Shodan to Nidan

[Nishi]

I have noticed quite a few kenshi on this forum who are attempting the Nidan exam this year. I was curious as to what you may be focusing on???

I have only have 6 weeks (late july) before my exam, and have spent most of the year working on these basics-
-posture/kamae, keeping my back straight when attacking.
-Strong/clean okuri-ashi.
-Seme, trying to break opponents kamae with pressure.
-Nidanwaza and menuchi/koteuchi.
-Full spirited attacks and holding kiai until the cut is finished/zanshin.

Obviously, there is alot of kiri-kaeshi, and kata (1-7) being practised, as well as visiting other dojo/sensie.

I would like to hear how you are preparing (or not preparing), and what you feel is important for the nidan level. Are you training more, or doing anything different in preperation??

All input welcome!

[slidercrank]

Nishi:

The points you're working on are fine. I'd say, imho, that one of the biggest difference between shodan and nidan tests is the striking opportunity. Many nidan candidates have good form, kiai, zanshin, etc., but they still come out swinging wildly. I have seen one nidan grading where the judge halted the proceeding, and berated all the nidan candidates who had gone up (which was to say, most of the nidan candidates present), for their wild strikes.

The judges will look for the basics, but those basics you should have possessed in some degree of proficiency from your shodan test. For nidan test, they want to see that you now have some kendo maturity: kamae, look for (or make) an opportunity to strike, and then strike with good form.

Unbridled aggresive spirit (often manifesting in relentless attacks, aka, wild strikes) is good for ikkyu and ok for shodan. For nidan grading, definitely know when you should be aggressive and when to calm down and pressure.

These are my views, as a nidan now working towards sandan. Hopefully the kodanshas on this board can add their more authoritative thoughts.

Good luck to you.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Not kodansha but... I think the main differences between nidan and shodan are that you need to show an understanding of attack chances and also more variety in your waza. You still need to show lots of energy and spirit, it should be directed at actual openings rather than using your opponent as an uchikomi-dai. Seme (other than simply stepping in) is more advanced than required for nidan.

[Nishi]

This has been on my mind while practising (as it should). Im finding it easier to create good chances. I do miss alot of chances that my opponent opens, but i can correct that through kakari-geiko, im sure its a matter of responding as apposed to thinking about it and then responding.

Now that i think about it, i should really increase the amount of kakari-gieko im doing.

[Nishi]

Started video recording practise. Things dont look that bad actually, on occaision, my toes curl up during fumikomi ashi, but my foot still remains low and horizontal with the floor. My Kote looks to shiai, i am still jumping in from outside, snapping a quick kote and drifting to the right while facing opponent (this definatley needs attention).

Any suggestions regarding shinsa quality kote at the nidan level, and which way are the judges looking for you to cut through?

[JSchmidt]

I wouldnt worry about kote-uchi...if you can do kote, do kote-men, which they are far more interested in seeing, even if you miss. As for debana kote, Yanai-sensei always taught me to cut straight, ie no side-stepping, etc.

Jakob

[Neil Gendzwill]

As Jakob said, the judges won't care very much about kote anyways. Try to get a few nice men.

If you do attack kote, make sure you are attacking an actual opening rather than just relying on speed to jump in and tag it. You should move forward either left or right. Back or sideways is OK for shiai but for shinsa go forward.

[Nishi]

How much hiki-waza are the judges looking for at nidan level? I can usually hit clean hiki-men, but im still being told by one of my 5th dan instructors to stay away from "Do" of any sort....

any feedback???

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Nishi
How much hiki-waza are the judges looking for at nidan level?

You don't need to demonstrate any of it. Avoid tsubazeriai in general. If you taiatari, just rebound out of it, take a shot if it looks good and get back to kamae.

[Charlie]

What do you guys think of this (this may cause more confusion):

http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/studyguide.htm

Nidan: demonstrate the use of shikake waza, harai waza, debana waza, hiki waza, and oji (oh-ji) waza. Obviously the occasion may not arise to use most of the mentioned waza, but the candidate should show better basics than the Shodan level and be able to use more advanced technique as above. The Kenshi at this level should not be obsessed with the use of waza but start to master the opportunity of attack. Cuts should have good vertical motion with the use of both hands and te-no-uchi.

[Neil Gendzwill]

The middle two sentences are the key here. You should show more variety than shodan but don't try to cram everything into your 2 minutes - demonstrating an ability to perceive an opening and exploit it is the key. Also most judges in general aren't big on hiki-waza, so overall you're better off to get out of tsubazeriai quickly and move on to demonstrating other things.

[Nishi]

Had some very good bouts this week, but i noticed i had to move (almost) into chika'ma'ai before i noticed suki in opponents kamae. I was able to open other opponents from issoku itto no ma'ai, which made for cleaner looking kendo.....

Will the judges look down on me for entering so close to seme? I have been advised that it is okay to move as close as you need to in order to pressure your opponent because they(opponents) are all different, and this will show that i understand distance and pressure........

Any comments on this???

[JSchmidt]

First, seme and pressure doesnt really become important until sandan. (In terms of grading).
My opinion (FWIW), is that they will rather see attacks starting from toi maai, with seme into issoku-itto..or if you do start from issoku, keep the seme short. From that distance, I don't do much more than a fistlength of seme, but then I always feel cramped if I have to cut from chikai maai.

Jakob

[Nishi]

Im being advised to stay away from most waza and doh related waza! This suits me fine, but now im training in two minute intervals to get used to the time frame (we usually train 3 or 5 min's), and i found that i can cut kote-men and two or three clean men cuts, and mabye a kote, (four or five cuts in the 2 minutes). I am consious of not being to busy and looking scrapy or excited , but how much is enough??

[JSchmidt]

I think you are thinking too much :D. Just go out there and do your best clean straight kendo. The only thing I was slightly conscious of was the kote-men, but as it's one of my favourite techniques anyway, I just went out to do my best kendo. With the adrenaline pumping, you'll get more than enough cuts off anyway.

Jakob

[Nishi]

I think i think to much all the time.....sometimes im to focsed:cyclops:

[Nishi]

Did anybody stay, watch or even take part in the gradings at the world kendo championships? And if so, can you report a little bit about the standards and anything else that stood out?

I am interested in the nidan standards, and the candidates vs those succesful if anybody knows aswell......:D

Cheers guys!

[Inouye02]

Nishi , Just relax dont get all tweaked over your exam , stay calm , do your best kendo, add some some different wazas, ( suriage, nuki, oji ) types...

you will be fine

Inouye

[Nishi]

I'll post my result here next week.....thanx for the slap Inouye02 :D

Good luck too everybody else grading in Stoke (U.K.) this sunday.

[sjp]

Nishi
Stop worrying about the exam. I am willing to bet beer that you will pass. Make sure you come out on the Saturday night with us.. a large curry ... lots of beer = no F&*$%G problems.
Ask Gareth about Watchett this year .

[Nishi]

Originally posted by sjp
Make sure you come out on the Saturday night with us.. a large curry ... lots of beer = no F&*$%G problems.


I can just see it now.....Steve's "night before" comes raging back during my first bout and bits of day old beer and god knows what come spewing out thru my mengane :D

Im there!

David.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Nishi

Stop whingeing, go out with the boys and girls on saturday - Therse a good place to relax and unwind right near the dojo - the guys will direct you !

then just get on with it (and good luck ;-)

phil..

[Nishi]

Success....:D

It all went well......only attacked Menuchi and kote-men several times each bout, kept staright, cut big, screamed and finished my cuts off......

I got some good feedback....overall, it was a good experience!!!

[Phlebas]

Well done, Nishi! Sounds like you applied a good strategy. Congratulations indeed.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Congratulations !!

[Inouye02]

congrats nishi....see nothing to be worried about