Shorin-Kan Karate
Is My School "Legitimate"?
The World Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) Karate-Do Association (WMKA) is the official world-wide governing body for the style. All recognised Black Belt ranks must have a certificate issued by either Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine, or his son, Master Takayoshi Nagamine. All recognised schools teaching this style must have a current "Instructor’s and Dojo Owner’s License", issued by the WMKA, which has to be renewed every year. These licenses are issued only to recognised Black Belts with the rank of Nidan (Second Degree Black Belt), or higher.
Therefore, any school which has a currently valid "Instructor’s and Dojo Owner’s License" from the WMKA is "legitimate" and duly authorised to teach this style and to issue non-Black Belt promotions. Although Black Belt promotions can be carried out by the Chief Instructor of the school (up to two levels below the Chief Instructor’s own rank, but no higher than 4th Dan), they will only be valid and officially recognised if they receive a Black Belt certificate issued by Master T. Nagamine. The minimum age for a First Degree Black Belt (Shodan) is 16 and the WMKA does not recognise "Junior Black Belts". Some legitimate schools issue them as so-called "Dojo Ranks", which have no standing outside the school which issued them.
All promotions to Godan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) or higher must be overseen by Master Nagamine personally, or by another high-ranking instructor specifically authorised by Master Nagamine to carry out such a promotion. This will ensure the qualifications and integrity of the higher ranks in the style.
The minimum rank for operating a school is Nidan, although a Shodan may run a branch school under the guidance and responsibility of a higher rank. Nevertheless, the Chief Instructor must be at least a Sandan level to be able to promote his students to Shodan (lowest of the Black Belt ranks), or he must involve a higher ranked Karate-ka to act as the examiner for the promotion.
The specific WMKA membership requirements and conditions can be found on the WMKA website at www.tanega.com/WMKA
There are currently two organisations for this style in Canada which are recognised by Master Nagamine: the Canadian Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (CSKF, under Frank Baehr, 6th Dan Renshi, founded in 1975) and the Canadian Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (CMKA, under Vernon Tilley, 5th Dan, founded in 1997). Most legitimate schools in Canada belong to one of these, but it must be remembered that membership in either one of them is not a requirement. The only requirement is current membership in the WMKA. Thus, a school may not belong to either of the Canadian organisations, but still be "legitimate". Conversely, a school may have an affiliation with one of the Canadian groups, but not a current WMKA-issued license. Such a school would not have recognised or "official" standing in Matsubayashi-Ryu. All Canadian groups are established strictly for the purpose of co-operation and joint activities among their members, but they have no "official" function within the WMKA.
