It is something that we all have to face. One should both ignore rank and take interest in it. What you should ignore are its suggestions of status. While you should feel pride in your accomplishments, don't let it go to your head. It is true that about half of all students who begin Ninjutsu training never get to green belt. If you have reached 9th kyu, feel proud that you have endured the first phase of your training. It means that you have learned how to move your body, how to use basic ukemi, how to strike. Yet all these things must improve before you can advance, plus you must add more skills and abilities.

Each rank advancement requires improvement on all skills learned previously. You should feel good for other people when they attain more rank. If you are fortunate enough to witness a black belt test, put all your goodwill behind the person taking the test, because one day it might be you facing the sword. If anybody passes the black belt test, you can too.

Anyone can become a black belt in this art. But not everyone does. Why not? Because they aren't willing to pay the price. What is the price? Hard work, superhuman effort, focus and determination, pain and hardship. and completely immersing oneself in Ninpo, physically, mentally and spiritually. If it was easy, everyone would do it. So each and every student who perseveres, ranked or not, should be recognized for their internal strength.

One thing to avoid, however, is a natural tendency to believe that just because you are a few ranks above another student, you are more powerful or dangerous. Everyone is dangerous. A bunny rabbit is tame and defenseless, right? But go and stick your hand down a rabbit hole and see what happens! People can surprise you, too. But for one person to truly dominate another, he has to be much more advanced. Anyway, you should always regard your fellow students as your brothers and sisters.

Someone famous once said: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way - you're right." That means if you think that you will never become a black belt, your own mind has already defeated you and you can never become a Shodan. On the other hand, if you believe that you can accomplish anything, you probably will if you are willing to pay the price. Here comes another paradox: keep these things in mind, but do not try to advance in rank. Just keep going, enjoy the training, and you will grow in confidence and skill, and then you will advance in a natural way. If not, then there is something out of balance in either your mind, body or spirit.

It sometimes may look as if rank is given out casually, almost nonchalantly, but in reality there is nothing more serious, because I feel a great responsibility toward all of my students. The tasks that have been laid upon me by Hatsumi Sensei are first to only admit into the dojo people who have a healthy mental attitude and good heart, then to properly transmit the art of Taijutsu and Ninpo, and to see that everyone has correctly understood the principles being taught, then to be sure that each individual has the maturity and proper spirit that is required for each level. Finally it is my responsibility to make sure that the powers I have instilled don't get misused. Hatsumi Sensei refers to this process: "like a ceramist who destroys his work if he doesn't like it."

Shidoshi Ken Harding, 6th Dan, heads the Missouri Ninja Center in St. Louis. He started his training in 1984, has trained with Hatsumi Soke in Japan, and studies Japanese, Yoga, shiatsu, herbology and nutrition. He may be contacted via E-mail: Shadowswrd@aol.com.