Hanshi : The path to 8th dan - Kakehashi Masaharu Hanshi

"kendo practitioner start training for their 8th dan examination the day after they pass their 7th dan examination.

When a kendo practitioner passes the examination of his target dan, he may feel a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and relief, and think that he should take a short rest before planning and practicing for the next dan.However, Master Lung says that this way of thinking is wrong.

He says, "I passed my 7th dan examination.If a person who has passed the 7th dan examination practices with an easy mind, he will lose his 7th dan ability.
That's why a person who has passed the 7th dan examination must start practicing the day after passing the examination.
Otherwise, even if that person starts practicing for the 8th dan examination after some time has passed, he or she will have to start practicing from the point where the 7thdan ability is developed.
He also said, "If a person continues to practice seriously from the next day after passing 7th dan, he will have 8th dan ability in 10 years.

When I listened to him, I realized that continuity is power.If my goal is to pass the 8th dan examination, I think it is important to think of passing 7th dan as a passing point.He also said, "I have never enjoyed practicing.He said that he often asked to practice with strict instructors who would not let him practice even if he asked.In order to pass the narrow gate of 8th dan, we have to be strict with ourselves.

Hanshi : The Path to 8th Dan

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