Transferring your rank over from another governing body?

[hammer]

Been thinking about this lately...while I'm not concerned about going to a White Belt, I'd hope that after 14 years experience in a different style (TKD) that at least some skills and techniques would transfer over and I could advance quickly to the appropriate rank for my skills.

[kensei]

If you are training in a Shotokan group based off of the JKA style of Shotokan like the ISKF, IKD, ITKF, Ext and so on then the ranking is more than likely going to be respected and you can "wear" it till you are ready to grade for the next level, generally speaking.

I have seen some instructors act like baby's and suggest that just because you are not from their system of JKA related Karate that you are not going to wear a black belt in their school, even though they were ISKF and my student was JKA...which kind of is silly seeing as the ISKF comes from teh JKA. I suggested that my student remind the instructor, who was one rank above him that he was "JKA-light" and see if he got mad....I like to poke the bear!

The fact is that unless you come from a different system that does not know the Kata or has different Kata the cross over is huge. I can see a TKD or Goju guy being asked to start from scratch, but really a shotokan guy that has a Nidan should be welcome as a Nidan in any shotokan club....maybe some extra long time between gradings if the system is different like Asai Ryu or something. But the fact is we train in the same style.

Standards are a different thing all together, I have seen some guys come from Shotokan groups that were NOT up to the same standards, but that is a dojo thing....not an organization thing.

If your new "home" does not allow you to wear your earned rank...and you have not been off training as smoeone suggested....find a new home..this one is to darn picky!

[devil dog]

I would have the new association call my last school for proof of rank. It is common place for us to ask for their rank certifications to keep on file but there has been an instant or two when the student did not have the certifications.

However we do not rely on their certifications for rank qualification. We still test them and qualify their rank. If they do not measure up they keep their present certifications but they have to wear the rank that they qualify for at in our school.

I'm sure it's difficult to go from a Shodan to a Nikyu but if the correct attitude is taken they get more out of it and are better for the experience.

We actually keep copies of all certificates and record books so our students never have this issue. I have been called a few times by other schools and organizations to provide proof of a students rank and it is nothing more than scanning and e-mailing the credentials to their new school. On most occasions it's nothing more than a short phone call without having to send anything.

Bottom line is if your truely the rank you claim to be it will show whether you have the paper work or not.

[DoctorQui]

OP, if you go to the club with the intention of wearing a white belt and starting again, then this humble approach may pay off. I moved from Wado Ryu to Shotokan and turned up in a white belt. After the first lesson, Sensei saw that I had experience asked the question and told me I could keep my rank as I had clearly earned it (his words) and that I could pick up the style differences in retrospect.

Always be humble, don't go in with any expectation of special treatment.

[wagnerk]

...Karate is too hung up on rank rather than actual working knowledge and ability, as is displayed by some of the answers in this forum.

Please don't take it that all styles/associations/clubs are like this, because they ain't. I've practiced with groups that are like this but I'm trained with groups that aren't.

[Nidan Melbourne]

...Karate is too hung up on rank rather than actual working knowledge and ability, as is displayed by some of the answers in this forum.

Please don't take it that all styles/associations/clubs are like this, because they ain't. I've practiced with groups that are like this but I'm trained with groups that aren't.

I agree with you on that one wagnerk. Every school is different and that they have forgotten why most martial arts use the belt system.

it is really just to show where you are at in terms of knowledge and remind people who have 'seniority'. And it also helps instructors remind students that they should be a lot more proficient in their skills than they would be if they're slacking off

[sensei8]

What Jigaro came up with was a solid interpretation under the guidelines as set forth. But, what's happened ever since the creation has slowly turned into a tragedy, imho!!