According to Utena in Duelists of the Rose, the point of the Institute Duelists' Society "is to create a venue for weapons artists of all different styles and traditions to test themselves against one another, to face diverse opponents in a freestyle contest." (even though it was really created just to give Utena an excuse to go about openly armed). From that, I assume that IDS members practice their various weapons-based martial arts with and against each other.

A rather large chunk of A Rose for the New Year is devoted to Kate getting permission from Sensei Dad to practice with Utena. Kate's stated reason is that he has to gauge Utena's skill first:

Gryphon looked at Kate. "As journeywoman," he told her, "you're free to pursue any route you choose. You don't need me to approve of your sparring partners."

"I know," Kate replied, "but with our differing styles... I stand to learn and to teach, not merely to provide an opponent for sparring. Such a thing might not be proper for one of my stature." Utena noticed that her way of speaking to him became much more formal when addressing this subject, which she found interesting and a little unnerving.

Gryphon considered this, nodded again. "Fair enough. You're right as far as it goes - you're not a master yet, so you have no business taking a student." He smiled a little, glancing from one girl to the other. "But a collaboration of equals, enriching the styles of both - that's integral to the roots of the Asagiri Katsujinkenryuu. Tetsuo Asagiri and Talar Kem were just such a pair, and look what -they- made together."

It seems to me that the IDS presents Kate the exact same quandry she was faced with when it came to practicing with Utena - many people, some with very large differences of style from Kate's, leading to multiple opportunities to both learn and teach, not just to spar. But as a Journeywoman, she's not allowed to be in such a position without her Sensei's permission, and he's only given her permission to be in that position with Utena, and then only after personally evaluating Utena's skills.

Is there an inconsistency here, or am I seeing things? Wouldn't Kate have to get permission from Gryphon-as-Sensei to take part in the IDS (above and beyond any permission the school might require from Gryphon and Kei as parents)? Wouldn't each member the IDS have to be screened by Gryphon-as-Sensei, as Utena was, before Kate is allowed to face them in some IDS activity? Where's the difference between the two situations, because I'm having a hard time seeing it.

Regards,

Jeanne