Menkyo kaiden

infobox martial art term
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kanji = 免許皆伝
hiragana = めんきょかいでん
revhep = menkyo kaidennihongo|Menkyo kaiden|免許皆伝 is a Japanese term meaning "license of total transmission." It is a certificate that is granted by a school, "ryū", or other organization meaning that the recipient has learned everything that the organization or school can teach, and is licensed to pass on all aspects of his training. [http://www.judoinfo.com/ranks.htm Ranking Systems in Modern Japanese Martial Arts: Modern vs. Classical] by Donn F. Draeger, Lecture on April 1, 1976] ]

Menkyo

In the older "menkyo" system of licenses and certificates that predates the more prevalent "kyū"/"dan" ("dan'i") system of colored belts created by Jigoro Kano in the 19th century for Kodokan judo, the "menkyo kaiden" is the highest level of license that exists, and the highest rank achievable under the "menkyo" system. Advancement of rank is not determined by years spent learning, but how well one masters the discipline. However, the transition from menkyo to kaiden may require many years depending on the particular school. A holder of a "menkyo kaiden" is often, but not always, the de facto successor to the "sōke" of the "ryū". Some schools that use the "dan'i" system still retain the "menkyo kaiden" as a method of denoting a successor to the head of the school. Schools that use a strict menkyo system do not make use of the colored belts most commonly seen in the dan'i systems.

Many Jujutsu schools still use the "menkyo" system.

Different "ryū" use different rankings; one outline is:
* "okuiri" : enter into art
* "mokuroku" : certificate : in official rolls
* "shomokuroku"
* "gomokuroku"
* "menkyo" : authorized to teach
* "kaiden"

See also

* Black belt (martial arts)
* Dan rank

References