Becoming a Certified Facilitator

Gallery from Recent Facilitator Trainings and Certifications (FTC’s)

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Becoming a Certified Facilitator of The Samurai Game®

This outlines the process for individuals to become trained and certified to facilitate the The Samurai Game^®. If you are interested in becoming trained and certified as a Facilitator of The Samurai Game^®, please read through this page carefully, and participate in at least one Samurai Game^® led by a certified Samurai Game^® facilitator prior to submitting your application for training and certification.

It is important to understand The Samurai Game^®’s history, standards and requirements associated with certification before completing the Facilitator Training and Certification (FTC) Application. Please read the “About The Samurai Game” page on this website  to learn more.

While individuals who have not participated in at least one Samurai Game^® may submit an application to participate in The Samurai Game^® Training & Certification Course (FTC), applicants must have actually participated in at least one Samurai Game^® prior to the start of the FTC program. Experiencing The Samurai Game^® as a participant is a requirement for attendance in the FTC program.

There is a lineage of study, practice and application that links the Samurai Game^® to Japan’s warrior class which existed for over 700 years. Because each Samurai Game^® is based upon Bushido, the ancient code of the Japanese samurai, it is important that facilitators study, practice, and reflect the tenants of that ancient code in their personal and professional lives. Upon certification, the Samurai Game Facilitator enters an exclusive group of practitioners. His or her actions with the Samurai Game^® will impact not only participants of the Samurai Game® and the other Facilitators, but also the continuing evolution of the greater human potential movement worldwide. We expect all Facilitators to manage themselves and their interactions with the public, clients, the Leonard Family Trust and Samurai Game Associates, with integrity and respect. Becoming trained and certified to facilitate The Samurai Game^® is a significant undertaking!

Trademark, Copyright, Ownership and Royalties

The term The Samurai Game^® is a legal trademark (#2,630,801) registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In China the Game sometimes goes by the name, The Warrior Game™. It is expected that all individuals and organizations respect both names as trademarks. The Samurai Game^® itself as a simulation performance (including its design and any variations or modifications) is copyrighted and registered as such with the US Government (#TXu 1-626-797). These trademarks and copyrights are owned by, and are the sole property of, the Leonard Family Trust. Only those persons who have undergone a training and certification process can facilitate and direct the performance of this simulation.

Becoming Certified as a Samurai Game^® Facilitator

Entering the training/certification process does not guarantee that the certification Candidate will become certified in a set period of time, nor does the process guarantee that the individual will be certified. Because the Samurai Game^® requires strong facilitation and group process skills, it is not recommended that individuals new to group process facilitation undertake the program. Although an individual new to group process facilitation may be accepted into the program, it may take longer to demonstrate competence in facilitation of the Game and receive certification. Regardless of prior experience, however, certification is not guaranteed for any candidate.

Only Individuals are Certified as Samurai Game^® Facilitators (not companies)

It is the individual facilitator, not the organization or employer of the facilitator, who becomes certified and authorized to produce and facilitate The Samurai Game^®. While it is permissible for a certified facilitator to use an assistant(s) during the production, it is not permissible for a certified facilitator to have an uncertified individual “stand in” for him/her in his/her absence. Additionally, certified facilitators cannot act as training/certification agents of The Samurai Game^® nor promise to do so. If they do, they risk termination of their own certification. No individual or organization can claim the right to solely market or produce the Game in any particular town/city, state/province, country or other geographic region unless authorized by Samurai Game Associates and the Leonard Family Trust.

Once an individual has successfully completed the FTC process, certification will become active upon payment of a certification fee (currently US $500 and separate from the FTC fee) paid by the candidate at the completion of the training/certification process. Certification remains in force for a period of five (5) years provided the facilitator adheres to policies. After five (5) years, the facilitator must renew his/her certification by demonstrating that s/he has met all renewal requirements which are specified in the Facilitator Agreement and discussed during the training and certification program.

Each time a Facilitator delivers The Samurai Game^® s/he is responsible to ensure that the applicable 15% royalty fee is paid to the Leonard Family Trust. The formula for computing the royalty is outlined in the Facilitator Agreement that the facilitator signs prior to certification. Copies of the Agreement are provided to Candidates upon acceptance of their FTC Application by Samurai Game Associates, and prior to the start of the FTC program. The formula for calculating royalties is reviewed and discussed during the FTC program. Royalties can be paid either by the facilitator or the hosting organization, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the facilitator to ensure that royalties are paid.

Training and Certification Instructors

All training and certification of Samurai Game^® Facilitators is handled by Samurai Game Associates, managed by Principal Grayson James.  Mr. James is the sole Training and Certification Representatives of the Leonard Family Trust (owner of The Samurai Game^® and all associated rights) and represents the interests, policies and values of The Samurai Game^® for the Leonard Family worldwide. Mr. James was a long-time student and friend of George Leonard (creator of The Samurai Game^®) and his wife Annie Styron-Leonard, is an instructor of the martial art of Aikido holding a 6th Degree black belt. He incorporates aikido principles and practices into his leadership coaching and consulting work, and his 2023 book, Full Contact Performance: The Internal Art of Organizational Collaboration.

NOTE. Being a martial artist is not a prerequisite for facilitator certification. However, having an understanding of embodied practices is helpful. We strongly recommended that candidates and facilitators establish and maintain a daily mind/body practice that supports “grounding and centering” and that promotes peaceful resolution to conflict, and a dignified presence under pressure. This greatly enhances a Facilitator’s ability to move participants “into character” as they prepare for “battles” and to deliver the game safely and effectively.

The Training and Certification Process

All candidates must complete the ten-day long Facilitator Training & Certification program (FTC), which involves intensive training, practice, feedback and more practice, towards demonstrating competence for certification.  At the completion of the ten-day program, and assuming the candidate has demonstrated proficiency and met all of the standards for certification, he/she will be granted certification upon payment of the  Certification Fee.

Key topics covered in Training and Certification program:

• Ethical and legal standards and expectations of a Samurai Game^® Facilitator
• Safety considerations
• How facilitating The Samurai Game^® is different from seminars, trainings, therapy, coaching, and other personal growth modalities
• Introduction to Aikido-based bodily practices and principles
• Background, theory, purpose and structure of The Samurai Game^®
• Understanding and practicing the facilitation of The Samurai Game^®
• The importance of practice and practices for Facilitators and participants of The Samurai Game^®
• Suggested props, films, music, texts handouts
• Do’s and dont’s
• Facilitating The Samurai Game^® in different settings (for youth/teens, schools, universities, corporations, personal growth seminars, non-profits, etc.)
• Structuring and facilitating the  “debrief” discussion process
• Facilitation practice, feedback…and more practice