shodan respect

[joekc6nlx]

That's what it means in some martial arts. I'd peg that particular level as sandan in kendo. Not that any of us ever masters the basics, but that is the last level where the evaluation is largely on the physical.

I appreciate the insight, Neil-sensei. I was just going by what it's like in our dojo. Ariga-sensei starts the intensive training once you reach shodan level. He also expects all of us, whether we're -dan or -kyu to be ready to instruct beginners, but usually, it's the yondan and above who teach shoshinshas.

When I took Shotokan Karate centuries ago, my sensei made that statement as well. I never got to shodan in karate, needs of the Navy took precedence, and I never took it up again.

Again, regardless of your rank, your opinion matters as long as it's given respectfully and constructively.

[Mr. Donigan]

I read once "in kendo everyone but myself is my teacher". I do believe in that statement. However, your question is about shodan. Well, I've been in kendo since 1994. At the dojo I started at I'm one of the most experienced kendoka. However, I've never tested and am starting to practice with a different dojo here in town. THere are several shodan in the group (and a couple higher ranks too). Though I have played longer than a lot of the shodans in this group I have great respect for the commitment they have made to kendo and have no trouble seeing them as teachers to me. I look forward to having their guidance. I personally see shodan as an important level of achievement and a sign that someone has taken all aspects of kendo seriously. Testing was never important to me but it is now. I think it shows that you are taking your kendo as far as you can. Or in other words pushing yourself to the limmits.

that's my 2 cents worth

[Halcyon]

i dont think i have the skills to give people advice on their kendo and feel awkward telling people when they have an obvious fault. should i just leave it to the higher grades to pick up.

From a practical standpoint, yes, I'd say it's a good idea to leave it up to the higher grades. I guess it depends on the particular atmosphere and culture or your own dojo, but in my case, I really didn't feel it was my place to start dispensing advice to my kohai until i was sandan. And even if someone has an obvious fault, never, ever would I dream of dispensing advice to a sempai, or even someone of equal rank, unless they specifically ASK for me to check something. It's just too presumptuous. So just keep filing away those mental notes while you are shodan and nidan. And let them stew in your mind for a number of years. That way, your opinions will be worth more to people when you actually do start giving advice to others.

[inori]

My sensei has told me more than once that learning to teach others is part of one's own training in kendo. Part of this is playing the role of motodachi properly when asked to do so and so on; another part is learning to at least look at what your training partner is doing. Will I correct my training partner if my sensei is watching? Not likely - anything I might see, sensei will see, and can decide better than I can whether it's something that needs correcting. However, if my sensei is off doing something else, I might say some basic things to some of the younger students when we're training together. (Right now, I mostly limit myself to "kiai bigger" and "swing bigger", but that's enough to keep me occupied, and it reminds me to do those things as well. ) Also note that in my particular club, I don't actually have any sempai who attend regularly; I'm usually the highest-ranked student present (senseis don't count here, obviously).

[satsumaruma]

I guess that if you are a Shodan then you will have been to a few seminars and trained with several high ranking Sensei.

If this is so then it is highly possible that at some point you may have been given (or heard) advice from such Sensei which your own dojo Sensei/ Sempai are unaware of.

Q - If you have this knowledge, do you share it with others in your club or do you keep it to yourself because you lack confidence?

Based on Ignatz's sage advice "it depends" I would also add 'there is a time and place'.

And do not forget when you were an absolute beginner, how did you view the Shodans in your club? Were you not impressed by their skill? Did they play no part in inspiring you to stay with it through the repetitive tediousness? If they had given you advice would you have ignored them or would you have been pleased that they took the time and effort to help you?

I think in your heart you know the right way. Be brave, be courteous, be wise.

Lee

[Old Warrior]

I'm not trying to be a weizenheimer here, these are not simple questions. My answers are those of someone with a significant amount of life experience and more than a few years of kendo training. I think that if you sit yourself down and give yourself a good talking to about these questions, they will answer themselves.

I see it as kind of simple. If I hit you in the head, three times in a row and you ask me how I was able to do it - I'll tell you. If we bout and I win, everytime, I'll tell you what I'm thinking and what I am seeing in your kendo, that allows me to win if you ask. I never offer gratuitous advice to anyone unless they are substantially less skilled and ranked and I would never offer advice to an equal rank or someone higher, regardless of what our relative skills may be.

As a shodan, I am no where's near skilled enough to teach anyone, anything and I would never be so presumptuous to think otherwise. I keep my opinions to myself, unless asked, and only offer gratuitous help to someone who is substantially below my skill level. This doesn't mean that I don't have opinions, I just keep them to myself as I recognize that they are are probably of minimal value. And, we have the privilege of learning from a 7th Dan, so I think its only right to know my place and be the humble student, that I am.

[yohed55]

At my dojo, the highest ranked kenshi there, my sempai, was a shodan (testing for nidan soon). Him and the other top kenshi all ended up moving to a diffirent dojo (which I will soon be attending). So after they all left, I was left as the top kenshi 3 out of 4 times. I HAVE ONLY BEEN DOING KENDO FOR 6 MONTHS. This was quite alarming to me. What I'm trying to get across here is that I respect a Shodan as a teacher, and I would see no problem in you instructing students.