Promotions, Ranks and Attire in the Nakayamakai by Fr D.H. Skoyles SSC
I have been asked on many occasions, by outsiders as well as by members of
the Nakayamakai, about grading in our organization. Yoshimitsu Yamada sensei
8th Dan Aikikai Shihan and founder and Chief Instructor of the New York
Aikikai in the document below addresses many of the problems Nakayama Goichi
Okina and I (in consultation with others) considered when Nakayama sensei
allowed us the use of his name for our organization in 1988. Yamada sensei’s
concerns, though not his solutions, were similar to ours. Yamada sensei,
wrote the following in Budo International, quoted in Aikido Online in an
article entitled 'The Issue of Competition in Aikido'.
The Issue of Competition in Aikido
Nowadays, in our society, we are surrounded by competition and power
struggles. We are bogged down by competition in so many ways, both subtle
and obvious, whether in our professional lives, our family dynamics, or among
our friends. It's our exercise not to be competitive, to not compare
ourselves to others.
Unfortunately, even in Aikido, there is certain competitiveness among
Aikidoists. It's in the Dan grading or ranking system as a whole. If I
weren't not part of the Aikikai organization or if I were the great master,
who would be in a position to create a new Dan system, this is what I'd do:
Our Rank System
First of all, I would completely eliminate the black belt degrees; Once you
reach black belt, not by examination but, by recommendation by the master,
there would be no such thing as 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree black belt, etc. Once
you reach black belt, after that it's obvious to everybody how well he or she
is improving. Instead of giving them higher rank, we see them develop
without their degree number going up.
Not only would this be freeing for the practitioner, it would eliminate the
feeling of competing with others. The bottom line is that within each rank
you might have a talented student and a less talented student. Already,
there is a discrepancy. It makes the rank seem like an illusion.
Additionally, part of the system I would create would be to have the master
give the students, when appropriate, the status of Fukushidoin (assistant
instructor), then Shidoin (instructor or sensei), and Shihan (master).
As I understand, the Aikido founder, O-Sensei, didn't even care about rank
numbers. Nevertheless, they needed a system for commercial reasons, to
promote and spread the art of Aikido, as well as create a business to earn
money. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense for students to pay more money
each time they get promoted and pay even more money as they advance in rank.
After graduating college, you don't pay tuition or money for the diploma or
paper. You get the piece of paper or diploma based on what you learned and
tuition that you already spent. That should be enough, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, I am not too optimistic about the future of the Aikido
movement. You never know, people might create several different systems so
that they can create a system of competition. I just hope if you really love
Aikido, just stick with it and follow an appropriate or good instructor with
good principles. If not, it's the end of the spirit of Budo that the founder
of Aikido had in mind.
Nakayamakai Principle 5
In the Nakayamakai Ten Principles it states 5. No signs of rank may be
employed (Our only recognition or promotion is by a series of licences
[menkyo] ). These are of various types. When a person tries our practice he
or she signs only a legal release. Soon, if he or she desires to join us, a
pledge [seigan] (in lieu of the ancient schools’ “blood oath” [keppan]) is
signed. This is renewed yearly. The First Menkyo states that the student
has made a solid start in our Way. It is perhaps the equivalent of a first
degree black belt [shodan] but because it is given, as Yamada sensei puts it,
“by recommendation” not by passing some test, serving a certain length of
time or even memorizing a number of kata, it is not a reward or prize but a
recognition of having grasped the heart of our Way. A Limited Teaching
Certificate, permitting a person to teach certain aspects of our Way, may be
given. The person so licensed may be termed kyoshi and addressed as
“kyoshi-san” [instructor] if desired. Instructors may wear a black formal
jacket [monsuki] with one badge of the Nakayama clan in the middle of the
back on formal occasions but under no circumstances are any other
distinctions in garb to be allowed. The higher menkyo have not yet been
given though they have been designed.
Dojo Attire
Our clothes for practice are not uniforms for we are not a military, para-,
quasi- or pseudo-military organization. We practice as civilians. The
normal outfit is practice jacket [uwagi], divided skirt [hakama], and belt
[obi] in any tasteful and preferably traditional colour. The older wide soft
obi is to be preferred over the modern stiff one as it holds the sword more
securely. Patches, signs, names and other decoration are not encouraged.
Similarly one’s sheath [saya] should be simple and unadorned.
When visiting other dojo only what is worn there should be worn. All members
of the Nakayamakai wear white belts and common white practice uniform [gi],
probably without hakama unless required, in other dojo. Humility, love and
common sense dictate that we not draw attention to ourselves nor criticize
others even in our garb.
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