“Shidoshi” translates as “Teacher of the Way” and is a title available only to practitioners who have taken and passed the godan (fifth degree black belt) test. Until recently, only Soke Masaaki Hatsumi could administer the test, but he has recently allowed some teachers at the level of 15th dan to give the test. To be a Shidoshi, an instructor must be licensed through the International Bujinkan Dojo, and renew their Shidoshi License annually. A “Shidoshi-ho” is an assistant instructor, below the rank of godan, who is preparing to take the godan test and become an instructor. A Shidoshi-ho is also licensed through the International Bujinkan Dojo. The word “Shihan” is a title meaning “Great Teacher,” and was used in the past only to refer to the senior Japanese instructors and personal students of Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. More recently, the title has come to be used in the US to refer to any instructor with the rank of judan (tenth degree black belt) or higher.
An alternative meaning to this term is at the core of my novel,Shidoshi: The Four Ways of the Corpse.
In the Japanese language, Shi is the number four and also a slang term used for a dead person. Do is a word (as any martial artist knows) that means, "way" or "the way." So, Shi Do Shi could translate to mean, "The Four Ways of the Corpse." As Frank Dux explained it to me, this title in Koga Yamabushi Ninjitsu was used to describe someone who was "Dead to the world, and lived only for their dedication to the attributes of a warrior and to the ryu." You can read more about my novel and the problem of holding reverence for titles at www.worldwidedojo.com or by reading my book Shidoshi: The Four Ways of the Corpse (available in electronic and print forms at all the usual outlets) is also available from the publisher at http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/Shidoshi.html.
Within the Koga Yamabushi school of Ninjutsu is Shidoshi the highest honor within the system. Frank Dux his teacher Senzo Tanaka was the Shidoshi of Frank W. Dux.
Nowadays others within Koga Yamabushi ryu Ninjitsu can become a Shidoshi, with Menkyo Kaiden from Hanshi Frank W. Dux.
When Hanshi Frank Dux issues a Menkyokaiden then it means that this person is fully licensed to transmit all knowledge of the Koga Yamabushi ryu ninjutsu and Dux Ryu onto others.