ZKSBBR Sokehip Division
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The Zen Kokusai Soke Budo/Bugei Renmei is the United States first Sokeship commission which was founded in the year of 1973. Soke Rod Sacharnoski, President/Founder of the ZKSBBR, is one of the very few non-Asian masters to have written recognition as a Soke 10th Dan from Japan. Today, after Rod Sacharnoski introduced the Asian Sokeship concept to the Western world in the 1970s and 80s, there are currently hundreds of non-Asians claiming to be a Soke, with many appointing themselves or founding their own Sokeship groups. Others have stated that they purchased their Sokeship’s through various magazine ads, or had their own students appoint them. Keep in mind that Sokeship recognitions originated in the Orient as did everything else concerning the martial arts. For this reason, the ZKSBBR structured itself upon the traditional Asian methods of certifying Head Founders and Head Successors.
Over the years the ZKSBBR has received hundreds of requests from non-Asian Soke who wanted to join and be recognized by the ZKSBBR. After reviewing the applicants rank credentials, only a few were found who met the initial requirement of having earned an Asian recognized Shihan rank (5th dan or above) under an Asian recognized Soke/Ryu. Since it’s inception in 1973, the ZKSBBR has appointed a relatively small amount of non-Asians to the position of Soke. Almost all of these appointments are Juko-Kai members who earned their Shihan grading under Soke Sacharnoski in his Asian sponsored Sokeship arts.
STATEMENT FROM ROD SACHARNOSKI, DAI-SOKE:
It has been stated that I have held personal membership in other Western founded Sokeship groups, and that I was even terminated as a member from one of these groups. I want to state for the record that this is absolutely false! Since 1973, when I founded the ZKSBBR Sokeship Commission, I have never been a member of any other Western founded Sokeship group, nor have I ever affiliated with, or recognized, any other Western founded Sokeship group.
