Ranks Obtained Through Other Ryu. The Budokan will recognize ranks awarded by other legitimate organizations if proof of rank is provided. A certified English translation and copy of the certificate are required. The rank will be registered with the Budokan. Promotion to a higher rank and to obtain an Budokan certificate, requires examination by a certified Budokan Examiner, under the current rank requirements.

Promotion Ratification and Timing. All promotions are ratified through the National Headquarters. Promotions are made at two levels. For kyu ranks and dan ranks up to Yodan, accredited "Examiner" Sensei may test and evaluate candidates, and send promotion recommendations to the National Office. Yodan and above ranks must be approved by the National Board of Examiners, which evaluates recommendations quarterly. All recommendations must be properly documented. Supporting evidence and appropriate fees must be included.

Eligibility. Budokan members, regardless of age, may be eligible for promotion when they have completed the appropriate time in grade and can demonstrate the rank requirements. Each individual must be recommended by a Examiner.

Technical Demonstration Requirements. members, who are candidates for rank, must demonstrate - with balance, effectiveness, and skill - the techniques required for the rank for which they are being examined. Other than time in grade and demonstrating the technical requirements for that rank, there are no other requirements for promotion.

Promotion Fees. Fees for all ranks are the same for all styles and are listed on the Recommendation For Promotion form..

Seminar Program. We have launched a nationwide Certification Seminar program. High dan examiners conduct promotion and certification seminars in many states. Contact the Budokan for a list of examiners or instructors in your area whom you can contact for a sponsored seminar.

How Do You Get a Rank Certification and Promotion Seminar For Your Club? To schedule a Rank certification and promotion seminar call or write the Budokan Executive Director (508-539-2007). The director will arrange for a high dan examiner to visit you. The Budokan will pay his travel expenses. The only requirements are that you must guarantee that there will be at least 20 people on the mat paying a weekend seminar fee of $50 each, and you must provide room and board for the clinician(s) while he/they is/are with you.

For students, remote from a local Dojo, clinics are held throughout the year, which may be conveniently located near them. Another alternative is to attend one of the annual camps held each year at locations across the country.

What Rank Will You Be Promoted To? The general policy of the Budokan is that those Sensei who already have qualifying experience in one art, may well be promoted in similar arts to the same rank they hold. They may be promoted to a different rank from their present rank depending on their technical knowledge. This will be decided by the examiner conducting the seminar. However, a high rank in one art does not automatically qualify one for the same rank in another. Obviously, there is a great difference in the singular sport of one art, and the sport of another,or the combat aspects of combat Karate, Jujitsu, Kempo ect. and the art of Karate, Jujitsu, Kempo ect. for example:  Even though jujitsu can be described as "Judo with an attitude," jujitsu knowledge, techniques and ability are different from Judo knowledge, techniques and ability, and employs quite a different outlook on what actions are performed. The competition rules mindset in Judo conflicts with the "no rules" mindset of combat jujitsu.

Rank Examiner Certification. The Budokan certifies examiners according to rank as listed on the "Application For Certification as a Rank Examiner." Examiner certification is not automatic as part of a promotion. sensei can only be certified for examiner after examination by board members. Only examiners certified by the Budokan, are eligible to recommend candidates for rank promotion. The latter is an important qualification, and ensures that the candidates are truly reviewed on their ability and teaching quality, in addition to their abilities in self-defense techniques learned in other martial arts.

Policy On Rank Registration. We would like to accommodate all practitioners in the various styles of the art, in getting their legitimate ranks registered. To protect the validity of these ranks, we require that all requests for rank registration are accompanied by a photo copy of the latest rank certificate, and the completely filled out rank form, describing all the dates and times in grade in each previous Dan rank.

Upon entry as members, the provided rank registration will be added to our database, as described on the candidate's provided certificate copy. No one will be promoted or accepted at a higher rank level, until reviewed and tested by a qualified examiner of higher rank, and/or by the Ranking Board. This provides for formal rank registration, and for future rank promotion.

The Budokan realizes that there are instances, where Sensei have been teaching independently, or have been teaching their own system for many years, and may even be Hanshi or Soke (highest ranked individual in their organization) of their own style. Since these Sensei may not have been ranked by a national organization, and no knowledge of their style and ability may be evident, the Budokan requires that evidence of quality is provided in the form of a written curriculum for the various ranks, and/or an unedited video tape of the techniques in that style.

Corroborating evidence may also need to be collected through visual observation by higher ranking members of the Ranking Board. In other words, the Ranking Board needs to be convinced that the described rank compares with other national standards, particularly as it relates to total time in the various ranks.

The Budokan cannot accept higher Dan ranks that are not within the time in grade schedule, as defined on the application form. The Budokan will neither accept rank promotions that are not deemed to conform to an acceptable standard.