whom is the highest ranked Kendo sensei!

**herb mowery** · 22nd June 2006, 04:30 AM

Hello all ;
This is my first thread on this site and i have a question for all of you otu here who is the highest ranked kendo instrutor in the USA and Japan and is the 10th dan rank no more? I have rare footage of Takano sensei and even some nice photos of him in 1980's was he the last 10 th dan in Kendo?

**joekc6nlx** · 22nd June 2006, 04:36 AM

Highest rank in kendo is now 8th dan (hachidan). There are 3 shogo as well, which are awarded to 6th, 7th, and 8th dan holders upon successful completion of a rigorous examination. Renshi, kyoshi, hanshi in ascending order. There is also an order that links the two rankings.

A 7th dan, renshi is outranked by a 6th dan kyoshi. I don't know why that is, but it's that way.

As for who is the highest ranking kendoist in the U.S. and Japan? Good question, since there are several 8th dan in the U.S.

**herb mowery** · 22nd June 2006, 06:35 AM

Joe;
Thanks for reply

this info i understand all to well my sensei is Inoshita 6th dan sensei of the Unitied States Kendo federation he is out ranked by only two other sensei in this organization Kato sensei seventh dan of new york and Tegawa sensei of Detriot whom is only 8th dan state side so we are told ,i just was wondering if still any 10th dan or have they all passed ,and why 10 th dan know longer avaliable ,these are east coast sensei of the Unitied States kendo federation ,we are the Greater Northeastern kendo federation ,Joe thanks again i really found it informational and educational i will pass this info on to lower rank students in a booklet i'm doing for new students .thanks for your time and train hard .
Sincerely ;
Herb

**RC_Kenshi** · 22nd June 2006, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by herb mowery

. . . my sensei is Inoshita 6th dan sensei of the Unitied States Kendo federation he is out ranked by only two other sensei in this organization Kato sensei seventh dan of new york and Tegawa sensei of Detriot whom is only 8th dan state side so we are told . . .

????

Don't know where you got your information from, but NCKF (Northern California Kendo Federation) has a number of nanadan (at least two or three that I know of) and one hachidan hanshi (Miyata-sensei). I believe SCKF/SCKO (Southern California Kendo Federation/Organization) has a couple of hachidan sensei's as well. If I'm not mistaken, Martsen-sensei, who is an occasional poster here, is nanadan as well.

RC_Kenshi

**nebosuke** · 22nd June 2006, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by RC_Kenshi

????

Don't know where you got your information from, but NCKF (Northern California Kendo Federation) has a number of nanadan (at least two or three that I know of) and one hachidan hanshi (Miyata-sensei). I believe SCKF/SCKO (Southern California Kendo Federation/Organization) has a couple of hachidan sensei's as well. If I'm not mistaken, Martsen-sensei, who is an occasional poster here, is nanadan as well.

RC_Kenshi

Indeed he's been told some misleading info. In SoCal Miyahara sensei is hachidan hanshi.

**MAZ77** · 22nd June 2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by nebosuke

Indeed he's been told some misleading info. In SoCal Miyahara sensei is hachidan hanshi.

There is also Koo (Huang) sensei from i BELIEVE Norwalk whom is also Hachidan. Although, I do not believe he has any shogo.

**sainueng** · 22nd June 2006, 09:31 AM

I believe Tagawa sensei recently obtained hachidan while testing in Japan.

<in awe...> I don't know if all of the other hachidan in the US were promoted in Japan or here in the US. I assumed at least some of them were promoted in Japan, but I could be wrong. Could that be the confusion?

**Paburo** · 22nd June 2006, 09:34 AM

i've done keiko with another 9dan, Kurasawa-sensei... another of the remaining kyudan out there as far as i know... btw, he resides in japan.

**herb mowery** · 23rd June 2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by RC_Kenshi

????

Don't know where you got your information from, but NCKF (Northern California Kendo Federation) has a number of nanadan (at least two or three that I know of) and one hachidan hanshi (Miyata-sensei). I believe SCKF/SCKO (Southern California Kendo Federation/Organization) has a couple of hachidan sensei's as well. If I'm not mistaken, Martsen-sensei, who is an occasional poster here, is nanadan as well.

RC_Kenshi

RC HEY THAMKS FOR CORRECTING MAN , I HATE HAVING WROUNG FACTS THOSE ARE THE HIGHEST RANKED SENSEI IN MY AREA AS I HAD STATED ON EAST COAST I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WERE MORE OF THE SAME RANK OR HIGHER ON WEST COAST PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THIS ERROR .SINCERELY.HERB

**ScottUK** · 22nd June 2006, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by joekc6nlx

A 7th dan, renshi is outranked by a 6th dan kyoshi. I don't know why that is, but it's that way.

Apparently, that isn't possible:

Kyoshi - The candidate should be ranked nanadan for at least two (2) years

(from a ZNKR handbook)

**Kingofmyrrh** · 22nd June 2006, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by ScottUK

Apparently, that isn't possible:

Kyoshi - The candidate should be ranked nanadan for at least two (2) years

(from a ZNKR handbook)

It's perfectly possible. That rule was only implemented a few years ago. There are many hanshi 7th dans around, for example, a rank which would be impossible to achieve these days.

**ahmed61086** · 23rd June 2006, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by joekc6nlx

Highest rank in kendo is now 8th dan (hachidan). There are 3 shogo as well, which are awarded to 6th, 7th, and 8th dan holders upon successful completion of a rigorous examination. Renshi, kyoshi, hanshi in ascending order. There is also an order that links the two rankings.

A 7th dan, renshi is outranked by a 6th dan kyoshi. I don't know why that is, but it's that way.

As for who is the highest ranking kendoist in the U.S. and Japan? Good question, since there are several 8th dan in the U.S.

What is a shogo, and how does it make a 6th dan outrank a 7th dan? Seems realy weird.

**neko** · 23rd June 2006, 02:24 AM

Any IKF federation can award any rank they like. I don't think any requirements for qualifications of the committee are required. Canada recently awarded hachidan to two fine teachers, Asaoka-sensei of Youshinkan and Kamata-sensei of Etobicoke. Both gentleman had participated in the exam in Japan and made the first cut to 60 in the past.

i find that interesting neil. i am not sure i agree with it though. would you please indulge me with your opinion on this, i am curious what you think about it. of course, anyone else is welcome to express an opinion.