Wait Period

[Will]

I was thinking about the wait some people have to do from shodan-nidan(1 yr), or nidan-sandan(2 yr), sandan-etc, and I was thinking, are they really necessary? If someone is good enough to test for nidan when they're testing for shodan, should they have to wait that extra year? Or what if someone was more than good enough to test for sandan the time they were testing nidan. Why should they wait? Is it to teach them patience? I know that rank isn't too important of a thing, but it's important enough to some people.

But yeah, anyone know the reasoning for the wait, opinion, etc

[tango]

rank doesn't matter.. all that matters is how good a person's kendo is.

don't worry about rank.
worry about kendo instead. :)

[Blue Samurai]

The problem of today´s budokas is in the phylosophy of the grades.
Everyone think that technics are the main factor.
Everyone, who understands the word "do" knows, that grading is majorily certificate of your internal progress.
Let´s be honest, would you really give dan grades in the minimal paper wait time only because he/she is good in the competitions or his/her level of practising is good in only technical way?
My opinion is, that this would be blind.
But what I completely agree with is the possible situation of somebody, who is training his/her budo for many many years and this person seems to be ready also in the mental level, so that is pitty to reach the level which is allready reached by the method "kyu by kyu."

[LNGUYEN]

Your question is just like teenagers, they think they are old enough to live their own lives, make their own decisions. However, the parents still want them to listen to them, why? Because we went through the teenager process and know what was happening.

So if you get shodan and think you are good enough to try nidan the next day? However, the Senseis who are a lot higher in rank, also went through shodan before and know that you should get something from shodan point of views.

[kendomushi]

Part of the reason for a wait is that here in Japan there are more kids and teens doing kendo than any other group. While a teen might be good enough to pass nidan or sandan, their focus needs to be on their school work. Kendo has to come second or lower down the scale. The wait helps keep things in perspective for them I believe.

[olaf]

kendomushi -

Since you seem knowledgeable about the testing system in Japan - when were the "wait period" rules first implemented in Japan? The reason I ask is that I remember reading about how some decades ago, they'd have kids graduating from college as beastlike 5th dans! The math obviously doesn't work out if the wait period rules are in place and you can test for shodan starting at 15...

[Danny Boy]

kendomushi -

Since you seem knowledgeable about the testing system in Japan - when were the "wait period" rules first implemented in Japan? The reason I ask is that I remember reading about how some decades ago, they'd have kids graduating from college as beastlike 5th dans! The math obviously doesn't work out if the wait period rules are in place and you can test for shodan starting at 15...


Yeah, i heard that Hirakawa-Sensei was a 7th Dan by the time he hit the age of 27. Talk about beast-like. *hides behind a big rock*.

[kendomushi]

Even with the waiting periods, you can reach san-dan by the age of 18. That means you can reach go-dan before the age of 30 if you are lucky. There are many who manage it.
When exactly the current system was put in place I can't say off the top of my head though I'll find out. I know that it has been well over a decade and I believe it has been more than two decades. I'll let you know.

[Will]

But again, what's the point of the wait period?

[mingshi]

But again, what's the point of the wait period?
Just a wild guess, but the wait period allows people to train either extra hard or nothing at all... Maybe it's all up to personal satisfaction. You get 99% or 51% for a test, but since there is only pass and fail in Shinsa, you don't really have to do that extra bit. Shinsa is not Shiai, and you are not fighting with the fellow examinees but yourself. I believe those young 5Dan who did fast-track gradings really work for it. There is no miracle; they just worked harder than anyone else.

Remember Rabbit and Turtle...

[kendomushi]

Part of the reason for a wait is that when you reach a higher level, more than say sandan, you are not only expected to have an appropriate amount of skill in kendo, but also exhibit a certain level of maturity that is not commonly associated with younger people. Saying this might sound biased, but I am speaking from the view point of those who run kendo in this country, older Japanese males.
If you are going to hold a skill level that qualifies you as a teacher of their art, you had better have the skill, look the part, act the part, and fill in all the required squared or you will not be awarded the level.

[Shambler]

I believe it is also an opportunity for people to mature and learn patience. Ranks mean little, if you ask me. Albiet, I'm rather new, but to me, your skills and technique will demonstrate your level more than some promotion. I believe this is also part of the reason that we don't wear color-coded belts.

The promotions are only a tool, in my mind, to help others concretely know of their accomplishments without watching their performance.

I agree with the earlier post - don't worry about examination and promotion - just give kendo and yourself your all, and whatever comes your way, comes your way.

[Nanbanjin]

I was thinking about the wait some people have to do from shodan-nidan(1 yr), or nidan-sandan(2 yr), sandan-etc, and I was thinking, are they really necessary? If someone is good enough to test for nidan when they're testing for shodan, should they have to wait that extra year? Or what if someone was more than good enough to test for sandan the time they were testing nidan. Why should they wait? Is it to teach them patience? I know that rank isn't too important of a thing, but it's important enough to some people.

But yeah, anyone know the reasoning for the wait, opinion, etc
Maybe the wait period is needed because test supervisors aren't capable of judging on skill alone.

[Nanbanjin]

Yeah, i heard that Hirakawa-Sensei was a 7th Dan by the time he hit the age of 27. Talk about beast-like. *hides behind a big rock*.
The late Andoh Kohzoh Sensei made seventh dan at twenty seven. He didn't get eighth dan until he was fifty four. He spent half of his life to that point at seventh dan.

[Shazzanzzz]

I think the wait period is to make people more humble about the ranks. You wouldn't be able to just do kendo for like 5 years and be a sensei already. Instead of just getting the ranks, you earn the ranks because of the wait period. And, i think the wait period let you have time to earn the respect you should get when you achieve sandan, yondan, then godan, too.

[Kirin]

In Japan you can recieve shodan at age of 13.
But for teen, wait period is diffrent.
if you are shodan at 13, you can not test until 15.
15 is first year in highschool.

So it goes
shodan = 13
2 dan = 15
3 dan = 17
4 dan = 20
5 dan = 24
6 dan = 29
7 dan = 35
8 dan = 42

This waiting period is very important!
Starting 3dan up, you can seee big diffrence even within same rank...
3dan who just passed or 3dan close to 4dan .... big diffrence! ...and as rank goes higher, these diffrences are huge!


...but then again, if kendo federation wants to make money, they should ban this system.
There will be soooo many un-qualified wannbe "black-belt' ppl testing, the federation can make fortune out of testing fees LOL.