#5dan

[thewholeuniverseisinus]

It’s been a while to see my son’s practicing.

[coloradothunder]

GoDan-NanaDan Shinsa

I was able to help proctor the 2015 AUSKF Yudansha test yesterday.

I watched very closely the movements, waza etc of the 5.Dans to see where I have to be for my 4.Dan test next year. It was a great opportunity to have a court side seat.

Out of around 50 people testing for the ranks of 5Dan, 6Dan and 7Dan.

Only 6 people passed. 4 of those were 5 Dan, and 2 were 6.Dan. 

One take away I had from the Shinsa, is that many of the 5 Dans (largest group) lacked zanshin. Many just stood and struck, they did not run through, they did not strike with their being. They opened a point, struck the point, and then halted and kiai’d at their opponent. I wondered why? 

Striking THROUGH your opponent is one of the fundamental components to Ki-Ken-Tai-Ichi. I believe this may be why many of them failed, they didn’t commit everything to their strike.

We are meant to strike our point, without regard to our own lives.

Refining and polishing a diamond over and over....the hill we face in Kendo.