what does it mean to be a "master" of karate?

Question

my dad lives in france and runs a successful karate club. he says that he will be up for his masters (red and white) belt in 2 years and i want to be supportive and excited for him, but i don't really get it?! french is his first language whereas mine in english so im more likely to understand your explanation than his! thanks x

Answer 1

Master is a very misunderstood term that is often misused. Traditionally in Okinawan and Japan a master was no less than 4th degree black belt. HOWEVER titles and belt ranks do not go hand in hand. In other words you do not become a master by reaching any belt rank. The title is given by the organization, ONLY to those that it feels are worthy of it. Everyone does not get a title, master, ...etc by simply earning a rank. As such each organization has different minimums for issuing a master title. some will give it to a person of 4th degree black belt. some don't consider 4th degree a master,. some styles require 5th degree minimum. some do not consider it until the person is sixth degree black belt. Again it is up to the organization to decide. A person can be as high as 7th degree black belt and still not be a master. They can be legitimate yet not a master. IF, a masters title is awarded, it is properly done in writing. There are two ways...... some organization write the title on the persons rank certificate... Other issue the title on a separate certificate that is only for the title. So as you see there in no set way it is properly done. The only sure thing is that if the title is not given , it is not assumed because of a rank earned. The other thing is that it is never given to anyone under 4th degree black belt, Ever !!!





By the Way..... The Korean styles copied the rank system used by the Okinawan's and Japanese. However they have neglected to follow the strict guidelines used by them. In Korean schools they for some reason believe that if a person reaches a set rank (usually 4th degree black belt), you are automatically a master, how convenient. That is why there are so many guys claiming to be masters that by Okinawan or Japanese traditions may or may not be a master. No art should assume that everyone of a certain rank is automatically a master. That would make most of them a joke.





EDIT: masters may wear one of several types of belts. In Okinawa and Japan some wear a black belt. At other times they may wear a Renshi belt (is black on the back side, the front is a red strip and a white stripe running beside each other from one end of the belt to the other. Usually if a 4th degree black belt wears it the white strip in place so it os on top of the red stripe. At 5th degree the belt is flipped over so that the red strip is on top.) The Hanshi belt is a belt made of panels sewn end to end. The panels alternate red, white, red, white,...... The Hanshi belt is usually used for 6th degree black belt and higher.



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Answer 2

gandhotel..... you have your facts a bit mixed up. What you stated is commonly circulated in the Korean styles. It is not correct. It is not close to the standards used in 95% of the martial arts.



pugpaws said that the Koreans copied the belt as used by the Japanese. That is right. The Koreans seem to interpret the standards more liberally than the Japanese or Okinawans. It is funny to visit a Korean martial arts event and see how many teenagers are strutting around thinking that they are masters. :(

Answer 3

Kara = empty Te = hand or arm So in flip, Karate way, empty hand or unarmed. Basically, it intended the ones within the Ryuku Islands (latest day Okinawa) that weren't accredited to put on swords or habits in latest war while beneath Japanese militarial rule. Though, it is not one hundred% real unarmed. Karate conducts coaching within the artwork of the stave or bo, nunchaku, sai, kama, and the Isshin-Ryu variant of the Kusarigama (which varies extensively each in creation and utilization.) Hope that is helping!

Answer 4

In most systems, a sensei is 2nd thru 5th degree black belt, while a master is 6th and over.

A grandmaster is someone 8th dan or higher, or he is someone who starts his own system.

In the United States, the government does not get into the buisness of deciding which martial art is legitimate and which is not. Your grandmother could start her own system, declare herself to be a tenth degree red belt grandmaster, and open a school.

Answer 5

it means that your father has been training for a very long time. he has put in effort, dedication, and has imense skills in karate. it is a huge honor to reach that rank.



in the style of martial arts that I study there are colored belts (belts before black belt), black belts (3-4 stripes), masters belt (4 ranks), grand master and assistant grand master.



the way I think about it is before black belt they are still learning the basics and are at a primitive leve. when they reach black belt they are ready to learn the martial art of the style. they know the basics and now it is time to perfect them. you can see a lot of 1st degree black belts that kind of suck, half of the second degrees will also suck, and few 3rd degrees will suck. but when you get to masters it means that you understand the martial aspects of the style. you know the basics, the advanced techniques, the advanced concepts, and are highly skilled.

Answer 6

Well, in karate when you reach the rank of godan, which you receive when you become a fifth degree black belt, you're eligible to attempt to become a certified master level practitioner, or shidoin. I believe that's what your father means.

Answer 7

Are you sure it's Karate and not Judo? I know they have Red/Black belts in Judo and in BJJ. In both arts it is a huge honor. It means you're not only very good, but a teacher as well.