Martial Arts Ranks and Titles by Grand Master Ronald Stone

Martial Arts Ranks and Titles by Grand Master Ronald Stone

          The martial arts as most everyone is aware were originally developed to train citizens for combat and self defense.  There is a reason they are called “martial” arts and that is because they are supposed to mirror the military.

          Just as in the military there is a code of conduct, and although many are not aware of it or simply choose to ignore it, there is also a code of conduct in the martial arts.

          In the military it is a known fact that while your family can call you General all they want inside your house, if your military rank is not truly that of a General it is a court martial offense to misrepresent your rank.  Even for those not in uniform to masquerade as a military officer or hero is considered the offense of stolen valor.

          In the martial arts there is a similar situation, and while it is not as well known in the West or often ignored, in Asia you can be stripped of your rank for impersonation, for falsely claiming rank, or for selling rank to others inappropriately.

          So, while you can choose to be called Grandmaster inside your own house or even your own school, that title and rank may not meet the true requirements internationally, especially in the country of origin.

          It is a litttle known fact for example that many of the most famous Karate experts of the 50s and 60’s who came back to America as “Grandmasters” and went on to start their own schools or even federations, actually received rank that essentially was only the equivalent to only a third dan in the country of origin.

          Most of these artists didn’t speak Japanese or Korean and when they were told that they were now “Grandmasters” didn’t understand the explanation that their rank was mean only for other countries, and was actually not valid for say, in Okinawa or Japan.

          Currently there are various degrees of rank that are recognized.  The first category is that where someone can hold “school rank” which is not officially recognized anywhere else outside one’s own dojo. 

          Next there is “National rank” where an organization has recognized the rank, but that is only valid within the country where it is being practiced and not necessaarily in the country of origin or anywhere else.

          Finally there is international rank which obviously is recognized by the country of origin’s headquarters and furthermore is recognized around the world.

          Failure to be acquainted with these categories can and has led to a lot of confusion, disappointment and sadly even outright fraud in the martial arts.

          The author knows for example of one well known “grandmaster” who is the head of a multimillion dollar federation. 

          This idividual, upon the death of the founder, while merely a lower dan rank, took over that style which the Korean government (which sanctions martial arts there), had never even registered or recognized as a true martial art. It had actually been classified merely as an art, like dance or ballet would be.  Upon arriveing in the United States he suddenly became a 9th dan head of a style whose history was unknown here.

          Over two decades ago I wrote how this person, had been stripped of his rank for selling dan belts simply for profit.  Since most in the States don’t speak Korean they weren’t aware of this fact (most still aren’t) but should they ever go to Korea or to an International Korean government sanctioned tournament or seminar, their school or their federation rank would be  considered worthless.

          Another famous Taekwondo expert whose memory  in the West is now almot revered, was in the past a military officer and a 4th dan who failed his exam to 5th dan.

           Since this embarrassment would have been a big strike against him in his miltary career he, in essence, deserted to the USA where he then self promoted himself to Grandmaster. 

          Even today most practitioners have little true knowledge of the country of origin’s requirements for the martial art they study, or in fact know that a martial sport is not the same as a martial art.

          Perhaps it would be wise here to also remind everyone of the five categories of martial arts.  They are:

1) Family arts

2) Tribal arts

3) Temple arts

4) Military arts

5) Martial sports

          Before proceeding it should be noted that the last category, that of martial sport, is not recognized in Asia as a true martial art.  To this day no matter what dan rank is held in a sporting art, the highest title given or used in the native language is “coach.”  To be a ninth dan in a martial sport still requires less knowledge than one who is a third don in a true “martial art.”

 Today most family arts are not fully recognized because the founder created a style based on their limited knowledge usually from their personal military experience and then taught it mainly (with some exceptions ) to members of his own family.

          Probably the sest example of this was beautifully captured in the first two Karate Kid movies.  In the first Mr. Miyagi explained to Daniel that he learned Karate from his father and in the sequel he explains that while Miyagido Karate was a family art, at his request his father taught it to his best friend Sato.

          As can be expected the other categories reflect the same confines of martial art instruction. 

          These facts are not “merely politics” any more than trying to claim to be a doctor without having graduated an accredited school or trying to practice law without a govenment recognized license. 

          The fact that our governement doesn’t get involved in the martial arts shouldn’t deminis the importance of legitimacy.

          Why, should this matter? Well inagine paying good money to learn baseball from a Hall of Fame player only to find out he was in the little league Hall of Fame and never even played in the Minors.

          How about hiring a lawyer to defend yourself in court only to learn that his certificate came from Kinkos not Harvard.

          Those of us who try to practice the arts legitimately and ethically are constantly amazed to meet Grandmasters under thirty years of age or Supreme Grandmaster 12 dans when the arts country of origin only recognized 9th or tenth dans.

          In order to combat such fraud and abuse one can only hope that transmitted the truth will help promote honesty and decency in our endeavors.   

About the author: R.W. Stone is currently a practicing veterinarian in Central Florida.  He is an avid horseman, a master ranked martial artist, a best-selling western author, and a firearms enthusiast. After joining a martial arts school in 1970 Stone started studying Yudo with a Korean grandmaster.  He eventually became a member of the Judo team of the University of Illinois.  It was at the University that a Korean classmate and friend introduced him to Tae Kwon do.  After graduating veterinary college, he found the martial arts becoming too sports oriented and eventually after moving from Miami to Central Florida he sought out a Hapkido grandmaster. Currently Stone is ranked 8th dan in Haemukwan Hapkido, a 4th dan in Daehan Yudo and a second dan in Kukki Taekwondo.  He is the Hapkido instructor at the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies.

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