The five dan grades after tenth dan are actually seen as more like stages of the tenth dan, they are just reffered to as 11th 12th 13th ect for convenience. What you are saying is understandable it does look like there is some major rank hunting and with some people in the bujinkan (who shall remain nameless) this is true. But there are many who have earnt this rank and live up to it as anyone would expect them to. The reason for this is that if you go to Japan and train under Hatsumi and want him to tell you how great you are and what rank you should be, he will do that but it doesnt make you that grade, i dont think soke has any time for people like that. In the Bujinkan even when you reach a grade like 15th Dan that is'nt the end, they are all still learning otherwise they proberbly would'nt do it anymore. Also i dont understand why you made a big thing about women being 15th Dans as the Bujinkan arts are all about effective natural movements of the human body and not about strength or size at all so there is no reason at all why they can not be as skilled.
|