shodan...

i passed my shodan test yeseterday. shodan doesn't really mean much. it just means that now i can call myself a beginner. however, it means a great deal to me. since this means that my home dojo can have two practice per week now. in our organization, we can not have official practice unless there is a yudansha. this makes me yudansha, and this will let us hold official practice when i'm at the dojo. some will say that's not a selfish thing to do, however, in my opinion, that is most perfect selfish act. this means, our dojo can have more practice, and that means, i can have more practice! lol

i was rather sure i wouldn't pass. there is two part to kendo promotion test. ji-geiko part and kata part. ji-geiko part.. i don't remember. i have perfect mushin (無心) not because i'm good.. but because, i'm so busy trying to survive, i have no idea what i did. kata part is different. i remember what i did, and i get feed back to myself so i can see what i'm doing wrong and i can correct myself. this comes from years of practicing bagpipes. anyway, i know i made large number of detailed mistakes. not big ones, but certain concepts were missing. but one big mistake i made is on 4th kata (yonhonme(?)) i lead with my right foot instead of left foot on kaeshi men. and judge was standing right behind me. all in all, i made enough mistake to warrant not passing. however, i think judges had mercy on me due to the fact that they respect my sensei so much. i'm really gonna miss him when he moves.