"Sullivan's own grading history has also come under fire. He was last formally graded in 1971, to 2nd Dan, by Keishinkan founder, Master Masanao Takasaka, under whom he studied in Japan. Having since graded many instructors above 2nd Dan anointed Stacey Karetsian as GKR's first Shihan (5th Dan) in 2000, the obvious question - one that's perhaps been the sharpest arrow in the quivers of his critics - is, how can a 2nd Dan grade someone to 5th Dan? Sullivan has never awarded himself a grade, but had an honourary 7th Dan bestowed on him four years ago by Karetsian and other senior GKR instructors.

"It was just their way of saying, we want to recognise you, and give you this honourary grade as your senior guys," says Sullivan. "I've had opportunites to join with other big organisations in Japan, with whom I've been a bit pally, and because of who we are as a club, I could pick up a high grade certificate, but it really wouldn't mean anything."

Sullivan doesn't name the organisations, but says "they have legitimate links with traditional karate organisations". He says he could train with them for a few months in order to get graded to a higher level, but is not inclined to do something that would simply be "political - for looks".

The last time he had any official recognition of his abilities outside his own organisation was in 1986 when he joined the Australian Karate Federation, the country's largest governing body for karate. They would not accept GKR as a member without a record of his rank on their forms and at their request, Sullivan assessed his standard as being of "around 5th Dan". This was initially accepted, though some time later the AKF revoked GKR's membership.

Criticisms over self-grading have been levelled at many successful instructors, including others who have created martial arts history in Australia, such as Bob Jones, also a former student of Goju Kai. Like Jones, Sullivan kept training with his students and peers after severing formal ties with his traditional club. He's been perfecting his karate for 40 years now, but how can so many years of training be formally evaluated without the judgement of those who've gone before?

"I guess the proof of the pudding is this: Stacey is 5th Dan in GKR and we have a few 4th Dans and more 3rd Dans, etc. and we're just creating our own history. People can say, well, where do you get the authority - and i say, well, I'm doing it anyway," Sullivan chuckles. "To some people, from the outside it can look Micky-Mouse, but as time rolls on, people can look at Stacey [Karetsian] ...look at the other guys and look at their karate for what it really is and - in real, practical reality - look at the character of these guys and at what GKR is producing as a historical reality. And then 15 or 20 years later, everyone goes, well, the karate really is genuine, and what started off seeming illegitimate in somebody's mind becomes legitimate."

and because of who we are as a club, I could pick up a high grade certificate, but it really wouldn't mean anything.

The following is from the Blitz magazine, vol 19, No. 10. It is an extract from the third article on GKR & Robert Sullivan.

A professional association kicking someone out is cause for concern in any field. The standards are set for a reason. There must have been something else to it.