CERTIFICATION LINE OF AUTHORITY

Usually when an Instructor or Master is ill and knows he is nearing his time, he will (if he already hasn’t) leave one senior Instructor designated as his successor. My experience first came when my Kenpo Instructor Ed Parker passed on unexpectedly. I believe Mr. Parker left many high ranking black belts but no particular successor. Consequently, many of these individuals immediately promoted themselves to tenth degree or to so-called masters or grand masters. No one will deny Mr. Parkers right to that title even though I believe his only certification from William Chow was a first degree Black belt. But are we all as innovative as he was? I don’t think so. Some of my ex- Kenpo Black belt friends have the nerve to call themselves Grand Masters. What comes next? Super Grand Master or Super Duper Grand Masters? I myself am a Great Big High Uppity Up… Top that!
more