As a messy post as it was, I was trying awkwardly to say that rank (military; Lieut. Capt. etc.) wasn't whipped up in the kitchen, and that Dan/Kyu rank was in some terms. I am not criticizing the purpose for what Kano instituted in his rank system, or those who honor the system and not abuse it as originally intended. Military rank has serious responsibility behind it, different then that of the martial arts propose it to be. Even though there is some mirroring between the two. But, martial arts rank is pretty much given for whatever any reason anyone wants to put behind it. There are places where 10 year old kids have black belts, and worse despite the novelity one guy given his chimp a black belt. Because of this, we are now discussing the martial art ranks worth. Licenses and scrolls are in the same boat, and can be whipped up in the kitchen. You have people calling themselves hanshi, ranchi, soke, dokey, professing in all sorts of ways. And there are those who have this or that scroll, or menyo this or menyo that of medicore skill and questionable origins at the best. Lots of people get star struck by all this taking it all at face value without really stopping to think about it. Then low and behold this gives these guys more reason to continue to bastardize martial arts rank. Concerning the relationship of politics, titles, and rank there is a huge dynamic on a whole new level. For both reasons is why the topic of titles being important or not will always be discussed.
Thanks.
