Iaido Exam 1st Dan, Tokyo, Ayase, Sep 2007

[DarkLordRoto]

*Head desk* *Head desk* *Head desk* *Head desk* *Head desk*

[SAMANTHA755]

I have to pass 20 katas to get to 1st Dan, Araki Ryu Iaido

[nukious]

This is 1st dan. I agree that it's not very good. From what I know in Japan they'll push you up to shodan pretty quickly. They call it being big s$%t because it really doesn't mean anything. Mostly just means you won't stab yourself in the foot. But it gets really tricky after sandan.

[pythag123]

So this only takes like 30 seconds, and donèt hit me with that: No it takes a lifetime crap.

[ebalag]

That's is a 1st dan examination? I can't believe it.......

[shinken12]

That is 1st dan!!??!!....OMG the sword arts are truly dying.....

[daddydojang]

I bet they were nervous.

[animenolifer2]

im seriously considering studying this art...but on the flyer i read it says they use wooden swords for practice but the website says they use real ones O_o so which is it?!?!?!

[haxerx123]

@animenolifer2 I may be wrong but wooden swords are used for practice while real ones are used in examinations.

[chanm3SU]

@animenolifer2 you start with a bokken, if you feel confident, you can move up to an iaito, after that generally you have to wait until your sensei feels you are capable of handling a shinken, by this time you are either 1st or 2nd kyu, or even in shodan

[Azurel777]

@chanm3SU or you start with a sharp sword, shinken as you said it. All depends on the teacher. Live blades are in fact the fastest way to improve since they require your full attention unlike blunt practice swords.

[chanm3SU]

@Azurel777 no, i can guarantee you that a sensei will never have a beginner use a shinken. because if you lose focus (which is likely among beginners) you will either end up with a split saya, or worse a cut open hand, which I assume will generally discourage anyone from proceeding forward in iaido. honestly, even at san-dan, people still make mistakes and can cut themselves still, so to give someone with minimal sword experience a shinken is a terrible idea.

[Azurel777]

@chanm3SU my teacher started learning with sharp blade, his instructor belives that it is the best way to improve your skills. Probably due to the much higher concentration you need for them. I personally would advise to start out with a blunt weapon though.

[chanm3SU]

@Azurel777 It really is dependent on how your sensei feels about you using shinken, i can see your 'sensei no sensei's' point of view. but chances are that your sensei is not a novice to martial arts, he knows how to focus and be in zanshin, even if it was his first time doing iaido, i'm sure he took different arts prior to iaido, maybe taekwondo or even aikido. i wouldn't hand someone who has no experience with martial arts or bladed weapon a shinken.

[Chutiwathana]

bad or good they are or not ....real swordmanship dont comment on the other behind the back but in front of it with sword in hand ..so shut the fuck up

[thejues]

verry true lotusdragon09 but every test is nerve racking it will nevr go away.....it will folow u nomater what u do.....

[LotusDragon09]

Yeesh. Has he been out of practice for a year or something? Maybe he was just really nervous. Yeah, I can definitely see the nervousness.  Should have done some meditation or something before hand.

[arde91]

The "guy" in the back is not bad, surely better than the one at the front

[Warfa1r]

По ржал от души! вот же придурки)))))

[mickparly]

It is never catastrophic trying to do a kata in the right way, so telling that is not a good attitude to people who cerartainly are trying do there best. But for a shodan examination, i would maybe have told the most of them to train some more before trying to obtain this degree.

[BunrakukenIII]

Indeed so. I do not know a Dojo Master locally - my own included - who would let some of the folk filmed here anywhere near any grading, of any level, in this state.

[AznofHK]

the slowest one to start is definitely the best out of the four

[Wookiee81]

I think this is exemplary of why we should not have "ranks" and everyone should just be seeking to improve.

[BuddhaZenMind]

It was catastrophic......We students of Japanese Martial Arts should be able to handle criticism and improve especially at 1st Dan level...

[wrullf]

I am really against the idea that this examination is for 1st Dan. I do iaido a little and I can tell that the smoothness of kata is nowhere to find even though I suck in smoothness too, but to call it catastrophic would be rude to these people.

[Dtrollmancan]

you are all jealous cus they train in japan and not a Mcdojo like all of you.

[Mitzrael19]

@Dtrollmancan +1

[Xarcas]

also, you realize they pay their way into this right?

[Xarcas]

the guy taking his time was worth the wait imo, liked his draw

[nandakoryaaa]

I can do better any time

[nikosklia1]

ohhhh please my 6th kyu exams was faaaaarrrrrrr better than this ........ please if you are the guy in the video please , please change your sensei

[BuddhaZenMind]

The guy at the front is all over the place...The Nukitsuke was of balance...Kiritsuke was careless...Chiburi was embarrasing...Noto was catastrophic!

[maggot6460]

@BuddhaZenMind I agree, for this to be Kata Mae the first kata EVERY iaidoka starts with, he should be in a lot more control, the part that killed me was the noto also, took him two tries to get his sword back in the saya. I dont like critisizing people if they just started but for this to be a shodan exam that is kinda embarrassing for the sensei.

[onotadaki]

@BuddhaZenMind Wow, nerves must have gotten the better of him :O

[staalwart]

FredericSimon, are you absolutely sure this is a 1st D-A-N examination????? For God's sake, I have new students far geater that THAT! Too many extra movements, the nukitsuke was shaky and not at the correct level nor angle, the kiritsuke wasn't completely circular, the o-chiburi was with absolutely no energy, and he was actually FEELING the kissaki with his fingers when performing the noto!!!! And for endings, he was -looking down- while stepping back, instead of -feeling- the marker!

[leandrocuriel]

1st dan????

[orangekush3]

are you sure this is for 1st dan...they have such a terrible form, yikes!!!!

[Pnasoman]

the one closest to the camera to nervous. with that mae i was going to give him only the 5th kyu :P

[ihaterobbie123]

The closest guy was so nervous! XD

I love watching people get nervous at gradings, if you have any doubt it goes from bad to worse...fast. Priceless, absolutely priceless.

[sergpol12]

It's.... terrible.... It's anything else but NOT iai anyway

[pikkefar]

what a bunch of geeks

[seishin48]

i think it does go to prove in the uk our standerd are no diffrent to the japs them selfs.

[RykkerNighteyes]

I really hope that wasn't for Shodan. That looked like he we going for 6th Kyuu

[yulyx]

Alot to improve on that noto, and the hand shakes too much at the iai. I'm not even sure if its parallel to the ground.

I wonder if he passed...

[n0m4d]

as the comment above. What about the dude closest to the cam - Can he keep his balance? I mean.. He sure does a nice second cut, but noto is soooo shaky and he looks almost unsure/insecure. :(

[Soogiri]

I doesn't have that high toughts about my own iaido-skills..But i have heard that in japan, the quality of first dan is not that high.

[Sparrowhawk1138]

Japan usually equates shodan with having the basics down. We have a neck of giving shodan+ more meaning.