AKK Nodo Tsuki Nage

What is the Black Belt?

THE ORIGIN:

In order to know what Black Belt means, we have to understand the origins of the belting system.  Most of what will be discussed is based on the Japanese disciplines, although many traditional and modern disciplines from various cultures use a similar progression designator.

The colored belt system is a 19^th century invention, first used by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo.  He designated the White Belt as Kyu or non-grading (Mudansha) ranks and the Black Belt as Dan or grading (Yudansha) ranks.  However, rank belts were not worn regularly until the invention of the official training uniform or Do-Gi in the 1900’s.  In addition, various designators such as stripes or multi colored belts were used to ceremoniously designate further Dan ranks. 

Karate began using the belt ranking system when Gichin Funakoshi taught his Okinawan empty hand (Kara-Te) system at the Kodokan, the Judo school started by Kano Sensei.  The use of the colored belt system by Funakoshi Sensei prompted other combat arts to follow suit such as Kendo, Aikido and most other forms.  Although Kano Sensei created the idea, Funakoshi Sensei was highly regarded in the Japanese community and it was his popularity that prompted the acceptance of the colored belt system, which is why he is considered the father of the system today.  Kano Sensei being an innovator, as well as, a traditionalist, wanted to create a system of progress to keep each of his Judo students motivated to continue their training.  In addition, he moved from the traditional history of fighting schools typically teaching thugs various forms of Jitsu, to the modern practice of using martial science as a way to improve health, and one’s moral and cultural character.  The actual origin of the colors of the Kyu ranks is shrouded in mystery and may be permanently lost to history.  While there is no documentation on why the various colors were used we can draw on the philosophical doctrine of Kano Sensei as a clue.  Kano Sensei thought there is no limit on how much progress or improvement one can make in their Judo training.  Thus, he believed that if someone achieved a stage higher than 10^th Dan, “one transcends such things as colors and grades and therefore returns to a white belt, thereby completing the full circle of Judo, as of life.”  In case of this eventuality, it should be noted that the Kodokan decided the belt worn by such a person should be “about twice as wide as the ordinary belt” to prevent novices from mistaking the significance.  In the later years of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, he began wearing a White Belt with the same significance as described above.  However, it was not a double width belt. 

Prior to the belt system, traditional Japanese martial arts used the Menkyo or licensing system.  The Menkyo certificate was awarded to a student who was considered skilled in a particular discipline by the reigning master of that system or Ryu.  The level of skill was later indicated within the Menkyo, as “Den” analogous to the higher Dan ranks within the Black Belt system used today.  Den loosely translates to school of thought, philosophy, strategy, carried on from the founder.  For example, as a student of a particular martial arts style, the Dojo you train in is where you learn the original Den that was passed down to the teacher from his or her lineage dating back to the founder.  The highest license within the Menkyo system was the Menkyo Kaiden meaning “license of total transmission.”  This denotes the complete transmission of the secrets of a particular system.  The Menkyo was used to designate one as skilled in one of the 18 traditional classifications of war arts or Bugei.  One of the classifications or branches was JuJutsu or unarmed self-defense which is the branch that we are focusing on in this article.  It’s important to note that due to the secretive nature of the various schools or disciplines and their instructors, the Menkyo system had several disadvantages.  First, there was no way to evaluate or compare equivalent skill levels of graduates from different schools.  Further, the steps between separate licenses could take anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on the particular teacher’s philosophy or personal style.  These same disadvantages are seen today in the Black Belt system of ranking.

THE USE OF BLACK BELT TODAY:

Today, particularly in the west, we use the Black Belt to signify a particular level of achievement within the system of martial discipline being studied, but how did it get here?  The Black Belt concept was brought to the west by many of the G.I.’s coming back from Japan after the post WWII occupation.  During this occupation period, many cultural arts were outlawed including Kabuki Theater and martial arts.  However, much like the history of African/Brazilian Capoeira, the Japanese were able to maintain their ancient martial arts techniques in choreographed movements known as Katas.  There is a rich history that originated in China regarding the Japanese practice of Kata but the end result was that these forms were introduced into the general education system of Japan in 1901 by “Anko” Ysutsune Itsou and continues to this day.  In order to be accepted for general education, the original meanings and multi faceted strategies of the original Katas were replaced with more rigorous, fitness oriented closed fist strikes and blocks found in today’s Katas.  This was considered a safer alternative for young children and yet kept the Okinawan cultural history intact.  After the initial 8 months of occupation by allied forces in Japan, the cultural restrictions on the Japanese people began to lessen.  With this, G.I.’s were beginning to learn martial arts while stationed on Okinawa and Japan proper.  

As most G.I.’s were stationed in Japan for short tours (1 year) or long tours (up to 3 years), how is it that so many who studied martial arts during their tours, came back to the USA with Black Belts?  Even the great Joe Lewis earned his Black Belt in just 7 months and Kano Sensei was known to promote ranks quickly, such as 2^nd degree Black Belt in just 1 year, but how can this be?  If you ask most martial arts teachers today - how long does it take, on average, to earn a Black Belt - the answer is typically 3 to 5 years for most arts (Karate or Tae Kwon Do), 5 to 7 years for complex arts (Aikido, Japanese JuJitsu) and even 10+ years for specialty arts (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kyushu Jitsu).  So how is it that G.I.’s earned their Black Belt so quickly in the place where the arts originated and yet here in the west, there is an average requirement to spend at least 4 years before eligible?  Typically it’s because promotion to Black Belt was based on a student demonstrating an understanding of that particular disciplines basics.  The more the student trains, the better they get and this could be done in months rather than years.  The cultural concept was to perfect the basics, and then learn the art.  Based on this philosophy, once one has the skills to demonstrate the basics proficiently, they are a Black Belt and can now begin learning the art itself.   

Just as the use of the Menkyo was not able to be an all inclusive certification of skills, nor is the Black Belt rank we think of today.  Ask a lay person what a Black Belt means and they will use such terms as: expert, skilled, trained killer, lethal, master, end of the road, must be registered, and so many more.  Ask a Black Belt what it means and you will get answers such as: I’m done, end of the road, just starting, basic understanding, master, teacher, skilled, one who has started earlier than another and so many more.  Ask a long term “Master” of the arts what a Black Belt means and you will typically hear: beginning, general education, big brother, older brother, senior beginning student, beginning teacher, teacher in training and so on. 

MY INTERPRETATION OF A BLACK BELT:

So everything I wrote above was to tell you exactly what a Black Belt is.  It is something different to everyone!  The origins of the Black Belt and the entire belt ranking system, like everything else in life, has an original idea behind it that matched a need for the time and was accepted throughout its history in various forms.  Today, there are as many interpretations and theories practiced in the meaning of the Black Belt as there are martial arts styles.  So is one more correct than another?  Absolutely not!  You can spend 10+ years studying a martial art system and achieve a Black Belt and that’s a great accomplishment.  You can also spend just a year studying a martial art system and achieve a Black Belt and that too is a great accomplishment.  Every martial art developed, was done so as an answer to a particular problem in self-defense.  Within each martial art, there are as many interpretations as there are teachers and practitioners and each one brings their own judgment into their expectations for grade advancement.  You realistically cannot compare the Black Belt of one art with another or even within the same art.  Is Japanese JuJitsu better than Brazilian Jiu-jitsu?  Are Dave Camarillo’s Black Belts better than Professor Pedro Sauer’s.  Are Steven Seagal’s Black Belts more skilled than Christian Tessier’s Black Belts?  The debate can go on endlessly but will always be a comparison between Apples and Oranges.  Why not accept that each has its qualities and both are liked by some while some only like one or the other.

MY IDEA OF BLACK BELT

My idea of Black Belt – it’s the end of the general education process (like graduating High School) and the beginning of the advanced understanding of the system (like going to college).  So what makes a Black Belt for me?  First off I teach based on Personal Interpretive Tactics or PIT elements.  This means that my students do not copy or try to imitate me; they are forced into situations that make them use their own interpretations of the elements of a technique.  If the practice of the technique is not successful then they must take it upon themselves to reevaluate their understanding of the movement and come up with a more effective solution to a specific problem.  We do this without the use of forms or Katas.  Yet just like the original forms from China, what we practice are skills that multi-task to be useful with minimal movement for multiple situations.  Why do I teach this way?  Because it worked for me in my military and my law enforcement training.  We had weeks or months to become proficient at doing everything from controlling non-resistant encounters to taking a life in chaotic multiple attacker situation.  Obviously the system works because there are millions of men and women who have undergone the training, survived the situations and lived to retire from them.  How does it work?  It’s simple, keep to the basics, get rid of the fancy stuff that isn’t practical and put the trainees in repeated high stress situations to test their understanding of what they have learned.  This employs the concept that the toughest day should be the training and the easiest should be the test.  That’s what I do with my students. 

In March 2011, we held our first Black Belt test for my newest school.  There were 10 students who participated.  The student who had been with me the longest, had 3 years with me.  The student with the least amount of time had just 1 ½ years.  However, the student with 3 years had 400 hours of training while the student with 1 ½ years had over 1000 hours of training.  The average time that will produce a proficient Black Belt with me is 416 hours.  I don’t use the “years of training” as a guide because I’ve had students barely show up but stay with the program for a year and never test because they are lazy.  I have other students who come to every class, everyday and have the training hours that accurately reflect their ability.  To the outsider, who hears that I am promoting Black Belts in under 2 years, I’m sure it sounds like I run a McDojo and students can buy their belts.  For the test, I brought in 1 of my teachers, Sigung James Halter and 2 well respected teachers whom I had never met before, Keith Owen and Ari “Bolden” Knazan, to sit on the evaluation panel.  During the 3 hour test the demonstration of static technique was lack luster at best and was a cause for concern by the panel.  However, that’s not the area that my students concentrate on; it’s merely to satisfy the traditional concept of martial arts movement.  The reality of the test and true demonstration of skill came when each student went through their interactive portion which is a minimum of 5 minutes, total self defense, against multiple attackers, that included all 4 of the distances of fighting.  It’s not sparring; it’s not dojo attacks; its street fighting within a controlled environment – so nobody cracks their head open on the sidewalk.  Once this portion of the test began, all 3 of the evaluators got up to their feet, left the table to get a closer look on the mat and I can tell you their blood started pumping with excitement.

Understandably, my style of teaching doesn’t agree with everyone and neither does what I teach.  My highest Black Belt rank is 7^th degree in my own system.  What qualifies me as a 7^th degree?  Many things do but primarily, it’s my expertise in the strategy that I employ in my system, which has been evolving over nearly 40 years of training and real world experiences.  How did I get to 7^th degree in my own system?  Through an organization that is assisting me in the progress of my own style.  Why not just say I’m a 10^th degree since it’s my own system?  Because I hold myself to the same standards that I hold my students.  There is much more that I need to accomplish and give back to the arts in order to progress and in time I will do just that.  In fact the last physical test I offer for Black Belt promotions is 4^th degree.  After that, promotion is based on merit and what you give back to the arts, the discipline, the school and the community.  This is a common practice even under traditional systems.  I know many high ranking Black Belts who were promoted because of their work, status as teachers and school owners and for what they have given back to the arts in general and to a discipline specifically.  For example, Steven Seagal was promoted from 1^st to 5^th degree Black Belt in Aikido, when he took over as Chief Instructor of his father-in-laws Aikido school, Ten Shin Dojo, in Japan.  So does 7^th degree mean I am invincible?  Not at all, no one is.  All it means is that I am very skilled in what I know and I am able to apply it as necessary, while also being able to teach it to high level and novices alike.

IN CONCLUSION:

What is the Black Belt?  It’s many things to many people but the mainstream idea is that it’s a measurement of skill, awarded to those recognized for achieving a point in their training that may mean: the end or the beginning.  Bottom line is that you will never know what it means until you achieve it.  Same way that you will never know what a higher degree of Black Belt means until you achieve that.  What it means to you is the important point here.  What it means to me is that it’s an everyday reminder that I am better today than I was yesterday but not as good as I’ll be tomorrow.  I am no better or worse than any other.  I am not stronger or weaker, faster or slower, bigger or smaller, smarter or dumber than anyone else.  I am a Black Belt, I know what it took me to get here, I know what I expect of others who wear it but I have no right to judge their experience based on my experience alone.  I can only congratulate them on the journey and lend a hand towards their next step, as those who have gone before me have done.

What is Aiki Kempo?

INTRODUCTION:
        Reis Martial Arts is home to the self-defense system known as Reis-Ryu Aiki-Kempo (Reis system of Universal Harmony through Fist Law).  The Aiki-Kempo system is primarily a strategy, utilizing a combination of self defense techniques taken from 6 primary martial arts systems: Kenpo, Kajukenbo, Aikido, Aiki-Jitsu, Brazilian and Japanese JuJitsu.  This strategy was developed by Master Tomas Reis from his experiences in military training and combat as an EST Operator (Special Forces), his law enforcement experience in Northern CA., as a Patrol Officer, Gang Unit Officer and S.W.A.T., member, as well as, his street fighting and competition experience.  As a continuing student in multiple disciplines, Master Reis is able to teach an ever evolving self defense strategy that takes into account the techniques he has used effectively in real world situations, as well as, his constant evaluation of applicable traditional and modern techniques alike.  Everything we teach is based on Personal Interpretive Tactics (PIT) which means that each student learns the basic elements, learns the Aiki Kempo strategy components and applies them to their own movement, fitness and technical abilities. That's why we don't do “FORMS” or “Katas” EVER! It's too limiting, too rigid and too unrealistic.”  

AIKI KEMPO HISTORY:

        Reis-Ryu Aiki-Kempo became a named system in 1994 and was certified in 2008 by the International Combat Martial Arts Association as a legitimate form of self defense.  Master Reis developed the system based on elements from his training in multiple styles of martial science, as well as, his experiences as a California Law Enforcement officer, his military service including combat experience, his competition experience and his street fighting experience.  Although Aiki Kempo has its roots in multiple arts: Kempo (both Japanese and Chinese styles), Kajukenbo (Hawaiian Street Fighting), Japanese Jujitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (including 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu elements) and Aikido/Aiki-Jitsu, its influences from Master Reis’ experiences allows it to continuously evolve.  Aiki-Kempo must be flexible and evolutionary in its format, to allow each practitioner or Aiki-Kempo-ka (Aiki-Kempo Student), the ability to translate the technique into fluid interpretations.  These interpretations are based on the strategies of its central themes - movement without thought, angles without lines, power through fluidity and energy conservation.  Understanding the phrases: “under stress you will always react as you have trained;” “chance favors the prepared mind;” and “live into the next greatest version of the grandest vision ever you had of who you are,” are what training in the Aiki Kempo system will help you embody through its teaching format and elements.  With each decade, an attacker utilizes the mainstream movements even without training, by emulation.  What Aiki-Kempo does, is it allows the evolution of movement to surpass this threat, much like water finds a new path to flow when its original path is no longer available.  With this in mind, the system has evolved to its most current format which is a practical self defense system.  We don't look fancy, it's not made for Hollywood, we don't practice acrobatics and we are not limiting our training to match the rules of some competitive arena.  We are all about excellence in our survival ability all while improving our character, life skills and integrity. 

SPECIFICS ON REIS-RYU AIKI-KEMPO:

        Aiki-Kempo has elements from multiple systems, combined into a flowing movement that prepares each student to deal with the 4 primary combat distances: long distance (kicks), intermediate distance (extended hand strikes), close distance (clinches, stand up grappling & close in strikes) and ground fighting (grappling).  The Aiki-Kempo system also teaches defense against armed attacks, non-traditional weapons techniques and multiple attacker situations. Today's MMA fighters train for 3 areas of confrontation: striking, stand up grappling and ground fighting, all in a controlled environment that is 1 on 1 and with rules.  Within this boundary, their conditioning is an important part of their training.  However, the average student in the martial arts will not take themselves to the fitness levels of cage fighting professionals.  With that in mind, Master Reis has developed a system based on the 15 second live or die goal in a multiple attacker scenario.  Beyond 15 seconds, the defender would need to be at the same fitness level as an Olympic level athlete to survive the physiological, psychological and stamina requirements of a long term fight. 

SELF DEFENSE OR COMPETITION:
        Aiki Kempo is NOT a competition based system - it is a street wise self defense strategy with real world personal safety at its core.  The elements we teach, from the various contributing martial arts systems, do not make you a master technician in those specific arts.  In other words: training at Reis Martial Arts doesn't make you a Black Belt in Kenpo, Aikido, JuJitsu or any other traditional systems.  However, you will have a solid understanding of what does and how to defend against skilled, as well as, unskilled attackers, who may or may not be armed and who may attack you or your loved ones in solo or multiple attacker situations.  The strategy was developed to give you the familiarity with each arts strategy and foundations, allowing for a multitude of personal safety events to be dealt with effectively.

CRITICS OF THE SYSTEM:       
        The critics of the Aiki Kempo strategy, typically are those who do not understand the reality of self defense, the traditions and teachings of the martial arts or the state of the world today.  They hear terms like Kenpo, Aikido or Jiu-Jitsu and think that those are the systems that they will be learning, despite our continuous advisements of the reality of what we do.  Those coming to us with the idea of being skilled competitors have all been advised that our system and strategies can be and has been, effective in the ring.  However, the focus of competition based training is not the same as self defense based training.  In competition based training you are already aware of the time limit, rules, location, weight class, skill level and generalized techniques developed for and effective in the competition arena.  In other words, in competition based training, you train for the KNOWN.  In real world self defense training, you have no pre-event information prior to the attack occuring, which means you train for the UNKNOWN.  

MASTER REIS:

        Tomas Reis was born in Portugal but came to the USA when he was young and was raised in the San Jose area of Northern California.  He got into the martial arts by accident (or fate) at the age of 12 (1974).  From age 10 he was involved in a youth gang and was getting into trouble as is usually the case for troubled youths.  Staying out of his abusive step fathers way was the catalyst that prompted Tomas to get into the gang.  However, at age 12, Tomas was stopped driving a stolen car.  The officer, Joe Williams, gave Tomas a choice – go to jail or come to his Japanese JuJitsu class taught through the Police Activities League, and learn how to make better choices in life.  JuJitsu class came with strict rules: stop hanging out with the other gang kids, stop wearing the clothes and stop getting into trouble.  Tomas had to bring his homework every day and get it done before stepping onto the mat.  He had to take class, learn and live by the code of honor (code of the Samurai), build integrity and become a better human being.  Do this for 1 year Joe said, and you won’t have to go to jail.  Tomas agreed but the other gang kids took exception.  Tomas was getting beaten up everyday walking home through the old neighborhood after class, so Joe started teaching Tomas more advanced techniques to help fend off these attacks more effectively.  The extra worked helped, as the attacks lessened in intensity and frequency.  Tomas was now able to injure some of the attackers which over time got the old gang members to finally leave him alone.  At the end of the 1 year period Tomas’ family ended up moving out of the old neighborhood.  However, Tomas continued his training in the martial arts through multiple disciplines which to date span nearly 4 decades with multiple black belts.

 

        After high school, Tomas went into the USAF and eventually became an operator with the Air Force Emergency Services Teams, a Special Forces unit developed in 1979 to deal with increasing terrorist threats.  Tomas’ experience as an EST operator included multiple combat situations and deployments.  After the Air Force, Tomas was recruited onto the Solano Sheriff’s Dept. as a patrol deputy and S.W.A.T. team member.  He graduated the Santa Rosa Police Academy as class president, taking honors in fitness and defensive tactics before attending the FBI S.W.A.T. School at Camp Parks CA.  As a Patrol and S.W.A.T. Deputy, Tomas used his martial arts experience often as the county had 6 deputies patrolling 837 square miles, where backup took a while when called.  Tomas was also involved in multiple S.W.A.T. call outs including 14 high risk drug lab raids in 2 years.  Later, Tomas moved to the Alameda Police Dept. and got involved with youth gang investigations after attending the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. Gang School.  Tomas ended his distinguished law enforcement career at Vallejo Police Dept. in 1994 when an on duty injury prompted Tomas to retire.  Tomas then opened his first of 3 martial arts schools and got involved in the IT industry; where he opened his own IT consulting company for clients in Southern California.  Today, Tomas is a full time martial arts teacher and business owner and he lives in Bismarck North Dakota with his wife.

        “My focus now is on spreading my unique strategies, experiences and techniques of self defense worldwide, all while insuring that our next generations have the life skills, social tools and integrity to help make the world a better place for all.”

                                                                                                                                    Tomas Reis

        Master Reis was given the title of Kyoshi (beginner Professorship) in 2011 along with the rank of 7th degree black belt.  Master Reis was also inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Hall of Heroes in 2011 for his work as a teacher, innovator and competitive coach.  Although Master Reis is no longer coaching competitors, he is available as a speaker and guest instructor on a great many subjects.  If you are interested in having Master Reis speak or teach your group or event, please contact the Aiki Kempo Kai (Association) at: info@aikikempokai.com.