Yeah, that's what I've gathered from the forums. It's a bit different here since there are more resources and training/grading opportunities, especially for kids.
In America, one year must pass after ikkyu, one year after shodan, 2 years after nidan, 3 years after sandan etc. And since basically nobody takes ikkyu during their first grading (unless they've been training for several years and never got graded). Its basically impossible to reach shodan in less than 3 years. If you make shodan in 3 years that means you're something special. That why I was so suprised you made shodan in one year.
No, it's kind of normal. The dan system in kendo is such that you can get 1-dan and 2-dan in junior high, then 3-dan in high school. Some students do just that; they start kendo in their first year, take ikkyuu then, then take 1-dan the next year, and 2-dan the year after that. The wait after ikkyuu is only six months.
Isn't that.....rather soon? I don't want to be insulting but I've never heard of someone earning a 1st dan in one year in any martial art. And I thought that one year had to pass after ikkyu to go for shodan. 3-5 years is the norm for most martial arts including kendo. Wow, you must be really good to have made shodan in one year, especially in Japan.
Yeah, I did. I was scared shitless at the shinsa because of the written portion.
I read your blog, so did you make first dan after one year of kendo?
