ikyu to shodan

[ace]

iam going for my shodan grading next year at the australian champs and i was wondering if anyone had graded there before and if the grading panel are a little more strict because of the japanese sensei,
i know i shouldnt worry coz if your done the training you should pass but i was just curious,
and also what are they looking for in a shodan kendoka, i have no prob with kata just the shia part.
Cheers Ace

[Yann]

From what I was told by my sensei and what I've seen, you are asked to have a good ki ken tai, and to show it atleast once doing a ippon on a men during geiko.
My other advice: powerful kiai, show your will and stay zanshin.

[samurai999]

Remember that you aren't doing kakarigeiko out there nor that this is a shiai. Just focus on your form and you'll do fine. If you are daring, try to demonstrate that you can do one simple waza. Debana kote perhaps? We are told here in the US not to go for dou so focus on kote and men.

Tim

[Neil Gendzwill]

Stick to basics, keep everything big and clean, lots of kiai and energy. Don't rush back and forth like it's kakarigeiko, but don't hang around too long either. Avoid any backwards movement or waza, getting tangled up in tsuba-zeriai, ducking, shoving, katsugi-waza, gyaku-doh and tsuki. Doh is OK but limit yourself to only a few. Try to get a nice men. Remember that you don't need to win, only demonstrate your best kendo. If the other guy lands some points, that's fine too. Don't block, just make your own best attacks.

[KhawMengLee]

iam going for my shodan grading next year at the australian champs and i was wondering if anyone had graded there before and if the grading panel are a little more strict because of the japanese sensei,
i know i shouldnt worry coz if your done the training you should pass but i was just curious,
and also what are they looking for in a shodan kendoka, i have no prob with kata just the shia part.
Cheers Ace

You got your ikkyu so your kendo should be up to scratch. I would not worry so much on the shiai but watch out on your kata.

As Neil Sensei said, don't block just go for niiiiice big cuts.

[ace]

cheers for all your advice i think the main thing i will hafta try is not to treat it as a shiai coz i have a few bad habbits in shiai and a grading not about winning so i will hafta watch that iam pretty good at the kata i have won a few kata comps so iam not to worryed about that its just the shiaikeiko

[kendomushi]

Shodan is about demonstrating that you have command and understanding of the basics. It has nothing to do with scoring. If you can score, with the proper technique, spirit, and zanshin - great! But forget scoring.
As Neil said, BIG, CLEAN waza with good KIAI. The spirit you show, or fail to show, can make or break you.
Remember to go past your partner when you attack, take a good 4 steps, turn to zanshin and close back to the correct distance.
Keep your back straight, and make sure your gear is all in good shape before showing up.

Good luck!

[John Shin]

Remember to go past your partner when you attack, take a good 4 steps, turn to zanshin and close back to the correct distance.


Good luck!

This is heavily stressed in my dojang - i think it's very good advice.

Joe Hibbs