Mountain Warriors Grading System
The grading system of our school is much like any modern budo school in that not only does it include tides and grades from Shodan but that it also has a system of coloured belts as a basis of the system. It also uses the tides of Tashi, Renshi Kyoshi, and Shihan as well as Sempai and Sensei.
It also encourages the student to include not only the study of the physical techniques of the art they are studying but aspects of academic study with regard to history, philosophy and warrior myth and mysticism in the form of short essays and lectures in keeping with their training.
Belts to black
| Belt colour | Significance |
|---|---|
| White purity | soul in heaven |
| Red blood | birth in matter |
| Yellow light | learning about life |
| Orange blossom | realisation of ignorance |
| Green trees and grass | appreciation of knowledge |
| Blue water | reflection on past |
| Brown earth | contemplation on future |
Black belt and Beyond
| Grade | Title |
|---|---|
| Black (Shodan ho) death/reunion with creator | Sempai |
| Shodan oku-iri / entrance to secrets | Sensei |
| Nidan moku-roku / catalogued | Sensei |
| Sandan Shidoshi-ho / menkyo | Tashi |
| Yondan licensed probationary teacher of the warrior arts | Renshi |
| Godan Shidoshi kaiden / teacher of the warrior arts | Shidoshi |
| Rokudan everything passed | Shihan |
| Sichidan Full Circle, menkyo kaiden | Shihan |
Grading Examinations and Tests
Many subjects exist that require some sort of test of ability'. Whilst the grading examination should contain such tests they should also contain elements that reflect the curriculum much more fully and having a deeper meaning for the student. This action of including these subjects enables us to make sure the grading becomes an initiation or rite of passage. For such were the ritual selection tests for aspiring members of the warrior caste.
The lesson of the belts should be explained and demonstrated showing how all grades within the system, from the highest to the lowest are connected to one another. This also teaches the student the importance we place upon fraternal love and support, as well as our disregard for ego and pride in our degree of learning.
Introduction to syllabus
The curriculum of Mountain Warriors Jiu Tai Jutsu is vast and complex yet every effort has been made to present the various skills, strategies and techniques, in a simple manner. Advantage can be taken of modern educational methods yet at the same time we can preserve traditional approaches and teachings. As a result of the diversity' of skills which go into the making of our particular Ryu, it is obvious that students will tend to be more proficient in some areas than in others. It follows therefore that they should be examined in the general sense taking into account both their strengths and their weakness, and that examiners should endeavour to inform the instructors as to what specific areas may need extra work. The award of a particular grade is not built on a rigid set of principles, although the grade descriptions must be taken as a guideline, rather, grades are awarded on a combination of technical skill, knowledge, personal qualities and development.
All people tend to differ, perhaps in some small way. Physically, mentally,
spiritually and so will their technical ability'. While we believe that rules
are not made to be broken, they' can most certainly be bent a little, and
even light itself must sometimes bend in order to eventually reach its desired
destination. If we all have mutual love, respect and understanding then there
is absolutely no limit to what we can accomplish.