SÅke
Soke (Japanese宗 家) literally means head of the family or founder or principal. This is known as the founder / keeper of an entire martial art (Japanese Budo ) or a style from the Far East.
Correct Use
A soke is the master of a style that most often it is the highest ranking title for the ( a ) head of a martial arts school or a - stiles.
Soke have the supreme authority within their style and the final decision on promotions, curriculum, doctrine and warnings. You can issue a certificate Menkyo Kaiden ( " initiation into the mystery of a doctrine "), which confirmed that someone has mastered all aspects of a style.
In Aikido Soke be ( literally Japanese道 主master of the way ) referred to as Doshu.
The widespread use of " soke " is controversial. Traditionally, it has been very rarely used in Japan, usually only in very old martial arts. However, there is a quite common name for rectors of companies incorporated in recent decades have become schools, which attempt to reconstruct an old martial art. ( A western example would be modern pankration. )
Some modern, coming from the west Soke, use the title " Soke - Dai " (Japanese宗 家 代) for their vice-principal, who acts as head of the school; the Japanese " Dai " can be translated as "representative " in this context. A Shihan - Dai, Dai - Soke, Soke - Dairi or referred to as someone who teaches temporarily in place of the rector, for example, by preventing the Soke by injury or disease.
Soke is sometimes confused with the founder of a style ( Shodai Soke ). However, the sequel to one of Shodai Soke are also soke.
Misunderstanding and abuse
Many of today's soke are rectors of the first generation of her style ( Shodai Soke ), thus simultaneously Soke and founders.
While few modern Shodai Soke have been awarded by members of renowned Japanese martial arts organizations this item, there are often self-appointed, mostly Western, Soke as the founder 's own, often little more mature and commercially oriented martial arts systems which are sometimes referred to pejoratively in reference to the Japanese children's series Pokémon as Sokemon be.