Yudansha & Yudansha Candidates
In response to your questions, Professor Chamberlain has posted the information below in regards to those individuals planning to test for any of the Yudansha (black belt) ranks. This serves as a reminder of the requirements Professor Chamberlain laid out for the potential candidates, so hopefully there will be no last minute surprises regarding either who is eligible to test, or what is expected. If you are having trouble with any of the guidelines below, please discuss these with Professor Chamberlain NOW!! Don’t wait and just show up to Warrior Weekend assuming the guidelines don’t apply to you.
Time In Grade Requirements
| Rank | Time in Grade |
|---|---|
| The first three ranks in Black Belt are based on your technical skill and ability with the material in Gasan Ryu Kenpo. | |
| Shodan | 3-4 years |
| Nidan | +2 years |
| Sandan | +3 years |
These three ranks in Black Belt are based on your skill and ability in the area of teaching Gasan Ryu Kenpo, kids, adults, groups, privates, seminars, workshops, weapons, etc. |
|
| Yondan | +4 years |
| Godan | +5 years |
| Rokkudan | +6 years |
These three ranks in Black Belt are for the development of Gasan Ryu Kenpo, writing manuals, books, creating DVD's, starting dojos, creating new programs and classes, running and promoting tournaments, seminars, workshops and community service events, etc. |
|
| Shichidan | +7 years |
| Hachidan | +8 years |
| Kudan | +9 years |
This rank is for the senior most student of Gasan Ryu Kenpo and/the founder/soke of the system. |
|
| Judan | +10 years |
Message from Professor Chamberlain
*Testing for ranks within black belt requires you to have fulfilled the basic active training “time in grade” requirement, along with knowledge of the techniques in our curriculum for White Belt through your current rank. Beyond that, if you are testing for Nidan or higher, you need to be teaching on a regular basis, and your personal development training in the dojo should be on an average of at least 1½ times per week.
In addition, it cannot be overstated how important it is for the higher ranking black-belts especially, to be actively involved in the dojo. One of the things that sets our school apart from others, is our close-knit, family atmosphere. These values are things that trickle down from the top ranks and get passed along as new students join the fold. All black belts who desire to continue moving up in the ranks of Gasan Ryu Kenpo need to be helping out at dojo events such as the Tournament, belt tests (kids & adults), school carnivals, seminars, women’s self defense workshops, etc. There are many, many things during the year in which we need people to help out. Our goal as a dojo is to continue to grow and impact our community in a positive way. With help, we will be able to do more community outreach, get our name out there more, teach at more schools, and ideally, open additional dojo locations!! High ranking black belts need to be invested in the success of our school. Please bear this in mind as you prepare for your upcoming belt test.
Here are two quick stories that have helped shape my understanding and help put this in perspective.
1. My good friend Tony, whom I have known since high school, retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel after a brilliant career as a pilot and flight instructor. He had more ribbons on his chest than most high ranking Generals. I asked him why he held his current rank and he said that to remain doing what he loved (which was flying every minute he could) he had turned down promotion opportunities on a regular basis. For him, promotion meant that he would be at the Pentagon or commander of a base and he would then be behind a desk instead of in a cockpit. He made a choice, more flying or more rank and responsibility. Now retired, he flies private jets for a living – “Blue Skies!”
How does this relate to our ranks? If you want to devote yourself to just working out and training and remain out of the areas of responsibility that go into the success of the dojo, you will be limiting your advancement to the higher ranks in Gasan Ryu Kenpo.
2. Some friends took my wife and me to their church for service on a Sunday morning a few years ago. When the priest got up for the sermon it was his first opportunity to speak with the congregation as he had just joined the church as their new leader. He spoke simply and honestly about his plans for the future and one thing in particular has stuck with me ever since. He stated that he intended to measure his success not by how much money he was able to collect in the offering, but in the sense of community and family he was able to create within the congregation.
How does this relate to our ranks? A sense of family and community is developed from the top down and takes involvement and commitment from the higher ranks and instructors as well as the new students. It is maintained by seeing each other at dojo activities and renewing friendships during events, by sharing responsibilities and by supporting each other in our lives and goals as martial artists.
Thanks, and Happy Training!
The Gasan Ryu Kenpo Yudansha!
The following students have been promoted to Gasan Ryu Kenpo ranks in Black Belt by Professor Nick Chamberlain and are part of the Yudansha, they are in alphabetical order with the date of their promotion to Shodan (first degree Black Belt) listed. Some of these students have also been promoted by Professor Chamberlain to ranks in Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu (authorized by Sijo Sonny Gascon), Nick Cerio’s Kenpo (authorized by Professor Nick Cerio), American Kenpo (authorized by Professor Nick Cerio) and Shaolin Kenpo.
A
Jim Adcox – 2013
Colin Arntz – 2014
B
Evan Balch – 2007
Tom Ballinger – 2004
Brian Birmingham – 2013
John Blanchard – 1988
Michelle Boyd – 2006
Mike Bush – 1992
C
James Campbell – 2008
Gerardo Caro – 2006
Kim Chabot – 1981
Edwin Chamberlain – 2003
Patti Crites – 2008
Matt Crocker – 1989
D
Wes Davis – 2016
Brian Doherty – 2011
Shannon Durst – 2015
E
James Epstein – 2008
Gerry Escarcega – 2010
F
Tricia Finley – 2016
Paul Flynn – 2006
Greg Fountain – 2007
Mark Fountain – 2002
G
Alyx Galbreath – 2005
Kris Galbreath – 2010
Dawn Gallenstein – 2011
Les Gallenstein – 2011
Sabrina Gallenstein – 2013
Marc Giguere – 1991
Brad Gould – 1989
Linn Griffin – 2004
Shawn Griffith – 2010
H
Michael Hand – 2010
Jim Harding – 1982
Bobby Hasty – 2012
Kory Helfman – 2010
Joe Herlihy – 1988
Rohan Hoare – 2015
John Thomas Holden – 2016
Kevin Hooker – 2002
Warren Hutcheson – 2008
I
Nicholas Interrante – 2008
J
K
Joe Kane – 1990
Tom Kearin – 1982
Ronnie Keiser – 2003
Sam Keiser – 2004
Carrie Kimbrough – 2005
Chris Kimbrough – 2004
Dallas Kirby – 2011
L
Kellyn Laurinski – 2010
Jerry Little – 1991
M
Bill Madsen – 2012
Morgan Martinez – 2016
Jimmy Mathis – 2010
Mary Mathis- 2010
Rick Matson – 1988
Norman McBride – 1988
Mike McDonald – 2015
Paul McDonough – 2006
Steve McInnis – 1989
Al Mendonca – 1993
Joe Mendoza – 2016
Paul Micciche – 1988
Ryan Miller – 2006
Matthew Miller – 2012
Victoria Miller – 2010
Matt Moncreaff – 1993
Lisa Moretta – 2008
Kevin Morey – 1989
Kramer Morgan – 2014
Mike Morrison – 1997
N
Rollend Nery – 1997
Alex Neyrey – 2009
Cherie Neyrey – 2010
Rob Nickell – 2006
O
P
Sebastian Perez – 2009
Clark Perkins – 2006
Chad Perry – 1990
Genevieve Petersen – 2017
Arrash Pirasteh – 2004
Q
R
Tongla Reddix – 2012
Robert Reddix – 2011
Jim Riddle – 2003
Erin Roarke – 1988
Gina Robinson – 2014
Glenn Robinson – 2014
Scott Robinson – 2004
Jennifer Ross – 2004
Steve Rountree – 2014
S
Erik Sanchez – 2012
Jorge Sanchez – 2008
Mason Schleu – 2012
Dan Smith – 2002
Clif Snow – 2010
Jason Solorzarno – 2016
Bill Starkey – 2012
Jamie Steeves – 1989
Hannah Sternblitz – 2012
Bob Stickney – 1989
Carlene St. John – 2012
Jamie St. John – 2012
T
Terin Tehan – 2009
George Thibault – 1988
Terrence Tippet – 2015
Alex Torres – 2010
Darrell Turner – 2012
U
Dru Ubben – 2010
V
Chris Valentine – 2011
Laura Vaughn – 2001
Mike Vaughn – 1999
Jorge Veliz – 1991
W
Scott Watrous – 2010
Madison Walsh – 2013
Shane Whitehead – 2004
Diana Whiting – 2008
Stephen Whiting – 2008
X
Y
Brenda Yturralde – 1997
Z
Tom Zimmerschied – 2012