Mark Szalajko Promoted to Yondan 4th Degree Black Belt RyuKonKai

On my 16th training tour of Japan I was promoted to Yondan in the art of RyuKonKai. I have treasured every minute of my RyuKonKai journey and I enjoy passing on what I have learnt to my members.I am extremely lucky to have been personally trained IHA Kotaro Sensei and his son IHA Mitsutada Sensei and my first RyuKonKai instructor SLYWA Robert Sensei who is no longer with us.

Two things I am very proud:

1. I have never asked to be graded in RyuKonKai and I never asked to receive a Meikyo (Branch Instructors License). I have watched with raised eye brows and disappointment others, ask for promotion to Sandan and a Meikyo after only 12 months of Nidan. I have watched others send money and grading forms in the mail to be graded. Thankfully they were all told no!

RyuKonKai is the real deal, that sort of conduct is not condoned.

2. All of my promotions were awarded to me at the RyuKonKai honbu in Uruma Okinawa. I have never received a grading certificate in the mail. I have held the rank of Sandan for nearly 6.5 years.

On Tuesday the 15th August 2023, Grand Master IHA Kotaro 10th Dan – Hanshi and Designated Intangible Cultural Asset of Okinawa called me over and asked me to confirm how long I had been a Sandan. In summary, he said that I was training well and doing a good job teaching my students and that one day I might be able to be graded to Yondan. I said thank you Sensei, and that was the end of the discussion. I was extremely happy that he thought one day, I would make it to Yondan, and I would have waited several more years if he thought it was appropriate. I thought that perhaps next year if I keep training hard I might get promoted.

On the Wednesday night, Sensei handed me a grading form to fill out and said tomorrow night Yondan shinsa. I have to say it put a smile on my face.

On the Thursday night I took my Yondan shinsa. I felt I performed very well. Being tested in front of my students and having their support made it an extra special grading for me. With my RyuKonKai Dan tests I have never been told on the night whether I passed or failed. So I wasn’t worried that I was not given the result when class ended.

On the Friday night, I was informed that I had passed my exam and was presented with my Yondan certificate.

I am the 49th person in the world to have received Yondan in RyuKonKai and the 3rd person in Australia.

Nothing changes, I will still keep coming back to Okinawa 2 to 3 times a year. This year I have 4 visits.

Monday I will be back in my dojo training.

I would like to extend my thanks to all of my members who support RyuKonKai and our RyuKonKai training.

Train hard, train everyday.

Having trained for so many decades I am old school and believe, expect nothing and what you earn will come.