[attanilifardy]

In another thread, Neil mentioned:

I note that Nishikawa-sensei passed hachidan at his first try. Just off hand, does anyone know how many people (maybe who?) have passed 8.dan on their first attempt?

curious,
t

[karaburatoreror]

Isn't the pass rate something like 1%?

Didn't Ishida pass first time? The 8th dan documentary guy...

On the video I noticed Yamanaka Sensei, he is also 8th dan but i have no idea how many times he took the test.

I know i plan to. Piece of piss.

In a bazillion years maybe...

[Queuerriptota]

Didn't Ishida pass first time? The 8th dan documentary guy...

no he passed on his 5th try i think.

[jadabaad]

As I recall, the sensei from the doc failed 2 or 3 times before passing the 8th dan test. It's been a while, so I could be wrong, but that's what I remembered.

But it really doesn't matter how many time he had to do the test before passing... It's still an amazing achievement.

[tactWeiccaf]

Just checked the documentary... Ishida failed four times and got the hachi dan with his 5th attempt!! Still amazing though...

[UncoonsKala]

The pass rate is around 1%, and sometimes even less than 1% I believe...

Can't imagine what the rate is for folks passing the first time around.

[occafeVes]

Not been the first time i have been incorrect!

Been a while since i have seen it too

Imagine just how good nanadans are (people like Ozawa Sensei, woah!), and they pretty much all fail on the first attempt, crazy.

[RichardHaads]

Just off hand, does anyone know how many people (maybe who?) have passed 8.dan on their first attempt?

Tagawa sensei from Detroit passed on his first try. Last year, I think.

[Tarrccrys]

Oh really? I didn't know he did it on 1st try!

I had a very brief keiko with him at summer camp... I didn't even come close to laying a finger on him...

[jokilewqs]

Tagawa sensei from Detroit passed on his first try. Last year, I think.

That is a tremendous feat for sure. How long was he Nanadan for?

[NKUDirectory]

Tagawa sensei did not pass on his first try, maybe his fifth time before he passed. If my memory is correct he passed nanadan at the Seattle test in 1994 but I could be off by a year.

[vioppyskype]

How about YODA YASUNORI SENSEI? Did he pass at his first attempt? I tried to find is biography but I couldn't...

[freeringtonesioo]

A few guys have passed on their first attempt (ive heard via rumours over the years but didnt catalogue) which goes back to a discussion on another thread recently about your kendo resume.

The only person I can think of from the top of my head is Fukuoka Kyoiku Daigakus Sumi Masatake sensei, someone well know in the European kendo scene.

A quick look at his kendo grading history will show you how things have changed over the years:

1st Dan age 15
2nd Dan age 16
3rd Dan age 19
4th Dan age 20
5th Dan age 23
6th Dan age 26
7th Dan age 32
8th Dan age 47 (1st attempt)

I know a bunch of 8dans, but its not exactly a question that comes up over a beer. Also, the kendo magazines dont usually write this type of information in their biographies.

[Donadoni1809]

Fukumoto Shuji sensei (Kendo Hanshi 8-Dan, Managing Dir - AJKF and Vice Pres. - FIK) is very proud of the fact that he has passed all his gradings on the first attempt.

His theory is that when you go for a grading (or general training), your skill level should be at the higher end of that grade level. That way, you'll always be ahead of the competition.

[creewespock]

Fukumoto Shuji sensei (Kendo Hanshi 8-Dan, Managing Dir - AJKF and Vice Pres. - FIK) is very proud of the fact that he has passed all his gradings on the first attempt.

His theory is that when you go for a grading (or general training), your skill level should be at the higher end of that grade level. That way, you'll always be ahead of the competition.

Smart man. Everyone always seems to be in such a hurry to be graded or to grade people. It's unfortunate.

[fotodemujerahldesnugdo]

A few guys have passed on their first attempt (ive heard via rumours over the years but didnt catalogue) which goes back to a discussion on another thread recently about your kendo resume.

The only person I can think of from the top of my head is Fukuoka Kyoiku Daigakus Sumi Masatake sensei, someone well know in the European kendo scene.

A quick look at his kendo grading history will show you how things have changed over the years:

1st Dan age 15
2nd Dan age 16
3rd Dan age 19
4th Dan age 20
5th Dan age 23
6th Dan age 26
7th Dan age 32
8th Dan age 47 (1st attempt)

I know a bunch of 8dans, but its not exactly a question that comes up over a beer. Also, the kendo magazines dont usually write this type of information in their biographies.

how can you you go from sandan to yondan in a year isn't 3 year min time as a sandan?

[insightmike]

how can you you go from sandan to yondan in a year isn't 3 year min time as a sandan?

It is now.

I suspect that a lot of the 8dans alive now - and those that have ever been - probably didnt wait the times that we do nowadays. Sumi senseis bio probably isnt that extraordinary.

So higher grades are not only harder to achieve nowadays, but take longer. Despite this you could probably argue that kendoka nowadays are technically superior to those of prior generations. You could also argue that grades arent all about technical ability however.

Sumi sensei was a 7dan at an age where nowadays only really strong people can hope to be 6dan. Thats a whole grade of difference. Its not the 1 year between 3dan and 4dan that sticks out to me, but this 7dan at 32.

[wmcelesta]

Tashiro sensei (Bogu-ya friend of Sumi sensei) passed first attempt
Very unusual ! Very powerful kendo