Author: Bret Gordon
In an old article of mine, "The Purpose Of Certification," I discussed the various types of certifications (rank, titles, and licenses) used in the martial arts. I broke down what each one meant and how they were generally earned. Essentially, certifications recognize progress while licenses grant authority. The question that comes up, however, is if these credentials we work so hard for should be displayed publicly. Some like to equate them to professional diplomas and licenses like doctors or lawyers display in their offices, and to a certain measure that's true. A martial arts school, like a doctor's office, will often display their various credentials on the wall. That's really the only place they belong, or maybe in a folder tucked away (where most of mine are).
Unlike professional licenses though, martial arts certificates are a private matter. They are for the recipient alone. They have no meaning outside the style or organization they were awarded in, and so there is no purpose in publicizing them for the world to see. If anything should be displayed at all, it is the Menkyo (teaching license) as that is really all that matters because that lets the reader know exactly what the instructor is authorized to teach. Even then, however, it should only be shared with students of the art because they are the only ones it matters to.
Unlike professional licenses though, martial arts certificates are a private matter. They are for the recipient alone. They have no meaning outside the style or organization they were awarded in, and so there is no purpose in publicizing them for the world to see. If anything should be displayed at all, it is the Menkyo (teaching license) as that is really all that matters because that lets the reader know exactly what the instructor is authorized to teach. Even then, however, it should only be shared with students of the art because they are the only ones it matters to.
