8th dan

[wutian]

What does the 8th dan test consist of?

[munenmuso]

You must be at least 45 years of age with eight years experience as 7thdan prior to your application for hachidan.

First screening consists of two sets of keiko bouts both within time limit of 120 seconds under the eyes of seven competent judges all with at least 15 years of experience as 8th dan. In order to past the first screening at least 5 of seven judges must vote in favor of you. All looking for that 'immovable spirit character' and not just about how good you are in making points.

If I'm not mistaken, after the first screening comes the kata part then the second screening commenced after where judges are doubled from seven to fourteen, all 8th dan of at least fifteen years of experience where at least 10 must vote in favor of you in order to past the test. Second screening consists of two keiko bouts again lasting for 120 seconds each just like the first screening.

Finally, a written exam at the end of two screening. It is said that the 8th dan is the hardest test in Japan, harder than the bar examination with only at least 0.02% as the passing rate. Just saw it at the National Geographic Channel last week. Out of two million fencers in Japan there are only 400 at least awarded with 8th dan certificate sice World War II. Out of 5000 applicants, at least one will passed. Not bad?

Are you planning to take the hachidan test? It is given twice a year in Japan, one in Kyoto every May and the other one in Tokyo every November?Hope this helps.

[wutian]

Do not seek to follow the footsteps of the old men; seek what they sought.
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i like this alot

[Confound]

Isn't it a bit early to be considering the hachi-dan test, Wutian? Worry about sho-dan first.

That said, are there any non-Japanese holders of hachi-dan? I've never heard of any. Is it because kendou just hasn't been popular long enough in countries other than Japan, or is it another case of 'non-Japanese = non-competent' phobia'? Personally, I'd say a little efrom column A and a little from column B, but I don't know how many foreigers have actually tried, if any.

c

[wutian]

not considering just learning considering id be loke 52 befor i could even try

[nodachi]

It's always interesting to take a little peak at the challenges that are ahead. I found that information really interesting. Granted, yes, it is ridiculously far ahead, but it does give some more insight into Kendo that many of us beginners have yet to see.

[mingshi]

Originally posted by Confound
are there any non-Japanese holders of hachi-dan? I've never heard of any. Is it because kendou just hasn't been popular long enough in countries other than Japan, or is it another case of 'non-Japanese = non-competent' phobia'?

In the Taiwanese Kendo Fed website (officially Chinese Taipei for sports events), they had a few introductions to some 8th Dan and 9th Dan people. To be exact, there is one 9th Dan Hanshi, 5 8th Dan Hanshi, and one 8th Dan without shogo... Many of them are Chief Referees in the WKC (2nd, 5,6,7th etc.). But I don't know if they're all "living" or not as the site has no clear indication of it.

So I believe there should be some in Korea too. Since Kendo is widely "introduced" to Taiwan in the War period so people from these countries learn about Kendo a lot earlier than the West.

Are you saying "non-Japanese" or "Westerners"?

[munenmuso]

I think there were two Korean eight dans in the last 50th AKJF Invitation for Non Japanese. See the 'What's new' on the left side of your monitor within this forum to see their names. I think there is a fresh update on the 50th AJKF Champs, saw it there.

BTW, AJKF only gives certificate up to hachidan. How about for 9th dan and 10thdan, who is the body responsible for that acknowledgment and what are the rules applied in order to attain those levels. Confound mentioned that all 10th dan are all dead. Last one I know is Moriji Mochida (10dan)and saw his keiko filmclips as truly amazing. That guy is really a virtuouso with the sword, a true master swordsman. He was 89.

[cklin]

A couple years ago (?) they got rid of 9th and 10th dan. So 8dan hanshi is the highest rank nowadays.

[munenmuso]

How about Junzo Sasamori? He was also a masterswordsman but I'm not sure what level he achieved.

[Confound]

Mingshi, I should be more specific, I meant non-Asian foreigners, that is to say, individuals who are not of Japanese, Korean or Chinese ethnicity.

Were the individuals you mentionned graded in their home country? I was referring to gradings given in Japan. I was under the impression that the only legitimate 8 dan was one taken in Japan. Perhaps this is an idea that Japanese people want me to have, as opposed to the way the world really works.

c

[wutian]

i would think and this is just me that koreans would have it just as hard as non asians. considering the history between the two . From what ive read, koreans have modified kendo with there own history and technique. and most japanese people ive meet have a higher opinion of americans then koreans or maybye they just did't want to tell me different.

[nodachi]

There is a lot of bad blood between Japan and Korea, just look at the news. And Korea is still holding a grudge from the last war Japan had against them like 100 years ago. My history is really bad, but I am at least kinda close on this one. And a random kidnapping of some Japanese people by some Koreans recently has rekindled some problems.

[KhawMengLee]

And Korea is still holding a grudge from the last war Japan had against them like 100 years ago.

Well, lessee...the Koreans have been invaded by just about everyone in their vacinity...chinese, mongols...etc.

I remember watching a documentary on Korea and the guide was telling the host about how most of the invaders came in from this point(some mountain pass in the north). When asked, "who were the invaders?" the korean guide said, "well, everyone."

Yeah, Hideyoshi invaded Korea and used it as a launching point to invade China but he wasn't successful. Korea has always been seen as a colony from that point on.

And a random kidnapping of some Japanese people by some Koreans recently has rekindled some problems.

I found this to be a total load of hypocritical crap. Japan was demanding that North Korea acknowledge and apologize for this "atrocous" act.

Funny then how the Japanese government still refuses to admit and apologise, let alone acknowledge the use of hundreds of thousands of chinese as slave labour during the war. The rape and torture of women in Korea, China, and most of South East Asia as Comfort Women(sex slaves). Rape of Nanking. Testing of biological weapons on civilians(like giving children chocolates with anthrax in it)...murder, genocide, etc.

I am Malaysian chinese and my grandparents lived through this nightmare but I don't hate Japanese people. I just think that one should admit to their mistakes instead of sweeping it under a rug. Kinda kills all the elements of bushido...

Well, as my Dad always said,

" A real man will admit to his mistakes and learn from it."

sorry just ranting.

PEACE
MENG

[AlexM]

-That "war" Japan had with Korea was actually an invasion and subsequent colonisation of the entire peninsula that lasted from 1910 (I think, but it might be earlier) until 1945 (so the memory of occupation is still fresh in the minds of some people).

The main point is: Why would Koreans think they would have to be "approved" by the Japanese? (i.e. try for 8th dan) I seriously doubt that most Koreans care what the Japanese think of their kendo (kumdo).