#kendo #grading #shodan Grading Advice - Ikkyu,Shodan,Nidan - Finding space to show your Kendo Performing your shinsa at a grading event is like going for a Job interview. You're there to demonstrate specific criteria. Often many Sensei and Sempai ( Teachers and senior students ) will offer very simple and direct advice like "just cut men" for example. Many candidates have a tendancy to take this quite literally and can sometimes get caught up in a sort of robotic dance during the grading where no one hits a valid strike because both participants keep clashing into each other. This video is intended as a means of decoding your Sensei's and or Sempai's advice and putting it into the context of the reality of a tachi ai ( Dual/engadment ) for lack of a better term. I cover everything from preparation before the event and the morning of. I talk about some of the problems that may impede your ability to show your best Kendo on the day and follow the advice you have been given as well as how to overcome them. I talk about Kirikaeshi , the Jitsugi Keiko , the Kata portion as well as the grading paper. I also try to decode the quality differences or steps you are expected to have made between the grades to some degree. Seeing as how the criteria are the same , but the level differs, it may be helpful to understand what some of the markers are for "on track improvements" when it comes to the basics of Ki Ken Tai Ichi. As usual what your Sensei says is top priority and please understand this is meant to compliment that and not to conflict with it. Same goes for other Kendo Youtubers or bloggers etc. Particularly Higher Graded ones than myself. I can only offer my advice based on my own experience of passing these grades, as well as training others who have succeded in attaining these grades as well as my time served as floor manager assisting the panel at gradings. In other words, consider me an online Sempai of sorts if you are going for these grades. As promised , here is the link to Fisher Sensei's ( The Kendo Show / KendoStar ) fantastic video series "Zero To Shodan" which is a sort of technical bible for those progressing from the Kyu levels to Shodan. Please do check it out not only if you are attempting these grades but also a junior coach or a coach with less experience perhaps :    • KENDO : ZERO TO SHODAN   Checkout my gear reviews at this playlist :    • Gear Reviews   Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV8Wgws5hhmmrSpaa8gUekQ Follow Me On Instagram: https://instagram.com/masterlessmusic?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg== Follow Me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KendoSwordsman Check out my Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/The-Swordsman-105657124757016 Find me on Pinterest :https://pin.it/30DAna8