[zlopikanikanzax]

Hmm. I don't know... I had been doing Kendo your a year and a half when I went for my Ikkyu. The day before we had a seminar where I did some of my best Kendo ever, not to become complacent I went out and did (I think) very well.

Likewise I had been told to concentrate on good Men cuts and Kiai. I was also told not to even think of kote until I'd scored atleast two good men cuts. I didn't think the men cuts I did were good enough so I held back on the Kote.

The floor manager then told us after the grading "That was some of the most boring kendo I've ever seen...." Direct quote.

Needless to say I found this extremely discouraging after I had tried my best.

I did write an article on grading for beginners just incase anyone is interested...

Grading for the terminally confused

It's the last link on the page...