H. E. Davey Promoted to 8th Dan

Recently, H. E. Davey was unanimously approved for eighth dan in the SMAA Jujutsu Division. Stephen Fabian Sensei, a Director for the Jujutsu Division, and Nicklaus Suino Sensei, an SMAA Primary Director, recommended him for this promotion. The recommendation then went to the SMAA Board of Directors and SMAA Board of Advisors for consideration, which is the case with all promotions to higher dan within the SMAA. It was ultimately approved.

Unlike some associations, promotions within the SMAA are not based on the opinion of a single person. All members of the SMAA Board of Directors and SMAA Board of Advisors have an opportunity to comment on and discuss the merits of a proposed promotion. Video demonstrations and in-person examinations are frequently required.

If a group consensus is reached, the promotion is issued. This means that an international panel, made up of some of the world’s top martial arts teachers, is behind the ranks that members receive in the SMAA. Both Japanese and Western experts in modern budo and koryu bujutsu consider each application for ranks above third dan. (Ranks of sandan and below are determined by the Director, or Directors, in charge of a division within the SMAA.)

The SMAA’s thorough approach to rank examinations guarantees that rank is not obtained too quickly or easily, thus ensuring that certified SMAA teachers will not be embarrassed by another SMAA instructor’s lack of competency. In the case of Mr. Davey, the time between his last promotion and his new rank of hachidan was 19 years.

Look for a complete write-up in the next issue of the SMAA Journal. To find out more about this journal and the SMAA's international coalition of Japanese and Western budo experts, visit www.smaa-hq.com.