Amoung the many classical schools in Japan there are huge differences and variation in the grading systems. The following terms come from several schools:
- Nyūmon 入門 (entrance)
- Keppan 血判 (blood-oath)
- Okuiri 送入 (entrance)
- Kirigami 切り紙 (cut paper)
- Mokuroku 目録 (catelog)
- Menkyo 免許 (license)
Within these grades several level might be present:
- Shoden 初伝 (low transmission)
- Chūden 中伝 (middle transmission)
- Okuden 奥伝 (internal transmission)
- Gokui 極意 (secret)
- Kaiden 皆伝 (full transmission)
Combinations of these levels and terms is not uncommon: Menkyo chūgokui etc.
Menkyo kaiden 免許皆伝 mean licence of full transmission. This mean the practitioner was taught all the teachings of the school. One that has full transmission does not always “inherit” the school is every tradition. Different types of “inheritance” are possible between the schools:
- Fukanzen sōden 不完全相伝 (incomplete inheritance):
- the teacher can teach students to a certain level. Subsequent teachings are preserved for the soke (headmaster) of the school.
- the teacher can teach students the entire curriculum, but awarding a licence is only done by the soke (headmaster) of the school.
- Kanzen sōden 完全相伝 (complete inheritance):
- the teacher can teach students the entire curriculum and award one student with a licence of full transmission.
- the teacher can teach students the entire curriculum and award several students with a licence of full transmission. (this can be accompanied with the instruction to do so with some constraint).
In Mugai ryū Meishi-ha the main grading system is kyū/dan-grades, but menkyo are awarded to studentsthat have a high enough level and have trained for a long time.
More information:
- Mol, Serge (2013). Bujutsu Densho, Exploring the written tradition of Japan’s martial arts culture.
- Internet-artikel van D.F. Dreager
- Theory on Kyū 級, dan 段
