Jan 4th, 2008
Students are examined by senior instructor panel.
In January of 2008, All Nippon Kan members at Nippon Kan General Headquarter were issued new Monjin Chou Student Identification and promotion handbooks. These passport size booklets are 28 pages in length and include all student records including ranking examination results, promotions, seminar attendance and volunteer project attendance which is so much apart of Nippon Kan membership. Shown below is a page in detail for 1st Kyu ranking requirements at Nippon Kan.
From Nippon Kan’s founding in 1978 through 2007, Nippon Kan did not have an examination or passport type system for ranking and tracking student records. Nippon Kan has grown however in the last decades and is very much involved with other dojos and organizations internationally. Homma Kancho felt that having a Monjin Chou passport system of our own reinforced Nippon Kan’s dojo professionalism provided students with a comprehensive guide for technical proficiency and raised Nippon Kan’s standing in a world wide arena. Examinations are now held by a senior instructor examiner panel of three to five senior Nippon Kan instructors.
Monjin Chou example page for 1st Kyu
Homma Kancho spoke about the Monjin Chou system at our January opening classes. “The main goal of Nippon Kan as it has matured as a dojo is not to see how many bodies we can fit through the doors, but to teach students that are seriously interested in practicing Aikido at Nippon Kan. When I first came to the United States, I came alone; I had no students. My life practice now is not focused on only teaching large numbers of classes every day at the dojo. I am a martial artist that has a path of practice as do all of you as students. Nippon Kan has grown up and with the help of all of our senior staff and students its operations function well. My focus now is not on developing internal dojo operation but my own practice and the practice of AHAN in our world community.”
Our new Monjin Chou system is a positive step and shows development in Nippon Kan operations and teaching. We are all encouraged that this new system will benefit all of our practicing students and that they will be proud to hold a Nippon Kan Monjin Chou.
Written by
Nippon Kan Senior Vice President
Emily Busch