Martial Word Wednesday “Menkyo; 免許”

Origin: Japanesemenkyo

The definition of a menkyo is a license. In koryu (see previous Martial Word Wednesday), these are certificates that the soke (inheritor of the system) gave to those allowed to teach the art. In some ways, this is the equivalent of a shodan or black belt today. These are rare things given out to those who have learned the skills of the koryu.

Ranking System

They are part of an overall system of ranking. Similar to our modern kyu/dan system. However, as koryu were part martial art, and part secret society, their ranks meant different things. Each art had its own pathway, but generally, you had to officially become a member of the school…an initiate if you will. They were marked as an Okuiri, signifying such. Generally, there was a period of time and dedication to be shown by the initiate. After a certain amount of time, they were given their Mokuroku (certificate) and they were officially entered into the role book as a student. Sometimes these required keppan (blood-oaths) to never reveal the secrets of the koryu. After a certain amount of knowledge and skill was achieved, a menkyo certificate was awarded.

One interesting aspect of the menkyo system of ranking is that time is not a factor. Only skill level. There are historical cases of student who earned their menkyo after a few months. Granted, these were exceptional individuals who had already significantly studied other arts. Just like today, there were people griping about “so-and-so got their menkyo in only two years. I’ve been here four years and haven’t gotten mine.” The same things can be heard in dojo today. So I guess, there’s nothing new under the sun.

Menkyo kaiden

Eventually, if they studied enough they were awarded the menkyo kaiden, the total transmission of knowledge. This signified that the holder had learned the entire curriculum of the koryu and there was nothing more to teach them. This usually, but not solely, in the providence of the soke (inheritor of the system). As there was often “hidden” techniques in a koryu, only the highest level of student (future soke?) would be instructed in these.

Do you have a favorite martial arts word that doesn’t directly translate into English? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll cover it next week. Better yet, submit your own Martial Word Wednesday and get published.

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Jaredd Wilson has been practicing Japanese martial arts since 1996, and currently trains in Nami ryu Aiki Heiho under Brian Williams Sensei, in Nashville, TN

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