Some personal thoughts on the grading system.... Sometimes I wonder what is going on in the world. Take this grading lark for example. I am sure that we have all heard stories of 21 year old fifth Dan's; people creating their own styles and awarding themselves eighth and even tenth Dan's, or instructors giving gradings to their favourite students and failing other, better students. Good Lord, even Elvis passed his sixth Dan (or something like it) on this basis. Given all this nonsense that surrounds the awarding of grades to students, one cannot help but notice the serious problems associated with the present grading system. Indeed, one can be forgiven for questioning the validity of the system per se. After all, if you practice some styles or with some instructors, you can pass your first degree black belt in one or two years, whilst with other organisations or instructors it could take the same student five or even ten years to attain to shodan. The grading system as we know it was introduced into karate-do from Judo (for a variety of reasons) and now each kyu grade takes a test every three to six months until he or she attains to shodan when tests are taken at longer intervals. However, until the 1950's there were no gradings as such. In an interview for 'Fighting Arts International' Higaonna Sensei was asked if he remembered his shodan test. Sensei responded by stating "I didn't take a test in order to get my black belt....In 1958 Senior Chief Eiichi Miyazato gave me the black belt as a mere recognition of my training, nothing else". In fact, when Sensei took his first grading he was awarded Sandan (Third degree black belt) by the Okinawa Karate Federation. Similarly, in a Fighting Arts International article Teruo Chinen Sensei stated that his teachers never spoke of grades or belts. He emphatically pointed out that "we cared about karate, not rank". He was also awarded a black belt in 1958 by Eiichi Miyazato before he (Chinen) left to teach in Tokyo. He received no certificate and no rank was specified. It was not until 1974 that Chinen Sensei was presented with a certificate indicating that he had achieved the rank of Rokudan (Sixth Dan). One could not say that either Higaonna Sensei or Chinen Sensei was "better" at karate-do the day after they received their certificates than they were the day before. Thus, it could be argued that the rank an individual holds is not necessarily an indication of their true ability. However, it should be noted that at this time the grading system was only just being introduced into karate-do. Currently, of course, it is generally accepted that the coloured belt grading system gives a reasonable indication of an individuals ability. However, one of the problems that can arise is that students of karate-do begin to see the passing of gradings as the main objective. Thus, students may attempt to acquire mere technical skill and learn only these techniques or kata that they require in order to pass their next grading. This can lead to a very superficial understanding of what karate-do is all about. Moreover, karate-do is about more than mere technical ability. It is also about developing inner maturity. Anyone can develop high levels of skill with the right amount of training, but if the techniques that are learnt are based on such shallow qualities as pride, greed, insincerity and so on they have little or no value to the sincere student of karate-do. Physical prowess does not necessarily mean that a student has become a better person, or indeed is a very nice person at all. Miyagi Chojun Sensei, the founder of Goju-Ryu maintained that "the ultimate aim of karate-do was to build character, conquer human misery and find spiritual freedom". (Taken from "Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts Vol. 2 - P. McCarthy). Higaonna Sensei echoes this sentiment when he points out that "karate is very difficult, very hard, and through training on discovers the correct way to live." (Taken from "Conversations with Karate Masters" - C. Layton). However, notwithstanding the above comments, it is possible to practice karate-do and pass gradings based on technical ability alone. Higaonna Sensei has stated that "In the IOGKF 5th Dan is generally regarded as the minimum qualification for the title of 'Master'...(However).... not all 5th Dan's are Masters". (Conversations with Karate Masters - C. Layton). It is quite clear then, that karate is about more that physical prowess, more than just kick, punch, grunt. It is also about developing the mental and spiritual facets of our nature. Indeed, in the first lines of Miyagi Chojuns "An Outline of Karate-do" he points out that "the purpose of karate-do is often misunderstood by those who watch exhibitions of board-breaking and brick-breaking. This is not karate-do. In times of peace, karate-do should be pursued for its non-utilitarian purpose, such as training the mind." Higaonna Sensei illustrates this point most eloquently when he likens the karate-do student to a diamond. When diamonds are first dug from the ground they are rough and dull but with polishing they sparkle like nothing else on earth. We can look at the human situation in a similar fashion. Human being have the capacity to perform the most basic acts and are capable of behaving in the most despicable ways ranging from petty bickering to the torture and murder of fellow human beings. On the other hand, however, we have the ability to shine with all the brilliance and lustre of the most perfect of diamonds. We can achieve this by training with our hearts and minds not just our muscles (sounds trite, but it is true). We must attempt to transcend ego driven behaviour based on pride, jealousy and greed, etc., and concentrate on our inner development in order to become "good" individuals. Tyrants, despots and petty dictators are loathed and despised the world over, but truly "good" people are liked, even worshipped and venerated. Is it not better then, to become a "good" person? One of Higaonna Sensei's expressed wishes is to "....make good instructors for the next generations. I want my karate to develop good human beings.....mind, body and etiquette.....not only good fighters, not only technicians." However, to become a good human being is difficult and may take a lifetime to achieve. Indeed we may never achieve this ideal state. But surely it is better to be a discontented Socrates, constantly searching, constantly striving to become a better person, than to be a contented pig wallowing in the filth of reviled behaviour which is based on a bully-boy mentality laced with pride, prejudice and a complete disregard for others. It seems to me that there are three aspects to karate-do: mind, body and spirit, and we must be careful not to over-emphasise one aspect at the expense of the other two. We can do this by training for the "right" reasons and with the correct attitude, but all too often our ego's raise their ugly heads and all we aspire to is passing our next grading. Thus, it may be that the grading system actually encourages egotistical behaviour. Funakoshi Gichin, the founder of Shotokan Karate has pointed out that when a student passes hi or her shodan they may shout it from the rooftops. However, if that student trains with the correct attitude when he or she passes the nidan test they will quietly tell their close friends and family and when they pass their sandan they will walk in the shadows or close to the wall and hope that no-one notices them. Training with the proper attitude helps foster the good qualities that all the great karate-do masters display, such as modesty and humility. If a student trains with a poor attitude and is concerned solely with passing gradings he or she may develop into little more than a showman or braggart. The excellent technician who displays an abundance of physical prowess but lacks the mental spiritual qualities that truly great karate masters so often display is like the character in the play by Faust who laments "here I stand a simple fool and am no wiser than before", and yet this is not the most unfortunate aspect of this scenario. The most unfortunate consequence of neglecting ones mental and spiritual training is that once an individual's abilities begin to fade (as they inevitably do) that individual has little or nothing to offer young up and coming karate-do students. Alas, our simple fool. As his or her physical ability fades so does the respect that is shown to them by their peers until eventually they fall into obscurity like a forgotten boxer or half remembered athlete. In the final analysis I am sure that most people would agree that the current grading system is a useful indicator of an individuals ability and can act as an incentive to students, encouraging them to train hard and diligently and indeed, rewarding them for doing so. Unfortunately the system can have regrettable consequences and often does not take into account a students mental and spiritual development. It is vitally important therefore to remember that in karate-do the ultimate goal is the attainment of a developed moral character built through hard and diligent training. Unfortunately, the grading system cannot guarantee this and so, whilst it is good to pass gradings, developing our inner self is better. Brian Tune, Brown Belt Return to top | Home | Articles