[TOOGUEITEME]

I think that's an unfair accusation to make since we really have no idea what Yorick's ability is or even what is normal for shodans in his region. Yorick also didn't mention how often he trains, and that's a critical factor here.

Yorick, you mentioned that you recently feel more interested in competing. I think this might become good motivation to make you want to practice more. Personally, I always hated jigeiko. I'm bad at it, I don't understand what I'm doing and never win. I've been doing kendo for a little over 3 years now and only lately however, some ideas are starting to make sense to me. It makes me more eager to try jigeiko in our practices and to compete in tournaments.

I am naturally uncoordinated and tend to knock things over if I´m not careful.
My ambition is to train twice a week and for the past year I have been able to keep that up. Sandbagging: In a sense I may have been for periods before that - skip the details for now.

[styhorporry]

Thanks, Wraith. I already try to apply the "I´m already there, just have to show it" - attitude and sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Practice at home: Hard to do due to time and space restrictions. All practice is useful - but do enlighten me, why do you recommend it?

[artkolkovk]

Talent does not exist. Hours in the dojo and how you practice is what counts.
I am a Scandinavian myself, swedish to be exact, and most people pass shodan within 3 years of training. I would guess the other scandinavian countries are similar, but I really have no clue.

However, this is of course relative to the amount you train, and how often. If you don't practice regularly with continuity there is a high chance you will keep failing your exams.

Other people are passing you most likely because they are practicing more often and regularly.

I have to disagree with you there. The people I´m thinking about have just as busy lives as mine and AFAIK does not spend more time in the dojo.


That said, I just want to reiterate what others have said: Things will work out eventually if you just keep practising.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[BCVB9SOc]

All practice is useful - but do enlighten me, why do you recommend it?

If nothing else, practicing suburi at home will help you develop a more efficient motion. In this way, your timing of your attacks and kikentaiichi will improve. If you make a dummy target to strike at, it can improve your sense of distance also. You mentioned that you are a bit clumsy. Repetitive practice is essential for improving this aspect of your kendo.

[NudiJuicervich]

Talent does not exist. Hours in the dojo and how you practice is what counts.
I am a Scandinavian myself, swedish to be exact, and most people pass shodan within 3 years of training. I would guess the other scandinavian countries are similar, but I really have no clue.

However, this is of course relative to the amount you train, and how often. If you don't practice regularly with continuity there is a high chance you will keep failing your exams.

Other people are passing you most likely because they are practicing more often and regularly.

Have to disagree with you there: The people I´m thinking about does not practice much more than I do. I also know that they have just as busy lives as mine.

[DeronBoltonRen]

Hi all!

I´d like to start by this question: How many years of Kendo practice is "normal" to get to sho-dan?
The reason I´m asking is that looking back at many years of kendo practice, I find that progress has been getting slower and slower. There are some reasons for this, for periods I have been unable to practice properly etc. Recently I failed sho-dan grading for the second time. Not by much, but still it was failure.
My sensei - which I respect very much - keep telling me that a) the time it takes is different for everyone and that it may take as long as it does for me and b) do not compare yourself to other people´s progress. This is probably true, but if I´m this far from having any natural talent, I´m considering switching to another sport.

Any thoughts?

-Yorick

Why are you doing kendo to begin with? Rank etc. should be the last thing you really care about. Hell, I've been going for about 10 years now and still don't have *any* rank (mostly because stuff happens that keeps me from being able to go to exams).

Have to disagree with you there: The people I´m thinking about does not practice much more than I do. I also know that they have just as busy lives as mine.

And they're going to run into the same roadblock you've hit sooner or later, the same as you.

[SantaGanstag]

Yorick, I understand your position, I have had to take breaks in my training for many reasons, Injury, Fatherhood, being a better husband all sorts of things. I trained for several years to reach black belt in TKD. It felt like quite an accomplishment at the time. over the next few years i came to realize that the rank did not matter. I have met more than my share of high ranks that honestly were not worth a shit. Fortunately none of them in Kendo. But TKD is riddled with them. I cam to understand that I did what i did because I enjoyed the learning. As I still do. At the end of the day do you enjoy doing kendo. Who cares if your as good as the next guy, As long as you enjoy it for whatever reason, keep on doing it. If you dont enjoy it, dont. when it comes down to it i dont really even care if I make Gokyu, which i haven't yet, as long as Im learning I have fun. My senseis know what i am capable of and as long as i progress. i feel I am not letting them down. Do what you enjoy.