
Axis Rank Structure

Ninjutsu Rank Structure
In the Bujinkan a.k.a Ninjutsu we use a more militaristic Japanese ranking system comprised of Wappen (Patches) and Hoshi (Stars).
Conventionally men will go from White Belt (Mu Kyu) to Green Belt throughout the Kyu grades and their rank is represented by the Wappen and Hoshi rather than their belt colour.
Kunoichi (Female Ninjas) wear Red Belts instead of Green but the Wappen and Hoshi ranking system still applies.
At Axis Martial Arts we no longer use this ranking system purely because the kids love the western way of getting coloured belts but the adults need to understand this system still applies to them in many ways.

Axis Rank Structure
At Axis Martial Arts we use a more conventional western style ranking system using coloured belts. To be honest this is mainly because of the Shadow Warriors (Kids) who don't see the progression using Wappen and Hoshi they feel that they are stuck on the same belt forever and lets be honest, who doesn't like getting a fresh coloured belt?
The rannk structure still applied though you can relate our grades pretty much 1:1 with the old ranking system from Ninjutsu.
Once students pass Shodan in the adult lessons then the Wappen and Hoshi system reapplies but by that point they are instructors themselves and understand the old ranking system.
The highest rank attainable in our system is 8th Dan we do not go past that, In the Bujinkan the grades go up to Dai Shihan (16th Dan) but at 8th you are a master in our system as we feel 16 Dan grades is just a bit ridiculous overall and most martial arts have a maximum grade of 8th Dan.
If I'm totally honest I feel that 16 Dan grades becomes a bit of a money making exercise so we don't do that at Axis Martial Arts.