[foltdan]

I would have said that the Ikyu requirement is basicaly the same as Shodan. I have taken Junior high students to City gradings and that is what they are told by the Shinsain. We have a senior sensei who runs the grading panel appointed to explain the requirements. Perhaps other countries have different concept?

A sort of Shodan warm up and telling them what is expected of them for Shodan. Isn't that why Ikyu was formalized rather than a Dojo Grade? It ensures a smoother transition from one to the next. Over here in Japan we have "hundreds" at gradings and it's a lot smoother doing this than having people "take a crack at it" that have no chance of getting through. I clearly remember one guy not even tying his men himo right for shodan and his men coming off during the grading. We can iron out problems like that at the Ikyu grading.

Also the reason that kids have all the kyu gradings here is that it generally is kids that are the beginers. We don't have so many more matured starters.

I would not even begin to compare Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi with Menkyo, Menkyo Kaiden. The latter are based on the transmission of a tradition. Not sportlike Sogo Budo.

Most people who follow this path have no interest whatsoever in the Dan-I system. It's a, "Forget the grades I dont need em" attitude one should foster.One can take up the "Nan dan desu ka?" path or simply chose to practice, practice, practice, and possibly get rewarded just once in their life for your efforts if at all. I could go even farther to say that if you want shogo you might not even get it. I have seen one quite diligent person who was shown the door showing an over keen-ness to be acknowledged in such a way.

What above has been described as the requirments for Ikyu was what you will be told for all gradings.

Hyaku