דרגות בבוג'ינקאן
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In general, each martial art organization designs its own rank structure, and is used as a measure of progress within that organization. If a black belt in karate were to join an aikido dojo, they should not expect to remain a black belt at that dojo. They are two different arts with their own distinct cultures and methodologies. Rank is only valid within the organization and/or dojo it was given. As a whole, martial rank in the West is thought of as degrees of achievement, much like academics. A student spends a certain amount of time studying a certain subject, and based on the time and effort involved earns a degree. As the student gains more knowledge and insight in their respective programs, they receive higher degrees – bachelor, master's, PhD, and so on. Rank in Japan , as a general rule, conforms to a different set of criteria. It is given as a way to encourage the student to further their studies. For instance, you begin training at a dojo and after two years your instructor gives you a black belt, telling you that you have worked hard over the years and to keep studying. As a student, instead of thinking you've earned something, you see it as a burden and commit to training harder in order to live up to the expectations of that rank. A few years later your instructor comes over and informs you that you've been an extremely dedicated student and gives you a higher rank. Now you feel just as you thought you were growing into your first rank, you have to live up to this higher standard - so you study twice as hard in order to live up to your instructor's expectations. Essentially a student is awarded rank not for achievement, rather as encouragement to keep going and not give up his training. This concept is important in that it de-emphasizes rank, freeing the practitioner to explore, without limits, the vast, sophisticated teachings contained in the Bujinkan Dojo; in addition to ensuring the practitioner, even if they hold judan level menkyo, continues to study and further their knowledge under Dr. Hatsumi. Training for warfare cannot be taken lightly! Training and studying daily to enhance your knowledge and abilities is of paramount importance, not just studying for the sake of rank. Rank will not help you in resolving conflicts! The awareness, knowledge, and skills you acquire through hard, diligent training will. Someone who has ‘graduated' from a martial arts program, or feels they have mastered the teachings, is effectively saying they have learned all they want or need to know and has given up training in order to pursue other endeavors. However, in training for combat, one never ‘graduates.' One must continually pursue training and studying, ever increasing one's physical, mental, and spiritual threshold. To not do so is tantamount to death. Someone who claim's to have ‘mastered' or ‘graduated' does themselves, and more importantly, their students a grave disservice by not furthering their own knowledge and experience. Consequently withering away, taking their students with them. At the Jigoku Dojo, ranking is conducted in the same fashion as the dojo in Japan . A student is evaluated daily for their progress and receives rank according to their daily performance and as encouragement to keep persevering through the training. All too often, students who train according to a rigid curriculum structure often focus on only what is necessary for passing the next rank instead of focusing when placed under physical or emotional duress.