By John Bracy

The martial arts, as normally referred to, originated in China. There, long before inception of a formal ranking system such as "black belt"  or "black sash" there were teachers of Chinese kung fu [ meaning of the words "Kung Fu"] and "ranking" was recognized within relative place within the "family" or "clan." In this system, relative position within the family defined a practitioner's rank and status within the clan "family." Thus, adopting place within the family as a rank designator, the gao shou (expert) leading the instruction was the "shr-fu" (father-teacher; also written "sifu" and "shifu")  [Our use of the "shrfu" spelling]  Within this family-clan rank structure, members were (and still are, where used) designated as senior "old teacher" of the system shr-ye (grandfather teacher), kung fu "brothers" shr hsung-di and "uncles" as either shr-bao or shr-hsu (older or younger uncle in relation to the "shrfu"-or "father-teacher of the martial style). Other martial art title-positons in the family include nephew, aunts, cousins, etc.

Lineage          [List of ranks, certificates and lineaged issued by Master Bracy and/ or the Chi Arts Assoc]

A person who receives formal lineage becomes a "disciple" of the master, literally ru men di tse, or "one who is permitted through the 'inner door,'" through formal Confucian ceremony makes public oaths to assume more deep, personal responsibility to the master and art. After formal acceptance as a disciple, the new initiate begins to be introduced to closely held secrets of the art. By tradition, every true master has deeper knowledge of the art that are passed to only a few initiated disciples. Most intriguing is the transmission of lineage. Although the term is often misused and misrepresented,  true lineage is passed to the student through formal Confucian ceremony. True lineage is transferred when there was no gap and documented lineage has passed through from generation to generation via induction during formal ceremony. Although there is no test for lineage, since it is generally thought of as representing access to special knowledge as well as responsibility to the art, over time--at least within many groups--the teacher is assumed to have been extremely careful when accepting a disciple. 

Because of the presumed trust between the master and initiate, it is extremely sad when a person is removed from lineage. I remember how disappointed my Beijing Ba Gua master, Liu Xing-han was when he told me how he removed one Chinese guy I knew from the lineage because the "student" had stolen some of his old Ba Gua books before he departed for the U.S. (As in this example, removal breaks the line and authentic lineage can not be passed further from that individual)  Later I came to understand my teachers disappointment since I have had to remove former disciples from lineage for similar reasons. 

However, in my experience the most striking misuse of lineage is when it is "sold" by the master to unqualified individuals. For example, there was this older Chinese master who badly wanted to come to the U.S. He found someone in the U.S. who wanted lineage. They both got what they wanted: one a visit to America, the other a piece of paper documenting lineage. For me, I have resolved to be extremely careful about who I accept as a disciple in the future. 

Other ranking methods

In modern times there are a number of ranking certifications. In Taiwan 1982 I received advanced instructor "coaching and counsellor" license from the Pa Kua Gate association. Desiring a more consistent and modern ranking method the family adopted the "degree" system that originated from Japan in the twentieth century and in 1986 while in Taipei I received 7th degree instructor rank from the family's senior master, Yi Te-Kuen, I was again honored by the same master in 1994 when he visited my southern California school and advanced me to 8th degree. [Some of the ceremony and demonstration can be viewed here]

This ranking method allows specific standards and levels to be set, and if not given out too easily helps maintains an art and system's quality.Our Chi Arts and Hsing Chen Associations have adopted a modified version of the ranking method used by our associated Taiwan family. 

We award student levels and instructor "degree" ranks [List of certified instructors]. The first level is called Jiao Lien or "coach." Second and third level instructors are ku wen literally "question answerers," and more advanced instructors are jiao shr, "professors."  At present, after thirty years--and many of those as one of the largest internal martial art schools in the U.S.--we have awarded one fifth degree instructor rank (Roger Niez), one forth degree (Jim Scheuer), and only a handful of second and third degree level ranks.

Licensed by government organizations in the Far East

It is worth noting that in Asia government entities often regulate the martial arts by issuing their own ranking credentials. For example, in 1988 I was asked to work with a full-contact fighting group connected to the Beijing Sports College and I had to be issued credentials from the Beijing City Full Contact Fighting Association. 

It is also important to bring up the matter that some teachers prefer to neither use, nor issue no rank whatsoever. They practice and get better and for them this is enough. I hold the deepest appreciation for some of my teachers such as Master Ho Shun-ting who, at least when I studied with him, was not concerned with formal ranking. 

In the end, if quality is important, that is what the aspiring student will be concerned with.  Formal ranking and lineage may, or may not show up, but that doesn't really matter. What matters is the degree of depth and dedication to the art, and the joy this brings to embrace a rare and beautiful thing.