Rank Examiner Certification

Rank Examiner certificates are available to all martial artists that are approved for certification by the SMAA.

A martial artist that desires rank examiner certification with the SMAA must first have his level of ability (as a rank examiner, in addition to his technical skills and his ability as an instructor) confirmed before any level of rank examiner certification can be made. This confirmation must be in the form of personal or video demonstration. Various levels of certification are available and have different requirements in addition to the above:

Certified Assistant Rank Examiner must be recommended by his own teacher. There is no minimum rank requirement.

Certified Rank Examiner must be recommended by his own teacher (if he has one.) This certification is available only to martial artists who hold the rank of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd dan rank.

Certified Senior Rank Examiner must be recommended by his own teacher (if he has one) and must have at least one student who is an SMAA Certified Assistant Rank Examiner or higher. This certification is available only to martial artists who hold the rank of 4th, 5th or 6th dan.

Certified Master Rank Examiner must be recommended by his own teacher (if he has one) and must have at least one student who is an SMAA Certified Assistant Rank Examiner or higher. This certification is available only to martial artists who hold the rank of 7th, 8th or 9th dan rank)

Certified Senior Master Rank Examiner must be recommended by his own teacher (if he has one) and must have at least one student who is an SMAA Certified Master Rank Examiner or higher. This certification is available only to martial artists who hold the rank of 10th dan rank)

Once certified at the appropriate level, SMAA Rank Examiners are authorized to promote their own students up to one rank below their own, except in the case of promotion to 10th degree. All promotions to the rank of 10th degree must be approved by the SMAA’s senior leadership. SMAA ranks or certifications as Instructor and/or Rank Examiner certification may be revoked at any time by unanimous vote of the Yudansha Taigu.

One must first be certified at their rank (except in arts that do not use numbered ranks) then they may be considered for instructor certification. After receiving instructor certification, one may be considered for rank examiner certification. Contact the SMAA for information on instructor or rank examiner certification if your art does not use a numbered rank system.

Rank examiner certification fee is to be paid after confirming the individual’s level of ability.

Once an SMAA member is certified as instructor or rank examiner, the SMAA will accept rank registrations and instructor and rank examiner certifications that the club instructor or club leader recommends their students for up to and including one rank or one certification below their own. Recommendations by club instructors and/or club leaders will not be considered if that club instructor/leader is not certified as an SMAA Certified Instructor and SMAA Certified Rank Examiner at the appropriate level.