The role of Shingikai in Dan gradings.

We have assisted a number of grougps this year, in both being able to provide some background advice and in the production of senior grade Dan certificates.

Parker Shihan with his certificate

Firstly I'll share some background information around the general normal processes for Dan gradings, the alternative routes and when Shingikai and Honorary gradings may be considered. This may be a longer post, but hopefully it will provide information that may not be readily available.

Federations and larger Associations will normally have an official rule book, that sets out general rules, Instructor, Judge, Examiner status and qualification tests. They are likely to set out examination rules for both Dan and Kyu gradings. 

Smaller Associations and independant clubs may not have arrangements documented in the same way and may rely wholly on the Chief Instructor to make all necessary arrangements.

Looking specifically at Dan gradings, there are a few different routes: Examination, Recommendation or Honorary recommendation.

Dan grading by Examination : This is probably the most common, some groups will have a preferance of physical examination right up to 8th Dan, other groups may have a policy of Physical examimation up to 4th or 5th Dan and after that by recommendation.

Dan grade by Recommendation : A recommendation by  a senior dan grade (usually 4th to 8th  Dan) and approvals may be via a Headquarters Technical department or Board of Instructors. Criteria for Eligibility may be along the lines of a) Those who continue to train both themselves and juniors b) Those that have guided juniors and whose achievements are acknowledged and have merit c) Those who through training themselves have made great progress d) Those who are acknowledged as great contributors to the promotion and development of karate. Note: there is no difference in a certificate between a grading by examination or recommendation.

Honorary Dan grade : These can be awarded by the Chaiman or Executive Board  via recommendation by a senior Dan grade to those who have contributed greatly to the development of the group or as a acknowledgement of great service un related to karate. This would be like a University giving an Honourary degree to a Statesman or National celebrity. I believe President Trump was awarded an Honoray 7th Dan in TKD a few years back ....

This year I have had groups come to me wanting me to prepare an Honorary Dan grade certificates for them. When we have talked through what the award is recognising I have recommended that really Honorary grades are for non-karateka and that an older karateka who may, or may not be retired should be recognised by a normal Dan grade award.  

Certificate with three Shihgikai signature blocks

Shingikai translates as Council. The role of the Shingikai may be embedded in the group or external and advisory. A couple of examples that may help to explain ...

Promotion of a groups Chief Instructor ; A group of Senior members of the group typically 5th Dan and above, they may hold formal roles within the group e.g. Technical Director etc come togeather, they form the Shingikai and consider the recommendation and make arrangements to promote thier own Chief Instructor. If there were three or four of them they would all sign the certificate as Shingikai. The text of knaji that represents the groups name is amended to read the name followed by the kanji for Shingikai.

Certificate with four Shingikai signature blocks

Promotion of a Chief Instructor where there are not Senior Dan grades to form a Shingikai. I had a client this year that wanted to award Honoray Dan grades to two senior and very experienced karateka. They had discussed the proposal with a well known and highly respected 9th Dan who had decades of personal knowledge training alongside the two individuals. After about a thirty minute chat my advice was simple, it is not an Honorary grading they should be Dan grades by recommendation. The Very Senior Dan grade that was going to sign the awards is your groups Council and the authority to award is Shingikai. There is an important point to acknowledge here, the award is not made by the 9th Dan personally, it is awarded by the Group and in this case, the group's Shingikai.

Photo of completed certificate on special parchment card

If you would like to explore certificate options for your group just drop us a mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com

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