Average time

[Sentunim]

What is the average amount of time taken for each kyu rank? I think I must suck, because I've done kendo for half a year and got ranked 5th kyu.

[Andoru]

That's normal. You actually skipped a grade for crying out loud.

[Shazzanzzz]

Consider yourslef lucky if you can test regularly. Because i'm in college and there is no dojos around, if I ever want to test, it's about a 10 hour drive to any of those places. I've only tested once since starting kendo two years ago, and I got a ni-kyu. MOst likelyy could have gotten ikkyu if i tested for it instead of open rank. I didn't know i had to specifically test for ikkyu.

Anyways, maybe your regional federation is just traditional. If that's the case, they'll almost never give you a rank above what your sensei recommends. So, if your sensei is very traditional, s/he is going to make you go up the rank almost one by one.

[Marine_Boy]

Ikkyu in 8 months.

[Oyabun]

At my school, promotions are given one rank at a time. We train 5 days a week, and there's a promotion test once every two months. By that system, it should take me just under a year to get to 1st kyu.

[Sentunim]

I think we only grade once a year at my dojo.

[Yann]

twice a year here.

[Munnin]

Why does it matter? No matter what rank you are awarded you still are the same person with the same skills. Is it like chess where the better my rating the better the opponent I get to face?

[Munnin]

Just in case I was not being clear: I have only been in Kendo for 2 weeks. I dont have any idea what the answer is and would like one.

[taiwnezboi]

ours is about 3 months per kyu starting with 0, then 9, 8, etc. and 6 months from 4th to 3rd kyu

[Sentunim]

Oh well, I try not to bo so goal oriented anyways, I think i may have come across that way however.

I was just realizing that I must have some bad habits I need to break, and I need to relax more when under pressure. I am extremely introvert, and have problems making presentatons infront of a group of 7 at school, let alone my kendo class.

[Eiliries]

It took me 10 months to get 6. kyu.

[meow]

Why does it matter? No matter what rank you are awarded you still are the same person with the same skills.

I second this. :-)

And your trainer/sensei should be the one to tell you, when you are ready for a grading.

[not-I]

Why does it matter? No matter what rank you are awarded you still are the same person with the same skills. Is it like chess where the better my rating the better the opponent I get to face?
Hopefully, you are most definately NEVER the same person with the same skills. You should strive to improve with every keiko!

While getting obsessed about kyu grades is indeed silly, rank is a useful signpost for your own progress and for others to know where you've been. If you are practicing consistently, i think you should take every opportunity available to test. Preparing for a grading pushes you to get your shit together and focus your skills to do your best, straight kendo.

[mystic_kendoka]

also motivates you..

[Munnin]

Hopefully, you are most definately NEVER the same person with the same skills. You should strive to improve with every keiko!

If I hand you a belt, then you are no diffrent. If you must work for the belt then it forces you to bring up to level a set of skills.

Ok, that makes sense to me.

[mystic_kendoka]

we're talking kendo here, there are no belts..

anyone tried wearing a coloured obi around their doh?

[Munnin]

we're talking kendo here, there are no belts..


Yes I knew that and was speaking figuratively.

So other than the training and measuring stick opportunity there is no particular advantage to taking the test.

[Skolld]

I don't think you're getting it. Training and the opportunity to gauge where you are, ARE the advantages of testing. Anything that will make you train harder is a good thing. train, train, train, train, and then train some more. while i agree that ranks and grades say little about the character of a person it does allow me to understand their level of skill, at least at the lower ranks. I think that after about fourth dan it does tell me a little something about their character. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to attain that level of skill.

[AlexM]

What is the average amount of time taken for each kyu rank? I think I must suck, because I've done kendo for half a year and got ranked 5th kyu.

Sounds like a long time by CKF standards. Individual clubs are responsible for grades below ikkyu in Canada so it all depends on what the average rate of progression in your club is like, no one here could be able to really answer you.

The CKF will let you grade for ikkyu as long as you have your club's permission. In theory you could do your ikkyu at the next december grading even if you didn't "officially" progress passed 5th kyu.

All this means that grades below ikkyu are rather irrelevant in Canada (and even ikkyu isn't such a big deal).

[Danny Boy]

Why does it matter? No matter what rank you are awarded you still are the same person with the same skills. Is it like chess where the better my rating the better the opponent I get to face?


Gradings are as much a part of Kendo as attending the classes or doing shiai.

[Munnin]

Gradings are as much a part of Kendo as attending the classes or doing shiai.
It may sound strange but thats fine with me. Kinda like accepting "because I said so" from your parents. :D

That said, since this is something I need to know where can I get a list of the rankings and what you need to know for each?