Post by Jonathan Anderson on May 5, 2010 8:32:58 GMT -4
For those of you that know, Kato Shozo Sensei is the head of the Shidogakuin group of schools up north. He is the gentleman that has presided over all of my Iaido Shinsa.
This past weekend he succeeded in his Kendo Hachidan Shinsa, held in Kyoto. Apparently the Shinsa was conducted over two days, with 751 participants - one of which was Kato Sensei - attempting their Shinsa on the first day, and 779 attempting the second - the pass rate was 9 and 12, respectively, meaning that 1,530 Nanadans went to test, and 21 passed - that's a pass percentage of 1.37%.
Think about that for a moment.
Slightly more than one person per hundred passed the Hachidan Shinsa, and that's up from previous years where the pass rate was less than 1%. Daunting figures, to be sure, but remember that Hachidan is one of the highest ranks in Kendo, if not the highest rank still being awarded anymore - those that attain such a rank should be rigorously tested based on the strictest of standards.
As to the original subject, you may find the results listed here:
www.kendo-world.com/forum/content.php/102-2010-Kyoto-8-dan-Grading-Results
Please join me in congratulating Kato Sensei for this momentous achievement. Many begin the Kendo path, but few ever continue to walk it so very far.
This past weekend he succeeded in his Kendo Hachidan Shinsa, held in Kyoto. Apparently the Shinsa was conducted over two days, with 751 participants - one of which was Kato Sensei - attempting their Shinsa on the first day, and 779 attempting the second - the pass rate was 9 and 12, respectively, meaning that 1,530 Nanadans went to test, and 21 passed - that's a pass percentage of 1.37%.
Think about that for a moment.
Slightly more than one person per hundred passed the Hachidan Shinsa, and that's up from previous years where the pass rate was less than 1%. Daunting figures, to be sure, but remember that Hachidan is one of the highest ranks in Kendo, if not the highest rank still being awarded anymore - those that attain such a rank should be rigorously tested based on the strictest of standards.
As to the original subject, you may find the results listed here:
www.kendo-world.com/forum/content.php/102-2010-Kyoto-8-dan-Grading-Results
Please join me in congratulating Kato Sensei for this momentous achievement. Many begin the Kendo path, but few ever continue to walk it so very far.