Blog: A Rambling About Rank
During a conversation with buyu after training recently, we talked about the role of rank. In the Bujinkan, "sakizuke" (先付け) is a concept discussed concerning the timing of rank. In general, it describes the practice of recognizing a student with a rank in advance of full technical mastery of that rank’s perceived requirements.
Understanding sakizuke is relevant to interpreting what a Bujinkan rank may or may not represent. Perhaps rank given under the sakizuke concept reflects recognition of consistency and persistence in training. This could mean advancement is not granted solely on the basis of skill, flow, or technical polish (although it can be). Instead, rank may be used to recognize a student’s dedication and the distance they have traveled from their own starting point, a judgment left to the instructor.
Rank is a great motivator while skill, capability, capacity, and a student's consistent persistency "muscles" grow and form. Once in place, rank is usually not the driving factor for training anymore. That doesn't mean ignoring rank, as it has other beneficial roles (shows you are part of the training community, where you are in your musha shugyo, having responsibility for others, etc.).
Jealousy in rank can happen too. Why did someone else get promoted and not me? In those moments when the human ego becomes a tengu and grows its nose, stay motivated by the old adage: "Tend your own garden". Or for more motivation, reflect on Jocko Willink's guidance: "Good. More time to get better." (https://youtu.be/IdTMDpizis8)
Similarly, comparing rank from one teacher to another, or one system to another, brings little value. The cycles put into lambasting and complaining about perceived faults or strengths of budo styles could have been used for training and mat time instead. (A friend's challenge coin sums it up nicely: Don't be bothered by it. "Zero Foxtrot.")
Some reach a point in their training where rank is no longer the main motivation at all. This is totally acceptable and arguably the sign of someone who has migrated to becoming a committed practitioner, free and motivated solely by the training "bug". Caution is required though; claiming you "don't care about rank" shouldn't become an excuse to ignore responsibilities, recognitions, the role as a training partner, or self-growth. Neglecting those obligations would be foolish, no different than deciding you suddenly don't care about your family, friends, career, or health. In this way, Hatsumi Soke's use of the sakizuke concept in the Bujinkan's rank structure may be genius, as he has given us a way to practice "ukemi" in life (through the practice of receiving rank) and learning to become a better person from it.
In the end, perhaps be motivated by a Japanese Shihan's comment about Bujinkan rank: "No ceremony, just keep going". He didn't say don't be proud of it, don't be humbled by it, or don't use it as motivation; as those take away from the human condition. (Do those things!) Instead he used wiser words, and reminded us the core reason for training: just keep going.
Bufu ikkan!
