UK Grading becoming too difficult?

[Fai]

What do you think?

[JoonShik]

What's becoming to difficult?

[The great I AM]

Does that mean you failed at the weekend?

[KhawMengLee]

"God Damn, Ming you dirty Fecker"

Well, they call me Dr Hentai...

Who failed on the weekend? I remember Sensei Budden was pretty tough on kata...

[Fai]

i did not fail as i did not take party but hearing a report about it. it was quite shocking.

but ming you are a dirty fecker ahahaha

[PhilMcLaughlin]

I was floor manager for the grading so had a good view


Those that deserved to pass did so, so if you werent quite ready this time then more practise is required :-)

regards

Phil..

[KhawMengLee]

i did not fail as i did not take party but hearing a report about it. it was quite shocking.

but ming you are a dirty fecker ahahaha

My reputation precedes me! Muahahahahahahahahaaaa!

[Fai]

you repuations belongs in the gutter hahaha

when are you coming back to uk to play dude? so you have started kendo again?

[KhawMengLee]

you repuations belongs in the gutter hahaha



You should join me...the view is great (Just think GTO 1, Onizuka sitting under the escalator).

when are you coming back to uk to play dude? so you have started kendo again?
Yar...back in training. Will be in Hong Kong and either Canada or Australia...no cash for UK yet hahahahaha

[Fai]

ok will meet up with ya in hk later in the year. i will drag my bogu over there :D

well i will join you in the gutter if we get to see that sight ahahah hey we can do that in hk hahaha :D

we just have to run super fast. hk police has guns ahahaha

why aint ya sleeping dude? still having problems ahahaha

[The great I AM]

This is the fastest I've ever seen a thread lose it like this....don't you know what a PM is?!

[don don]

I was floor manager for the grading so had a good view


Those that deserved to pass did so, so if you werent quite ready this time then more practise is required :-)

regards

Phil..

I strongly agree. Strict but fair at all levels.

[The great I AM]

I strongly agree. Strict but fair at all levels.

Personally I think its a good thing. I don't know about other countries (though I suspect to some extent that they are the same....), but I hate people with paper grades, who then decide to lord it over people of a lower grade (according to a piece of paper) without any real thought for what the grade really means.

Stricter also means people training harder to attain their goals, and this surely can't be a hard thing. As long as it is on the correct side of reasonable, stricter gradings can only be beneficial to the country as a whole. Raising the general standard is a good idea.

Also people who whinge about failing don't deserve to pass. They should be big enough to realise that within their grade and exam process there is room for improvement.

Here endeth the opinion!

[HellBoy]

It would have been nice if the stricter grading procedures had been in place fourty years ago, instead of the turn up and you've passed attitude that seemed to have been prevelant in the early years. No wonder so many of the higher graded people are failing their 7th dans now!:old_man:

Prehaps this country would have a much stronger base of senior kendoka and a lot less wannabee sensi's..... (paper sensi is a good discription)

Harder gradings now will make sure there is legacy of future sensi who are actually very good..

thats my midnight rant over..

[Kingofmyrrh]

I was there as well... kata standards have definitely been ramped up, but why shouldn't they be? I mean, I don't particularly like kata but that's my own problem.
I felt that there were a lot of people who failed to show proper basics, especially footwork. I think that this was why, for example, only one 2nd dan candidate was asked to advance to the kata stage.

[KhawMengLee]

This is the fastest I've ever seen a thread lose it like this....don't you know what a PM is?!

Its Frank...he lives by his own rules. :rolleyes:

[The great I AM]

It would have been nice if the stricter grading procedures had been in place fourty years ago, instead of the turn up and you've passed attitude that seemed to have been prevelant in the early years. No wonder so many of the higher graded people are failing their 7th dans now!:old_man:

Prehaps this country would have a much stronger base of senior kendoka and a lot less wannabee sensi's..... (paper sensi is a good discription)

Harder gradings now will make sure there is legacy of future sensi who are actually very good..

thats my midnight rant over..

Er, only 2 people have recently failed their 7th dan, and one of those I would definately not call a paper grade, and if you go even further back (2 years or so) you can count one more, who is also well worth the grade that he has currently. Did you practise with or watch these guys often to come to this opinion? 3 people in 3 years hardly constitues "many".... and what about the others that have passed before? I would hardly call Terry Holt or Mike Davies "Paper grades". And I think wannabee sensei is also quite a harsh description. Being a sensei at a dojo is a burden and a responsibility, and not something to be taken so lightly. It is more than just turning up telling people to do stuff then beating them up.

[Antonin]

My, this is realy scary: Gibbo Makes sense, and I agree with him! Maybe I should see a doctor, there's obviously something wrong with me... :ermm:
Anyway, Phil, you would say that wouldn't you? ;)
it is quite difficult for me to comment on this, as I was one of the infortunates that failed my sandan at this particular grading. This being said, my performance was shockingly bad, even by my low standards, plus I haven't done much kendo recently because of exams. So, not a total surprise.
People were shocked when numbers were called (by Phill actually I think!), and there was a single contender callled for nidan. That seemed low, and this has led some people to say it was unfair, too difficult, fixed, biaised against some dojo, or what have you. Personally, I was surprised that some people failed, since I thought they did quite well. But then again, the fact I failed my own grading shows that I was in no position to make this jugement call...
But I don't believe that there was any reason anyone failed this grading other than a poor performance, and I do not feel that there was a problem with the standards or the proceedings. Failed? do more keiko, get feedback from the board, act on it, improve and try again. It actually is THAT simple. Oh of course failing hurts, and it would have been nice to pass (after all, after I get sandan, maybe Gibbo will talk to me!), but hey, it's not the end of the world. Learn some humility and trian harder (says the guy who's skipping training tonight...)
As for wannabe sensei and paper grades. Well, there may be some, but failing a nanadan test is quite normal. Guys, this is HARD. OK these people are good, very good, but nanadan is a very high level, and it may take time to get.
A.

[The great I AM]

Antonin! I'm hurt, I talk to you....

[Banza Joe]

Having been in kendo for just shy of a year and yet to take my 1st grade, i'm looking forward to the time i do (probably in october). I have seen people pass grades in different arts when they clearly did not deserve to, so i know in myself if i get the grade in kendo then i will have earned it, thats the way it should be imho.
Having said that, what with all the etiquette, courtesy and humility involved in british kendo, we aren't infallible.
One of our dojo's students was challenging for ikkyu in scotland a couple of months ago. He failed, and was obviously disappointed. Although he was happy cos he had been been 'passed' by the judge he respects the most, some of the other judges failed just about everyone, yet, according to him, passed others who didn't know one end of the shinai from the other (not my words, although i understand the exaggeration).
I suppose its still down to the perception of each judge as they scrutinise each student and it can't be easy. I would much rather fail than be awarded a grade if i didn't thoroughly deserve it. If it wasn't almost a necessity to grade, then i'm not sure i would grade, but its nice to know that your'e being challenged to perform to a standard required, and if you meet that standard then your grade is deservedly awarded and you know how far you've come..... and how much farther you have to go.
I've been in martial arts for most of my life and kendo folk seem to be amongst the friendliest and humblest of all the people i've met.
I've yet to meet a senior kendoka who is only willing to hand out a beating, without teaching you something valuable.

My 2 pence....fwiw.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

To those who didnt pass - Its had to take (most of us have failed somewhere - I failed yondan twice) but the watchet panel were scrupulously fair to everyone.

The low numbers of passes was simply due to the performances on the day & in some cases a lack of attention to personal equipment (not forgivable at yudansha level)

If anyone wants more detail then take it to the (moderated) yahoo group kendo-uk, but it was simply down to skills.

Everyone who didnt pass had the opportunity to ask the senseis why as the BKA has instigated a feedback system (& they really do not have to do that) just for this reason.

Theres no shame in not passing a grade - just train harder for the next time (in Stoke)

regards

Phil..


p.s - the comments on paper grades are bl@@dy disrespectful & out of order

[HellBoy]

ARGGGGGGGH I seem to have ranted too far! What I was really bemoaning is the lack of 7th or 8th Dans in this country!! which if you take into account the number of possible candidates is only three or four in the last few years.
Terry and Mike are great and also people who understand what it is to be a sensi:) , but there are other high grades out there that arn't and don't understand or can't be bothered......

but I hate people with paper grades, who then decide to lord it over people of a lower grade (according to a piece of paper) without any real thought for what the grade really means.

Just to put it in perspective some of the Japanese Sensi also take ages to get their 7th dan, taking it 7 or 8 times in some cases.
If it takes roughly 30-60 years to get from 1st kyu to 7th dan and we've only had kendo in this country for 40yrs ish, its going to be a while yet until we have a reasonable amount of British High Grades:evolved:
If all those that started in the 60's & 70's had carried on, or graded regularly we would be in a happy place right now.

Go to that happy place .....

[HellBoy]

ARGGGGGGGH I seem to have ranted too far! What I was really bemoaning is the lack of British 7th or 8th Dans in this country!! which if you take into account the number of possible candidates is only three or four in the last few years.
Terry and Mike are great and also people who understand what it is to be a sensi:) , but there are other high grades out there that arn't and don't understand or can't be bothered......

but I hate people with paper grades, who then decide to lord it over people of a lower grade (according to a piece of paper) without any real thought for what the grade really means.

Just to put it in perspective some of the Japanese Sensi also take ages to get their 7th dan, taking it 7 or 8 times in some cases.
If it takes roughly 30-60 years to get from 1st kyu to 7th dan and we've only had kendo in this country for 40yrs ish, its going to be a while yet until we have a reasonable amount of British High Grades:evolved:
If all those that started in the 60's & 70's had carried on, or graded regularly we would be in a happy place right now.

Go to that happy place .....

[mingshi]

My current sensei, who recently got graded 6th Dan, said that it is also getting harder for people who try for the high grades. The reason behind is probably that 8th Dan Hanshi is now the highest achieveable grade, and all the 9th Dan are going to... uhmm... sooner or later... in 10 year's time or so (note that Japan has a high life expectancy..) Then the standards at all levels will be pulled up, inevitibly.

Checking the records of higher grades passing rate for the last 7 years (avaliable at AJKF's site) - if you just take 6th Dan for example, 7 years ago the pass rate is 18-20%, but this year it's been down to 13%. If 1000 people tried, that's a difference of 50+ people...!!

Let's not think too far ahead and just work on the basics for now... :)

[Anjin-san]

What I was really bemoaning is the lack of 7th or 8th Dans in this country!!

I'd say there are enough rock solid high grades in this country to keep me busy for at least the next twenty years.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

ARGGGGGGGH I seem to have ranted too far! .....

absolutely - just think how a 'mere' godan might think of you right now (unless of course you ARE rokudan.....)

seriously, its time to let this thread wither...

[Neil Gendzwill]

most of us have failed somewhere - I failed yondan twice
Hey, me too. Seperated at birth or what? Managed the next one in one go miraculously enough...

[KhawMengLee]

My, this is realy scary: Gibbo Makes sense, and I agree with him! Maybe I should see a doctor, there's obviously something wrong with me... :ermm:
Anyway, Phil, you would say that wouldn't you? ;)
it is quite difficult for me to comment on this, as I was one of the infortunates that failed my sandan at this particular grading. This being said, my performance was shockingly bad, even by my low standards, plus I haven't done much kendo recently because of exams. So, not a total surprise.
People were shocked when numbers were called (by Phill actually I think!), and there was a single contender callled for nidan. That seemed low, and this has led some people to say it was unfair, too difficult, fixed, biaised against some dojo, or what have you. Personally, I was surprised that some people failed, since I thought they did quite well. But then again, the fact I failed my own grading shows that I was in no position to make this jugement call...
But I don't believe that there was any reason anyone failed this grading other than a poor performance, and I do not feel that there was a problem with the standards or the proceedings. Failed? do more keiko, get feedback from the board, act on it, improve and try again. It actually is THAT simple. Oh of course failing hurts, and it would have been nice to pass (after all, after I get sandan, maybe Gibbo will talk to me!), but hey, it's not the end of the world. Learn some humility and trian harder (says the guy who's skipping training tonight...)
As for wannabe sensei and paper grades. Well, there may be some, but failing a nanadan test is quite normal. Guys, this is HARD. OK these people are good, very good, but nanadan is a very high level, and it may take time to get.
A.

Better luck next time Tonin!

************************************************** *****

As for the ppl complaining about paper senseis and lack of 7 dans...UK's oretty lucky having 7dans...we in Malaysia just got our own home grown 5dans and we're bloody happy.

Also, those "Paper" Senseis were selected by a panel of high ranking Senseis from Japan. If you disrespect them you disrespect the senseis judgement for giving them the grade.

[Theodore]

I was there as well... kata standards have definitely been ramped up, but why shouldn't they be? I mean, I don't particularly like kata but that's my own problem.

Sounds like you all were on notice:

"Kata Seminar, April 2005
The Kata Seminar was held on 3rd April 2005 at Kodokan in Rickmansworth.
This was a well attended event with around 40 Kendoka representing 9 Dojo nationwide. Sensei Budden opened the seminar setting out the goals we were looking to achieve, and by re-affirming the importance every aspect of Kata will have in future grading. Sensei Budden demonstrated Sonkyo achieving the correct distance, at the Yoko-te (the line on sword tip where the curve joins the cutting edge, between Issoku Itto and Toi Maai distances).

We worked in pairs concentrating on correct posture, distance, breathing, foot movement, timing and cutting - all the time working on eye contact and the timing of action-reaction to make the Kata flow and appear real.

While working through the 7 long sword forms, Sensei Budden also mixed in a number of forms from Kihon Keiko Ho, to demonstrate how the different forms related to each other and to Shinai kendo. An example of this was combining the cutting action for Men Nuki Do with the cutting action for Nanahon-me, the main difference being on the Do cut for Men Nuke Do, which is from the right foot and Nanahon-me, which is from the left foot, but the cutting action should virtually remain the same and not end up as is often seen as a running of Sihdachi’s Bokken across the stomach of Uchidachi, whilst making actual body contact, which is a definite No, No, as was pointed out: The only body contact is made in Kodachi Nihonme and Sanbonme by the restraining hand of Shidachi.

After a 5 minute break we moved swiftly into Kodachi Kata where we learned the correct posture and stance for all three forms. We performed an exercise where Uchidachi continuously cut to Men and Shidachi moved to the right to parry the first cut (as in Kodachi Ippon-me), and for the next cut moved to the left to parry (as in Kodachi Nihon-me)."

From the BKA website (http://http://www.kendo.org.uk/newsevents/seminars/kata/0405/katareport.shtml).

[jmarsten]

Better luck next time Tonin!

************************************************** *****

As for the ppl complaining about paper senseis and lack of 7 dans...UK's oretty lucky having 7dans...we in Malaysia just got our own home grown 5dans and we're bloody happy.

Also, those "Paper" Senseis were selected by a panel of high ranking Senseis from Japan. If you disrespect them you disrespect the senseis judgement for giving them the grade.
I so totally agree>>>>
The European sensei have trained long and hard and devoted themselves to excellence. To pass the test in Japan is hard, very hard. I have Japanese friends who tried for nanadan in excess of 16 times. In my group at the Kyoto test the pass ratio was about 8%. Britain is lucky to have the sensei they have. Geoff Salmon and I were both sandan together in Osaka, we met at practice at Hankyu dojo.
My brother tried this year at the Tokyo test and heard Fukamoto sensei say exacty what Mingshi stated to the people taking the test. However I have seen in past tests for 6 dan where 13% was the norm, that was the ratio when I passed 6 dan.
When you fail you should analyse what is wrong and train smarter and harder. I thought I would never pass 4 Dan, had to completely retrain and re-learn kendo to pass.

[The great I AM]

ARGGGGGGGH I seem to have ranted too far! What I was really bemoaning is the lack of 7th or 8th Dans in this country!! which if you take into account the number of possible candidates is only three or four in the last few years.
Terry and Mike are great and also people who understand what it is to be a sensi:) , but there are other high grades out there that arn't and don't understand or can't be bothered......



Just to put it in perspective some of the Japanese Sensi also take ages to get their 7th dan, taking it 7 or 8 times in some cases.
If it takes roughly 30-60 years to get from 1st kyu to 7th dan and we've only had kendo in this country for 40yrs ish, its going to be a while yet until we have a reasonable amount of British High Grades:evolved:
If all those that started in the 60's & 70's had carried on, or graded regularly we would be in a happy place right now.

Go to that happy place .....

I think you took what I said completley out of context. What I was trying to say is that there are people out there who try to use superiority according to a peice of paper with their name on it to give themselves some sort of high ground, without realising the "human" responsibility of being the grade that they are now. I recently got a telling off for something like this which made me rethink a little about how I act from now on, and although it may be a sad fact that I am seen as senior by some people, I should bloody well accept it and present a good example of a kendoka (not lording it around as such, just not setting as good an example as I should have been doing). I think this applies to anyone trying to further themselves within kendo, because it is just that, furthering yourself, your whole self, and not just the part of you that swings a stick around on a saturday afternoon. It is a fact that there are not so many high grades in Britain, but my thoughts and comments were aimed at the lower end of the spectrum , to which the Watchet Grading applied. I see plenty of examples of 2nd and 3rd dans trying to act like the big "one" with kyu grades, and that is annoying to be honest. That is what I was trying to get at, I hope I didn't cause any confusion!

I totally agree with you Meng (for a change!! Heh:)). We are lucky, and its a shame that people often fail to realise this. A guy from Hong Kong who is staying in the UK for a while recently passed his 6th dan over here. More than just being "another" 6th dan, this man can aid in the grading and refereeing and act as a further example to any other aspiring kendoka of lower grades, but people often fail to realise how much these people contribute to our association, especially in terms of the time they take out to help us.



Geoff Salmon and I were both sandan together in Osaka, we met at practice at Hankyu dojo.

Salmon Sensei was recently made Chairman of the BKA! I hope he can pass his 7th Dan soon, hes been practising hard for it.

Theodore: We've been on notice for ages, this apparent "raise" (really, honestly?) in kata level has been around for at least 2 years, so to me its just people looking for an excuse, and at the end of the day, if their kata isn't upto scratch, then they shouldn't pass. It ain't all hitting people with bamboo! People who fail on kata should think about weather their kata goes into their whole image as a kendoka to present someone worthy of that grade, not just weather or not their kata is any good by their own estimation. Hell, if that was the case, my katas perfect, gimme my yondan!

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Like Antonin Im struggling because I agree with Gibbo - has he been replaced by a space alien i ask ? Understanding how little you really understand as you start getting up the ranking is just part of thr journey as far as I can tell..

ANYWAY

NO ONE failed their grading at watchet due to kata
a couple of people had to repeat because of nervous mistakes (allowed in teh policy)

Those people that didnt get through didnt demonstrate the required skill levels on the day - simple as that

moral - train harder & correct mistakes, attend te wealth of seminars and events available in the uk

cheers

[The great I AM]

Like Antonin Im struggling because I agree with Gibbo - has he been replaced by a space alien i ask ?

Philosophical me? Indeed, Birds of a feather are worth two in the bush. Er hang on.... is that...

[Antonin]

[QUOTE=The great I AM]I recently got a telling off for something like this which made me rethink a little about how I act from now on, and although it may be a sad fact that I am seen as senior by some people, I should bloody well accept it and present a good example of a kendoka (not lording it around as such, just not setting as good an example as I should have been doing). [QUOTE]

Well, well... that's what I meant earlier with my slightly flippant comment. Anyway, lets do keiko and have a pint. I've never had a drink with a space alien before (or maybe i did... not knowingly anyway).

let's leave the issue of wether paper grades exist to better than us. After all, they must know what they are doing!

It is true that it is easy to be negative about the level of kendo in the BKA. I've been quite bad on this on some occasion myself. But we are in a good position. Of course, if you compare with Japan or some other European countries, it seems little, but I for one am happy with what we have!
A.

[ratdeau]

For the paper problem, perhaps there's a distinction between teacher and high grade.
At teacher is someone you can respect and who will help you. A high graduate kendoka is a good kendoka.
We can suppose that both aspects kendo quality and human quality go together. Unfortunately it's not the rule especially for the low dan level.
I'm now godan and I realize all what I'm lacking me to be a good teacher.

[Lucien]

Philosophical me? Indeed, Birds of a feather are worth two in the bush. Er hang on.... is that...

Oh no! Now he's sacrificed the part of his brain devoted to remembering old sayings and adages.

[The great I AM]

[Well, well... that's what I meant earlier with my slightly flippant comment. Anyway, lets do keiko and have a pint. I've never had a drink with a space alien before (or maybe i did... not knowingly anyway).


Don't quite understand what flippant comment you're talking about....but hey ho.

I agree with Ratdeau. Having a high grade does not make you a good teacher, and vice versa being a good teacher doesn't make you a good kendoka. But again, thats not what I was trying to say. I was talking about people with bits of paper with their name and a grade on, then using said certificate as an excuse to act the big fish, when really they should be setting an example. If these people just go round, telling the lower grades what to do, pretending to be sensei, acting like what they say is gospel, bullying people and generally being rude, all because they are higher graded than the ikkyu or mudansha they train with (and I have seen this in Britain unfortunately, even from shodans with only 4 years of kendo!), does that person really even deserve to be that grade? Or is it just a piece of paper for something that they did on one day of the year? These are the people that disgust me. And I feel sorry for the people that have to train regularly with them.

[The great I AM]

Oh no! Now he's sacrificed the part of his brain devoted to remembering old sayings and adages.

Its all making me stronger....soon the pooing and peeing part of my brain will be sacrificed as well!

[Lucien]

Its all making me stronger....soon the pooing and peeing part of my brain will be sacrificed as well!

(Hijacking the thread further)

Well, if it's good enough for Gibbo then we should all do it.

[The holy cowboy]

I think The great I AM is saying very wise things here.
In my experience (4 yrs kendo up to shodan, now taking a break due to an accident) there are indeed some people who react in a rather weird show-off/arrogant way as soon as they get to shodan/nidan and start lecturing around on kendo is this and kendo is that (or worse of all go to beginners and tell them yours is not kendo). I am talking about my home country (Poland) and I underline that luckily this behaviour is not common, quite the contrary, though it is unluckily easy to meet one of these people if you do kendo for a while.
Of course these people are just there to make you stronger and to show you with their despicable example what should not be done. However I have seen a very arrogant yondan telling beginners off in a such a rough way that resulted in many people leaving. It is interesting, that this particular guy only accepted comments on his behaviour from people from his grade upwards.
It is interesting that all the higher grades (say godan and upwards) I got to know in my short kendo life don't have ever tell anyone off, rather they show people their own mistakes, often in a funny way. It is a rather soft way of teaching, but very impressive, based on simply showing people that if you don't do this, this will happen! where "this" is not "I'll scream at you like crazy" or similar, but rather you will loose your center, or whatever the case is.
As for paper grades, I think The great I AM is just saying that some people have nidan/sandan but don't even tell you and you just notice them for the higher quality of their kendo (it is a humble shodan talking) and some people have nidan/sandan and think every lower grade has to be lectured by them all the time, because of their higher grade.

[Kingofmyrrh]

Sounds like you all were on notice:

"Kata Seminar, April 2005
The Kata Seminar was held on 3rd April 2005 at Kodokan in Rickmansworth.
This was a well attended event with around 40 Kendoka representing 9 Dojo nationwide. Sensei Budden opened the seminar setting out the goals we were looking to achieve, and by re-affirming the importance every aspect of Kata will have in future grading. Sensei Budden demonstrated Sonkyo achieving the correct distance, at the Yoko-te (the line on sword tip where the curve joins the cutting edge, between Issoku Itto and Toi Maai distances).

We worked in pairs concentrating on correct posture, distance, breathing, foot movement, timing and cutting - all the time working on eye contact and the timing of action-reaction to make the Kata flow and appear real.

While working through the 7 long sword forms, Sensei Budden also mixed in a number of forms from Kihon Keiko Ho, to demonstrate how the different forms related to each other and to Shinai kendo. An example of this was combining the cutting action for Men Nuki Do with the cutting action for Nanahon-me, the main difference being on the Do cut for Men Nuke Do, which is from the right foot and Nanahon-me, which is from the left foot, but the cutting action should virtually remain the same and not end up as is often seen as a running of Sihdachi’s Bokken across the stomach of Uchidachi, whilst making actual body contact, which is a definite No, No, as was pointed out: The only body contact is made in Kodachi Nihonme and Sanbonme by the restraining hand of Shidachi.

After a 5 minute break we moved swiftly into Kodachi Kata where we learned the correct posture and stance for all three forms. We performed an exercise where Uchidachi continuously cut to Men and Shidachi moved to the right to parry the first cut (as in Kodachi Ippon-me), and for the next cut moved to the left to parry (as in Kodachi Nihon-me)."

From the BKA website (http://http://www.kendo.org.uk/newsevents/seminars/kata/0405/katareport.shtml).


My word, you are up on international events! I'm impressed!
Actually, I was there myself, since I'm aware of what an excellent teacher Paul Budden is. The attendance was huge, but I think it's sometimes difficult to do a seminar that can be enjoyed by all when there are wildly varying levels of experience present. Anyway, it was a good seminar, probably helped me to get my 3rd dan, and I'd definitely go to the next one.

[The great I AM]

I have seen a very arrogant yondan telling beginners off in a such a rough way that resulted in many people leaving. It is interesting, that this particular guy only accepted comments on his behaviour from people from his grade upwards.

Heh, this is another part of the same thing really isn't it!! How suddenly when someone gets a grade above someone else, they won't listen to the someone else for anything, not just kendo! Bizarre....truly bizarre....

[mingshi]

I'm now godan and I realize all what I'm lacking me to be a good teacher.

That's an interesting point. A lot of people mentioned that teaching helps their kendo. But obviously it doesn't work the other way round - doing a lot of kendo does not necessary improve your teaching skill..

So does any the senior here do something about it? (apart from getting a Cert Ed)

[Neil Gendzwill]

Teaching and doing are to a certain extent seperate skills. I see that very clearly with my kids sports. Some of the coaches are just excellent, and they can teach multiple sports. One coach who taught my kid soccer told me he was really a hockey guy, but the teaching skills were largely transferrable.

Soooo.... to become a better teacher, you first and foremost have to teach. Which is kind of brutal on your first students but hopefully someone senior is advising you. Then you should observe other teachers and see what they do, try to learn from how they instruct, what they choose to say and what not, how they structure classes...

One thing is for sure - teaching will make you a whole lot more analytical about your own kendo.

[chidokan]

Some people are good at teaching, some not. Its like everything else you do....and you dont necessarily have to be the best at the sport to be the best teacher either, some at the top couldnt teach to save their lives, just look at football.
What is the obsession with grading anyway, just get in the dojo and do your best, thats what it is really about. A grading day should be just another day in the dojo, where unfortunately you dont get to practise all the time!
Start teaching only when you have to, which is hopefully a long time off as its a lot of hard work, take my word for it... :old_man:

[KhawMengLee]

I think The great I AM is saying very wise things here.

NEWSFLASH: Strange weather phenomenon spotted in UK. A flock of flying pigs was seen gliding over Hyde Park. Tony Blair was hit by a stray lump of poo from one of these ariel porkies. Also, Hell has reported its first heavy snowfall ever in the last 9,000 mellenia. The Devil has asked for UN aid to rush over 10,000 electric blankets for sinners trapped in the raging icestorms.

And finally, in a related matter...Gibbo has been reported to say some very wise things on Kendo-world...the IKF have formed a joint commitee to investigate how this has happend.

bwahahahaahahaahahaha! :wink:

[Theodore]

Some people are good at teaching, some not. Its like everything else you do....and you dont necessarily have to be the best at the sport to be the best teacher either, some at the top couldnt teach to save their lives, just look at football.

That's a great point. Tommy Lasorda, the coach of the L.A. Dodgers attributed his success as the manager of the team to the fact that he never got into very many major league games, but sat on the bench and took in everything and thought of ways to apply it. When he had his chance he made the most of his training.

[The great I AM]

That's a great point. Tommy Lasorda, the coach of the L.A. Dodgers attributed his success as the manager of the team to the fact that he never got into very many major league games, but sat on the bench and took in everything and thought of ways to apply it. When he had his chance he made the most of his training.

Exactly the same as Jose Mourinho (Manager of Chelsea football team)! Never a brilliant player, so he watched more, and now look at him.....

I think one other key thing with teaching is the ability to empathise with your students. All the best teachers I've learnt anything from can put themselves in your shoes and teach you from that perspective. They teach you to do your kendo better, not to do their kendo. This is hugely important to me!

[Fai]

All the best teachers I've learnt anything from can put themselves in your shoes and teach you from that perspective. They teach you to do your kendo better, not to do their kendo. This is hugely important to me!

Gibbo what are you doing :D you are making sense here ahahahaha

Meng I think we have trouble here. I always thought he had it coming maybe once in a life time but twice on the same message thread!!! who would have thought (^_^)

[The great I AM]

I think its blind luck and strong coffee.

[Marine_Boy]

Boo!

Boo!

[KhawMengLee]

Boo!

Boo!

Boo! Ya Bastich!!