I want it to be something external. Something that isn't just "I'm 4th degree because I think I am."
I thought about this last night on the way home from the dojo... I think I can help you out....What I was thinking is some sort of group with a relatively simple online video submission or something to that extent.
Get me video of you demonstrating the following:
- an escape from an outside wrist grab
- an escape from an inside wrist grab
- your V-Lock
- your Z-Lock
- 4 hip throws - each done from static, then done from a punch being thrown at you
- a hip throw to ground pin combination
- a standing choke (both people standing)
- a choke from ground fighting
- a combination that starts from an attacker grabbing your wrist, you use a wrist escape, into a wrist lock, into a hip throw, transition to a pin and finish with an arm bar
It won't be from a Danzan Ryu Organization.... but thats ok, as you don't want to be part of a Danzan Ryu organization. Further, you don't want to teach Danzan Ryu.... but your own style of martial arts.
While this sounds a bit on the cheesy side.... isn't this exactly what you are trying to do with Chung Do Kwan? Or Tang So Do? Or any of the others you mentioned.....? You want to come in, find out what you need to pass the test for 4th degree black belt. You want this to open your school, and teach your curriculum.... which is not KKW, not Chung Do Kwan, not Tang So Do and definitely not Danzan Ryu. You don't want to be part of their organization, you don't want to teach their curriculum, you don't want to teach their forms.... Nothing wrong with this. You have put together your curriculum, from your experience in the years you have been training martial arts. Go out and teach it.... don't let some piece of paper, from a organization you don't want to join, with a curriculum you don't want to teach and forms that you don't want to teach... hold you up from teaching your curriculum.
What if someone saw your class and asked about it here? We would say, he has a legitimate 3rd degree black belt in TKD, along with some BJJ experience and somehow is a 4th degree black belt in Danzan Ryu... now go check out his class, see how he teaches, feel the vibe from the class, look to see that his students are learning what he is teaching... if you like the classes, the people and the instructor, then start training.