Hanshi - The path to 8th dan: Tani Katsuhiko Hanshi Part .1

We are currently working on the translation of this video and we apologize for the inconvenience.

"The most important thing in preparing for taking the first strike is courage."

                                                                                 - Tani Katsuhiko Hanshi

I had the opportunity of interviewing Tani Sensei in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. I had the pleasure to speaking with the Sensei previously at the Kyoto Taikai where I had received the impression that he was a kind and gentle person. This is hard to imagine from his strong attacks and sharp techniques when he is practicing kendo.

I met him in the parking lot of a restaurant near his home and interviewed him at a nearby dojo where he was training. It is a magnificent private dojo located in the home of a kendo friend of the Sensei.

He was a classmate of Kada Hanshi at the University of Tsukuba and became Hanshi at the same time. My own impression was that Kada Sensei was drawing in waza with his strong command of the situation, while Tani Sensei applied the brakes from time to time in order to provide logistical support...and then-

a memorable story.

“Etiquette starts and ends there.”

We learn the basics while overcoming a great many things, only to return to the basics.

The most important thing is still the basics.

As Sen no Rikyu said, "Learn from one, know how to get to ten, and then return to one.”

That is what he said.

The impression that Tani Sensei gave me was of the person who had reached ten and attained everything he could there – and then returned to one.

H.
- GEN Editorial Staff 

Hanshi - The Path to 8th Dan

Return to Episode Catalogue