People end up heading up their own organizations for various reasons; the former head died or retired, they left their previous organization due to politics, geographic location did not make it feasible to stay with their previous organization, they are tired of the bs that comes along with some of the larger organizations, etc.
As the head of an organization I have seen people get promoted by other organizations or other high ranking masters from other organizations. On one hand, it is more generally accepted for someone to receive rank from a higher ranking martial artist of the same style. On the other hand, receiving rank from another organization that has different requirements, different views, different standards etc. seems to make receiving rank from another organization irrelevant.
I have also seen instances of people self-promoting when they founded their own organization. That generally isn't very well received by the martial arts community. My opinion of rank is that it is really only important within one's own organization. You can only compare your rank to others within your own organization. Comparing rank from one organization to another is like comparing apples to oranges, they all have different requirements. So if you decide to be a part of a particular organization, you are essentially agreeing that whomever is sitting at the top is the ultimate authority on what is being taught, what the rules are and what the promotion requirements are. Should they not be assuming the highest rank attainable? Regardless of how they got it?
The third instance I have seen is when a board of masters (of lower rank than the leader) decide that they all want to follow their leader and feel he/she should have the highest rank attainable, and they promote them as an organization. To me, this instance seems every bit as meaningful as being promoted by a higher ranking individual. Don't get me wrong, generally speaking I'm not in favor of groups of lower ranking black belts getting together and promoting their instructors to a higher rank. However, in the instance of an organization head being promoted by a group of masters that have dedicated their lives to an art, I think it is a different situation.
I have no judgement either way. I can see the pros and cons of each situation. I'm curious to hear others thoughts on this.
As the head of an organization I have seen people get promoted by other organizations or other high ranking masters from other organizations. On one hand, it is more generally accepted for someone to receive rank from a higher ranking martial artist of the same style. On the other hand, receiving rank from another organization that has different requirements, different views, different standards etc. seems to make receiving rank from another organization irrelevant.
I have also seen instances of people self-promoting when they founded their own organization. That generally isn't very well received by the martial arts community. My opinion of rank is that it is really only important within one's own organization. You can only compare your rank to others within your own organization. Comparing rank from one organization to another is like comparing apples to oranges, they all have different requirements. So if you decide to be a part of a particular organization, you are essentially agreeing that whomever is sitting at the top is the ultimate authority on what is being taught, what the rules are and what the promotion requirements are. Should they not be assuming the highest rank attainable? Regardless of how they got it?
The third instance I have seen is when a board of masters (of lower rank than the leader) decide that they all want to follow their leader and feel he/she should have the highest rank attainable, and they promote them as an organization. To me, this instance seems every bit as meaningful as being promoted by a higher ranking individual. Don't get me wrong, generally speaking I'm not in favor of groups of lower ranking black belts getting together and promoting their instructors to a higher rank. However, in the instance of an organization head being promoted by a group of masters that have dedicated their lives to an art, I think it is a different situation.
I have no judgement either way. I can see the pros and cons of each situation. I'm curious to hear others thoughts on this.