HIERARCHY
Yudansha
MUDANSHA:
Mudansha (non-members) are karateka or Eastern Philosophy scholars who are not members of Shinbushido-Kyo, but still wish to take part in martial arts practice, study of traditional Bushido ethics or Shinbushido-Kyo related events.
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YUDANSHA:
Yudansha (members) are members of Shinbushido-Kyo who believe in the principles of Bushido and seek to elevate themselves physically, mentally and spiritually by striving to be better than yesterday's version of themselves. Yudansha refers to any member of the Shinbushido-Kyo community and includes both martial artists and non-martial artists alike.
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KOHAI:
Kohai (junior students) are students of Shinbushido-Kyo who are also martial artists who and have begun their studies of Shinbushido-Kyo, however are still incomplete and not yet ranked high enough to be a teacher of Bushido and Shinbushido-Kyo principles.
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SEMPAI:
Sempai (senior students) are martial artists who have completed the ethical training courses of Shinbushido-Kyo, however are either not yet black belts in their style or under 18 years old.
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SENSEI:
Sensei (teachers) are martial artists who have both completed the ethical training of Shinbushido-Kyo, 18 years old or older and are black belts in their respective martial arts style up to 4th Dan and qualified to teach Bushido and Shinbushido-Kyo principles.
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SHIHAN:
Shihan (masters) are martial artists who have both completed the ethical training of Shinbushido-Kyo and are black belts in their respective martial arts style from 5th Dan and above and qualified to teach Bushido and Shinbushido-Kyo principles.
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HANSHI:
Hanshi (honorable master) is the head of Shinbushido-Kyo and title for the successors of the Kancho. This is a hereditary position given to the eldest child, most prepared child or senior student of the Kancho and subsequent Hanshis as declared by the current head of Shinbushido-Kyo.
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KANCHO:
Kancho (chairman) is a reserved title for the founder of Shinbushido-Kyo.
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BOTSATSU:
Bosatsu (saint) is a revered title for martial artists and philosophers who have achieved Enlightenment and have furthered the advancement of martial arts and the ethics of Shinbushido-Kyo. This title can only be awarded posthumously.
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