Third dan testing

[Daniel Sullivan]

Well, the big day is here. Well, almost. I test on March 24th. I had to do a three page essay and create a form. Both of these I have done, so all that is left is a lot of hard training (been doing that).

I'll post the details after the test.

Daniel

[CESAREKIM]

Best of luck in your test. Hope you don't get anyone too crazy. I personally don't mind a superior opponent as long as I get a chance to work. The beserkers are nuts to grade with...

[Daniel Sullivan]

It'll be all of the usual suspects, lol.

GM Kim, Master Choi, a couple of other students who received their shodan around the same time that I did, and my older son who is now within a half inch of being as tall as I am.

He has us spar after doing warmups, forms, technique, one step sparring, Kirikaeshi with all of the blackbelts who happen to show, 100 haya suburi each for head, wrist, waist, then left/right head (50 & 50). Needless to say, everyone will be a beserker by comparison.

Daniel

[b8amack]

Kirikaeshi??? Yonggyok! j/k How'd it go? I missed my 2nd dan test due to a torn rotator cuff.... got a while before the third dan test, but it looks a lot more intense than the first or second.

[CESAREKIM]

Daniel,
How did the exam go? Hope everything went as expected.

Take care

cesare

[Daniel Sullivan]

Sorry to keep you all in suspense!

I did pass, and received my instructor's certificate in the organization (KKF). The test was pretty intense. Aside from the technicals of kata and technique and 100 haya suburi, I had roughly an hour of straight sparring, GM Kim, Master Choi, and one second dan student rotating every five minutes. No breaks. For more than half of that, I had to fight nito.

Daniel

[CESAREKIM]

Congratulations!

Out of curiosity, what does the instructor certification process entail? Over here, we are required to take 32 hours in the classroom with psychologists, phys ed professors and doctors. We are then required to attend three kendo seminars for a total of about 32 more hours of actual practice geared towards teaching kendo.

[Daniel Sullivan]

Congratulations!

Out of curiosity, what does the instructor certification process entail? Over here, we are required to take 32 hours in the classroom with psychologists, phys ed professors and doctors. We are then required to attend three kendo seminars for a total of about 32 more hours of actual practice geared towards teaching kendo.

My GM went independent a little while back and formed his own org. It essentially amounts to him watching me teach class and determining whether or not I am 'qualified.' Given that I've been running classes since 2007, I would hope that I am by now, lol.

Daniel

[b8amack]

Sorry to keep you all in suspense!

I did pass, and received my instructor's certificate in the organization (KKF). The test was pretty intense. Aside from the technicals of kata and technique and 100 haya suburi, I had roughly an hour of straight sparring, GM Kim, Master Choi, and one second dan student rotating every five minutes. No breaks. For more than half of that, I had to fight nito.

Daniel

For real? I've seen third dan applicants at the dan shimsa here in Korea, and the testing was nowhere NEAR that intense! It still looked damn hard, but no hour of daeryon.

[Daniel Sullivan]

I was fairly surprised. I had been told after my second dan that the next test would be less physical and more technical.

It was less haya suburi, less warm-up, more technical and more sparring.

Daniel

[CESAREKIM]

Sounds pretty intense...

Well, my 4 dan shimsa is in three weeks. Will keep you posted.

[Daniel Sullivan]

I am definitely keeping good thoughts out for you, Cesare!

Daniel

[CESAREKIM]

Failed my exam yesterday. My dad was on the panel and he said it was the worst I had done in years. I got one good sohmok and one or two muhri but overall I was pretty Shiiity. Issue was not technical but rather mental. I was still on my legs and would twitch over my opponents' seme. Considering that I can and did beat these guys, it's sad. Pretty depressing...

Next grading session is in July in Korea if I decide to go. May just wait for Xmas.

[Daniel Sullivan]

Cesar, I am very sorry to hear that! I would have posted sooner, but I just got back from vacation.

July is tomorrow, so are you going to Korea or waiting for Christmas?

Daniel

[CESAREKIM]

Testing in two weeks in Korea. So much for having a vacation with my family...