Dale Seago
Black Belt
Shogun said:What "rank" do you have to be to teach Bujinkan arts? I keep hearing Godan (5th degree) but all the instructors in my state are shodan, nidan, or sandan.....what gives?
There are two instructor categories, Shidoshi and Shidoshi-ho. A Shidoshi is someone at 5th dan or above, and these folks are authorized to have their own dojo.
A Shidoshi-ho or "junior-grade" instructor is someone at 1st through 4th dan who is teaching with the permission, and under the guidance, of a shidoshi. Once you reach 5th dan you ain't gotta be nobody's -ho, no mo'.
According to the paperwork I have from the Hombu, both Shidoshi and Shidoshi-ho are required to be members of the Bujinkan Shidoshikai and to renew their Shidoshikai membership cards each year. If they don't do that, they're teaching without authorization.
You can see pictures of the pertinent documents on the FAQ page at Luke Molitor's site, http://www.jigokudojo.com/