would be necessary to promote yourself to a 10th dan rank to create your own style.

The question is, why create your own style? What's is the purpose, and what are your goals in doing this? With that said, do you plan to gain rank as you go, and if you do, will this be testing out in your new style, or by testing in whatever style(s) you are currently involved with from which your material comes?

Will you be testing the students for rank in your style? If so, you will need to be sure you are high enough rank that you can test students to a certain level. Or do you plan to use a ranking system at all?

Finally, if you do plan to test and rank your students, do you plan to provide certification of rank to them, and what steps will you take to ensure that their rank can be recognized?

It sounds to me like you've got a tall order. Best of luck in your endeavor.

[Wastelander]

I would ask how formal you want this style to be? Is it truly a cohesive curriculum that is different from those that currently exist that needs to have its own name, or is it just a blend of arts? If it doesn't need its own name, I would pick whatever style makes up the largest percentage of the curriculum, and just call it that with the subtitle of [Your Name]'s Method.

With regard to rank, I don't think that a founder of a style needs to claim any rank other than Founder of the Style, but you should certainly be up-front and clear about your experience and the ranks you have been given. They are automatically the highest ranking person in the system, so they can then grade people in their system to whatever rank they please. They can also forgo ranking entirely in their system. As far as I'm aware, karate masters of old did not have rank designations until groups of their students got together later and decided that their teacher should have X rank and title.

For what it's worth, I know one person who has created his own style. It is a blend of Trias Shorei-Ryu (AKA Shuri-Ryu), American Kenpo, and a variety of Chinese systems, and the diversity of these experiences caused the founder to make such substantial changes to everything that it became a cohesive system that is quite different from the systems that make it up. This is quite an undertaking, and requires massive amounts of knowledge and experience to accomplish. He also only claims the highest rank he was tested for (7th-dan), and he has such strict standards for his black belts that it takes 15 years to earn shodan, so he hasn't had the opportunity to test people for higher grades.

[mal103]

Is rank important to you, is it important to your students?

Personally I couldn't give 2 hoots about trophies, rank, badges, awards, etc so long as the MA is good.

As for creating a new style, why? Aren't there enough already? What can you bring to the large table of styles that is good, better, different?

Without being rude - what makes you soo special that you think you can create your own? What's wrong with the others?

I don't want to sound disrespectful there, it justs seems the first answer for most people who are higher up and unhappy about something, instead of pulling people together and working with it, a lot of people break out and form a new org/assoc/style. Making the whole more fragmented and confusing.

But to try and steer it back to your main question, I would be happy to train with someone who is good, rather than someone with an impressive looking CV (resume), if you were both then all the better. No doubt there will always be someone more interested in the structure/ranking, but each to their own.

Good luck!

[ps1]

The rank thing does not matter. My suggestion, if you're even curious at all about the whole 10th degree thing, would be to use a different ranking system all together.

Maybe have 5 phases (not belts). Phase 1 is beginner, phase 2 is novice, phase 3 is intermediate, phase 4 is advance, and phase 5 is instructor. Done.

I do agree with others, however. I think too many people believe that style=rigid system of doing things. That's not how I see it. For example. I'm quite sure, at 6'-230#, I do Shotokan differently than Funakoshi did it. I probably have different preferences and technique choices that he did. My angles are likely different. But that doesn't mean I'm not doing shotokan. It means I'm adapting shotokan to me, which is ultimately the piont.

Either way, no, you don't need to be a 10th dan, nor do I think you should say you are.

[lowereastside]

My 3 cents worth - creating your own style - its a personnel thing IMHO. Assuming that one understands what they are doing in the 1st place ( understanding the current style ) - go for it and good luck. The ranking issue can be a tricky thing - My Goju teacher left the parent organization and started USA Goju - and promoted himself to 10th Dan circa 1967 at age 33/34. While I respected the man for being my teacher and at 14 years old all I knew that he was a 10th Dan - WOW! I Don't agree that anyone at 33/34 years old should hold the rank of 10th Dan. Look I've seen a 20 year old start his own style and promote himself to 10th Dan. I'm not against promoting oneself - I'm against 7 year old Black Belts...30 year old 10th Dan's. Anyway - It's my opinion. The important thing is to pass on your knowledge and experience to your students. Many things have been said about my Goju Teacher some good some bad - However, the man imparted knowledge to me that I still carry with me today - and it went beyond pure technique or learning Kata- Peter Urban was one of a kind. Anyhow whatever you decide - Good Luck.

[The Greatest Disciple]

The rank thing does not matter. My suggestion, if you're even curious at all about the whole 10th degree thing, would be to use a different ranking system all together.

Maybe have 5 phases (not belts). Phase 1 is beginner, phase 2 is novice, phase 3 is intermediate, phase 4 is advance, and phase 5 is instructor. Done.

I do agree with others, however. I think too many people believe that style=rigid system of doing things. That's not how I see it. For example. I'm quite sure, at 6'-230#, I do Shotokan differently than Funakoshi did it. I probably have different preferences and technique choices that he did. My angles are likely different. But that doesn't mean I'm not doing shotokan. It means I'm adapting shotokan to me, which is ultimately the piont.

Either way, no, you don't need to be a 10th dan, nor do I think you should say you are.

The thing is, I want to do ranks to give students a goal and sense of progress. If I did it without rank or did it like your phases, it would be more or less MMA. I have fought in the cage, and I still prefer stand-up karate

My system is all mapped out from the kata to each individual technique. It will be very cerebral in that every class has a portion where theory will be discussed. This is no different than I teach now, but I hate that I have to teach kata that don't make a lot of sense. I have 13 kata in mind that are applicable to any situation. They are a collaboration from all my styles.

Unlike a lot of karate, I will have multiple throws, joint locks, and even pressure point techniques. My students will be able to fight in multiple arena with success.

I will still observe traditional customs from my other styles like bowing, Japanese terminology, and certain award ceremonies.

I have made up some very nice certificates and my belt system will be 5 colored belts with one stripe on each equalling my 10 kyu ranks. Those will be six months on each making it about a 5-6 year black belt. I am doing this because I hate all three of my current rank systems and the kata don't nessesarily sync up with the belts.

I think that about covers it. Let me know if I missed anything on the reason for my style.

[CredoTe]

Go for it... The proof is in the pudding, though (or on the floor for others... ). What I mean by that might be best explained through a few rhetorical questions:

When you create your own style / system, and thus break from the core MA style you're currently instructing, will the students follow you? Do they value your teaching methods, knowledge, experience, etc enough that they will follow you instead of looking elsewhere to continue in their core MA?

As some others have already posted, what would your style / system offer that existing MAs do not? Techniques / waza? Application, analysis, bunkai/oyo? Training methods? Goal / purpose - would your style / system aim solely for street-defense / life-death situations, solely for sport, or a combination of the two?

For instance:

My system is all mapped out from the kata to each individual technique. It will be very cerebral in that every class has a portion where theory will be discussed. This is no different than I teach now, but I hate that I have to teach kata that don't make a lot of sense. I have 13 kata in mind that are applicable to any situation. They are a collaboration from all my styles.

I totally agree with you when it comes to not teaching bunkai/oyo that do not make fighting sense. But in that, when I come across kata waza that do not make sense to me, I always ask myself, "is there someone more experienced than I that can explain a bunkai/oyo for this kata waza that makes fighting sense?"

Also:

Unlike a lot of karate, I will have multiple throws, joint locks, and even pressure point techniques. My students will be able to fight in multiple arena with success.

It's great that you have the skill / experience to teach throws, joint locks, etc. "Karate" schools that do not teach these skills (throws, joint locks, bars, grappling, etc), and thus are limited to stand-up distance fighting, do not remember the Te (Ti). A "complete life-cycle" of a fight includes stand-up distance fighting, moving to and through Iri kumi (in-fighting, not "continuous sparring"), and incorporates tegumi / tuite (throws, joint locks, bars, grappling, etc). Those MAs that have supplemented the "tegumi / tuite" part with an additional MA like judo, jujutsu, etc improve their chances of survival on the street by putting more tools in their arsenal.

Finally:

I have made up some very nice certificates and my belt system will be 5 colored belts with one stripe on each equalling my 10 kyu ranks. Those will be six months on each making it about a 5-6 year black belt. I am doing this because I hate all three of my current rank systems and the kata don't nessesarily sync up with the belts.

If I were a chief instructor, I would consider making my testing periods 6 months (we currently test every 4 months). One of my biggest peeves of MA are McDojo "Black Belt Factories" that pump out "black belts" every 2-3 years. In my area, there are several McDojos in which one of their main advertising points is "Get Your Black Belt in as Little as 2 YEARS!!!" Arrr... But anywhoo...

Also, as for kata requirements, our curriculum stresses quality of skill over quantity. Kata progression is somewhat slow in our dojo because of this. Most of our students are OK with this; the one or two students that have whined about not learning kata fast enough, are quickly reminded that they do not know everything they think they do, and that their kata always need work (mine too!).

So...

Is there any way to incorporate these things already without enraging your current organization? For instance, can you make the kyu system you described with (or without) the blessing of said organization? If you are able to do these things with the blessing (or without) of said organization, do you need to break off and form your own style / system?

Again, if deep in your heart you urge to create your own style / system, do it...

[Harkon72]

Bruce Lee never had any grade, no rank at all from anyone. He was taught two Wing Chun forms from Ip Man, and that's it! If you have the talent, go for it. Just expect to be tested and tested.

[The Greatest Disciple]

Is there any way to incorporate these things already without enraging your current organization? For instance, can you make the kyu system you described with (or without) the blessing of said organization? If you are able to do these things with the blessing (or without) of said organization, do you need to break off and form your own style / system?

Again, if deep in your heart you urge to create your own style / system, do it...

A appreciate that last part. Thank you for your detailed response. I talked it over with all of my instructors, and the belt rank cannot change ever. I was told by my Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu instructor, that once I receive a master rank in that system, I can do what kata in what order I want. As long as it doesn't vary greatly, I can change that, but belting must be determined by the Grandmaster of the United States, which is currently Frank Hargrove. He likes it the way it is.

In Judo, I am not a high enough rank to change anything, and in Kempo-Goju, "Change" is taboo. I would only be able to add a couple of basic techniques and change nothing else. I get it, they want their style the way it is.

So, none of them give me the freedom I need to change what I want, and what will be effective for my students.

Breaking down my ranking system, I will have it like this:

10th Kyu- Yellow Belt

09th Kyu- Yellow + Stripe

08th Kyu- Orange Belt

07th Kyu- Orange + Stripe

06th Kyu- Blue Belt

05th Kyu- Blue + Stripe

04th Kyu- Green Belt

03rd Kyu- Green + Stripe

02nd Kyu- Brown Belt

01st Kyu- Brown + Stripe

and so on and so forth. The earlier belts will have the very simple Goju Taikyoku kata, which take very little time. This will give me time to teach a lot of breakfalls, joint locks, throws, and obvious karate striking basics. Then when the intermediate belts come along, I can start teaching Judo and Shorin Ryu types of kata.

On the more advanced levels (from brown through black) I will teach what I feel are the most important advanced kata from each of my systems. 2nd and 3rd dan will be the ridiculous tournament-winning kata that take true skill to master. 4th will be where I encourage students to go to other schools by requiring a kata from a different art.

I have it all planned out, and I have the funds to set it in motion. If anyone doubts me, I can show them how I fight and how sharp my kata are. I know my stuff.