Initiations.

[Mokujin77]

Last weekend, Number One Dave passed his Shodan exam. Last night was the first session back after his grading. We finished the session with shiai-geiko. I don't know how this is done in other dojos but the way we did it last night was to form a circle, two kendoka go in the middle and fight for one point, winner stays in. Dave, being the brand shiny new shodan, had to go in first. The whole thing was fixed, however, so that no matter who managed to score a point on Dave, it was waved away with calls of "No zanshin!", "No ki ken tai!" or even "No point, it was a lucky strike!". Basically, Dave got kakarigeiko for what seemed like ages (everyone who was in bogu that night fought him at least 3 times). Even when he let people score on him, they would'nt let him out. At the end of it all, he was shagged out but gave a good account of himself.

Does anyone else have this kind of "initiation" when certain grades are passed?

[SmellsLikeBogu]

haha I would love it :D

my shodan exam is coming up this year, but there is still one kyu championship in between!

[cesarekim]

We do about 5 shiai practices when we pass exams. This is not that extreme. The "extreme" part is that whoever passed has to pay for dinner and drinks after practice and we choose the venue...

[kim]

We do about 5 shiai practices when we pass exams. This is not that extreme. The "extreme" part is that whoever passed has to pay for dinner and drinks after practice and we choose the venue...

It was great fun. Sorry Dave. Towards the end he was flagging a bit it was after all over 15 minutes long. I still think i'd rather do that than pay for our lot to eat.. big macs all round i think.

[emitbrownne]

Yep it sounds familiar. We do it here too, just its expected.

It serves as a device for humbling those whose heads swell when they get the grading...

Plus its a great bonding tool, when the reciever (the newly graded) gets encouragment to continue by his attackers.

[sjp]

we do it in here in Stoke too.
All new shiny Dan grades get a line up. I make sure they do it when we have a full dojo cant let them have an easy one.

Its cheaper than beer, that would bankrupt them as we have a few serious drinkers ;)

Jim's turn this week, he also passd shodan on Sunday last.

[tango]

Last weekend, Number One Dave passed his Shodan exam. Last night was the first session back after his grading. We finished the session with shiai-geiko. I don't know how this is done in other dojos but the way we did it last night was to form a circle, two kendoka go in the middle and fight for one point, winner stays in. Dave, being the brand shiny new shodan, had to go in first. The whole thing was fixed, however, so that no matter who managed to score a point on Dave, it was waved away with calls of "No zanshin!", "No ki ken tai!" or even "No point, it was a lucky strike!". Basically, Dave got kakarigeiko for what seemed like ages (everyone who was in bogu that night fought him at least 3 times). Even when he let people score on him, they would'nt let him out. At the end of it all, he was shagged out but gave a good account of himself.

Does anyone else have this kind of "initiation" when certain grades are passed?

i think we've done that occasionally in the past... but we don't pull the wool over anybody's eyes.
it's "kikarigeiko! <new-ranked guy> out in the middle first!" hehe..

we also have a thing when somebody gets a new bogu.... "let's practice DOU!"

[Zao18]

I don't think our club does anything for someone getting a new grade. But we do have something special for either first time in bogu or your birthday. You get to do ji-keiko with EVERYBODY else in bogu. So all the kendoka line up for their turn against the victim...ermm....I mean lucky student...hehehe. And this is even more special in our club since we also have naginata students that practice with us. So once every kendoka in bogu has a piece of the lucky fellow/gal, all the naginata-ka in bogu line up for their turn. *cackle*. It is quite amusing to watch, they get quite the work-out, and at the end when the person is huffing and puffing, everyone gangs up on him/her with either hugs or friendly pats on the back and a big congratulations and clapping from the whole class. :tongue:

[Alison2805]

weve done it a couple of times: "circle of death" great fun!!

[tgsfg]

For my ikkyu exam, I had to do a two point shiai gikeiko with everyone (including visitors/guests) in bogu. The way it works, is the person who's testing has to get two ippons on each person. It's not so bad until you have to start going against the nidan+ sempais. We also do this for anyone leaving faraway.

[Washington]

On our drive back from shinsa all new Shodan are crowned at Burger King and a picture taken for posterity, with a side of fries :)

[Mokujin77]

It was great fun. Sorry Dave. Towards the end he was flagging a bit it was after all over 15 minutes long. I still think i'd rather do that than pay for our lot to eat.. big macs all round i think.

Uh...are you implying that we're all fat? :hurt:

[kim]

Uh...are you implying that we're all fat? :hurt:

No but you will be after all that fondu..:D

[Mokujin77]

No but you will be after all that fondu..:D

It's a skiing holiday. I will be skiing. NOT eating fondue. It is NOT a fondue-eating holiday.







Well, maybe a little won't hurt...

[kim]

It's a skiing holiday. I will be skiing. NOT eating fondue. It is NOT a fondue-eating holiday.







Well, maybe a little won't hurt...

Ok so its a hot melted cheese and wine holiday definatly not fondue...
Have a great time on the Piste:D