American Rank System History
There are those who claim to have a problem with our ranking system. They claim that there is no system like it in Japan. Well, they are right. There is no system exactly like it in Japan. However, this "New American Standard" is based on the original ranks from Japan. Read on for the History of our Rank System:
The original rank system was based upon a basic four levels:
- Hinin - Common Person
- Deshi - Student
- Ninja/Shinobi/Kagebushi
- Meijin - Master
The title of Sensei was used for the teacher, and there were no sashes, belts, different colored Gi's, haircuts, nor shaved heads to differentiate rank. A master became grand master once he taught his student to master. The documentation of Konigun techniques in training manuals has required some techniques to be assigned to the grand master level of knowledge.
The birth of the American rank system can be found in the desire to compete in martial arts tournaments in the 1980's in which a novice, intermediate, and advance rank system was required for students to fit in the different tournament divisions. Konigun went through many changes in order to determine just the right combination for the American culture. The changes are documented in the following chart:
| 1984 | 1986 | 1989 | 1995 | 1996 | 2000 | 2006 | |
| White | Peasant | Peasant | Peasant | Hinin | Hinin | Hinin | Hinin |
| Gold | Lunsun | Lunsun | Lunsun | Shiroto | Shiroto | Shiroto | Shiroto |
| Orange | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Monto | Monto | (Not Used) | Monto* |
| Green | Tashin | Tashin | Tashin | Deshi | Deshi | Deshi | Deshi |
| Blue | Shote | Shote | Shote | Monjin | Monjin | Monjin | Monjin |
| Purple | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Shosei | Shosei | (Not Used) | Shosei* |
| Brown | Kilun | Kilun | Kilun | Senpai | Senpai | Senpai | Senpai |
| Grey | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Meiyobushi | Meiyobushi | Senshi* |
| Black 1 | Sensei | Musha | Musha | Bushi/Musha | Bushi/Musha | Bushi/Musha | Bushi/Musha |
| Black 2 | Samurai | Samurai | Samurai | Samurai | Samurai | Samurai | Samurai |
| Black 3 | Master | Master | Master | Yoshi | Yoshi | Yoshi | Yoshi |
| Black 4 | Ninja | Ninja | Ninja | Taibushi | Taibushi | Taibushi | Taibushi |
| Black 5 | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Manin | Kagebushi | Kagebushi/ Kunoichi | Kagebushi/ Kunoichi | Kagebushi/ Kunoichi |
| Black 6 | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Jonin | Meijin | Yamabushi* | Yamabushi* | Yamabushi |
| Black 7 | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Chunin | Taishu | Meijin/Miko | Meijin/Miko | Meijin/Miko |
| Black 8 | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Shidoshi | Shidoshu | Taishu | Taishu | Taishu |
| Black 9 | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | (Not Used) | Shidoshi | Shidoshi | Shidoshi | Shidoshi |
| * denotes an honorary rank | |||||||
1984
The Chinese and Japanese names of the ranks were given to honor the masters who contributed to the creation of the techniques being taught at the different levels of study. Once you became a black sash and had the credentials to teach students you were called sensei. During your second level of black sash training you concentrated on the study of the sword, (curved and then straight), which allowed Konigun an excellent opportunity to honor our Samurai heritage while also detailing the main topic of study. The title of master was given at this time, once you had mastered basic taijutsu (hand and foot techniques) which allowed you to concentrate on the advanced knowledge required for the rank of ninja. The rank of Ninja was only given once you had completed all the techniques of Konigun and during this time frame there was no need for the rank of Meijin in America.
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1986
A warrior class was created, so the term Musha replaced the term Sensei.
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1989
The terms Manin (another name for agent like the Genin), Jonin(Ninja Leader), Chunin(Ninja co-director leader), Shidoshi(Director) were added to the rank system because of the need for mid level management to maintain the training standards of the different states. Other Ninja Ryu actually reverse the terms Jonin and Chunin and have them represent leader and co-leader.
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1995
Attempting to adapt to the American need for visual reward of progression rather than the attainment of knowledge, the rank system and corresponding information was broken down into smaller more efficient units which would allow American students and their parents the ability see their advancement through the ranks in a more timely manner.
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1996
The term Meiyobushi was added to denote an honorary Black sash for those students who were pledged to achieve the rank of Bushi. Kunoichi is a female term for Kagebushi. Yamabushi was added as an honorary rank to act as a buffer between junior Kagebushi and senior Kagebushi. A Kagebushi was awarded Yamabushi after 5 years as a Kagebushi or after a very honorable act such as saving a baby from a burning building. Miko is a female form of master, and the term Taishu was added to the Konigun lexicon in America, because students were finally in a position to create their own masters.
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2000
The information within the ranks of Monto and Shosei was distributed within the other ranks in order to even out the number of categories required for each rank.
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2006
The rank system reintroduced the titles of Monto(beginner), Shosei(advanced), and Senshi(instructor) to recognize the hard work that many students have put into previous styles and to let other Konigun students know of their past experience and different abilities. These ranks are honorary until they achieve the corresponding level within Konigun rank system. The rank of Yamabushi was added as an official rank to act as a halfway point, because of the massive amount of information which existed between Kagebushi and Meijin.
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