#5dan

I was able to help proctor the 2015 AUSKF Yudansha test yesterday.

I watched very closely the movements, waza etc of the 5.Dans to see where I have to be for my 4.Dan test next year. It was a great opportunity to have a court side seat.

Out of around 50 people testing for the ranks of 5Dan, 6Dan and 7Dan.

Only 6 people passed. 4 of those were 5 Dan, and 2 were 6.Dan. 

One take away I had from the Shinsa, is that many of the 5 Dans (largest group) lacked zanshin. Many just stood and struck, they did not run through, they did not strike with their being. They opened a point, struck the point, and then halted and kiai’d at their opponent. I wondered why? 

Striking THROUGH your opponent is one of the fundamental components to Ki-Ken-Tai-Ichi. I believe this may be why many of them failed, they didn’t commit everything to their strike.

We are meant to strike our point, without regard to our own lives.