Soke Masaaki Hatsumi initiated the kyu and dan grading system of the bujinkan dojo upon its inception. Unfortunately he did not give any of his teachers a defined curriculum for each level other than... "Teach what I teach you, teach the Ten Chi Jin no Maki". Each teacher was instructed to create a curriculum for his dojo as he understood it... well at least I was, and that was certainly a long time ago.

Hatsumi Sensei teaches us that ranking is a tool used for a students or teachers growth not the object there of. He has stated that he approaches this art as a "doctor" and simply wants to heal people. We know him as a master at deciphering what a person needs (where he is sick) and teaching the appropriate kata (prescribing the appropriate cure). Our nine ryu are filled with numerous "prescriptions" for our practitioner and no two are "sick" in the same way. The objective of the training is to cure the student of his limitations not teach him or her all the available forms (pharmaceuticals). If the student wishes to become a teacher, a master of history or the historical forms or a truly gifted and or dangerous martial arts practioner, he will now have the ability to choose so. A healthy, thinking, coordinated, balanced athlete can learn any physical skill desired.
Hatsumi Soke's art is attempting to create self reliant, self sufficient and self motivated individuals. The art stresses responsibility and ultimate personal control of one's body, mind, emotions and energy. Clearly, the art is here to provide information and guidance to the highest levels of combative possibility as our Soke so aptly demonstrates. Yet Hatsumi Sensei has stated over and over that martial arts are used for killing or for avoiding death. Belts, ranks, katas, lists... our art is beyond all of these notions. Our art is formlessness, about limitless potential, about using "no way as the way". Is this not the highest level "physical" martial arts can attain and naturally shouldn't this be the most basic goal of the Bujinkan and it's would be Master?

This I believe is our simple objective as Hatsumi Soke has asserted... now here is where the "discussions" usually begin to take shape. The teachers of the Bujinkan will then naturally grade in many different ways as stated above and also simply because they themselves are at so many different levels. One may be at the "form level" and involved with the many forms and therefore his students are assessed at that level and with that in mind. Another teacher is in the "freedom and potential mind" and therefore his students are influenced at a much different level. Some teachers have extensive written tests, some none at all - some have exhaustive memorization of numerous kata and some allow the use of note and notebooks at a testing occasion. Some Shidoshi have structured grading two or three times per year with a fixed curriculum and some may suddenly award a student without notice, as he has already assessed what the student is capable of and "filled in the gaps".

Regardless of the approach, the basic notions of rank should be considered carefully. Along with that idea, there are three levels of process for the student to embrace: learning the basics / manipulating the basics freely / freeing one's self from the nature of the basics. This process will continue as long as you are actively involved in any process of learning with a teacher. Let's also remember that it is this way (seemingly unorganized and unrestrained teachers and curriculum) for a reason - Hatsumi Sensei is teaching the teachers primarily at the tenth Dan level and above; and understanding the nature of ranking people, under any circumstances is a terrible disease teachers must understand for their own growth to continue. Teachers face this type of natural danger every day they attempt to help others and many are poisoned slowly and surely unbeknownst to themselves or their students.

Grades therefore can be a controversial subject in the Bujinkan Dojo system for these and many other reasons. Some people take the papers, patches and cloth very seriously and some simply do not. Both viewpoints should be considered and a mindset of proper balance should be achieved. Getting a black belt in the Bujinkan can be simple or it can be difficult, depending on the nature of the student or the instructor, how much time spent on training, seminars, natural ability etc. Let's also remember, as human nature dictates, some students lie, cheat, steal or pay for recognition as well, caring little about true martial art prowess or mastery of true Bujinkan taijutsu and its methods - which should clearly be the goal of our training.

Grading "value" will then differ from teacher to teacher and must be reviewed carefully as to what one is being graded for and by whom. Getting the desired shodan grade normally takes three to five years regardless of the teacher and his hopeful assessment of an individual... and normally a student wishing to attempt the sakki test for godan should train for a minimum of ten years before even considering this auspicious milestone of understanding, movement, personal conduct and commitment to the ryu, it's membership and it's Soke.

I hope this brief and always potentially clouded viewpoint of personal experience and outlook lends a bit of perspective to the various forms of evaluation necessary for a balanced and proper teacher/student relationship. The key is to simply follow Hatsumi Sensei's most parroted admonition "Keep Going".