Sandan

[HeadCheese]

Appropos of nothing, I finally tested for and was promoted to sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Iwama Style Aikido.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I have very large shoes into which I need to grow...:)

[goose710]

Head Cheese


Congrdulations dude!!! now you are really and truely "DA Head Cheese" I have only respect for anyone that stays the course and achives any lifes goal

da gooseman

[loempe]

hey. Congratulations ;-)

[Maynar]

Well done sir, and my hearty congratulations! :karate:

[Dotanuki]

Appropos of nothing, I finally tested for and was promoted to sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Iwama Style Aikido.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I have very large shoes into which I need to grow...:)

I think you meant tabi's???=))

Seriously though, this is a major accomplishment!!

What many here might not know, in many of the "old school" martial arts, one is not considered a instructor untill they reach '3rd degree' or sandan.
Iwami Style Aikido is as close to Ueshiba's original vision of Aikido one can get. (Very old school!)
At sandan one begins their okuden training (initiation to the inner mysteries)
so this is a very big deal.

This is the way things were in my time anyway, what they are today is anyone's guess?
Irregardless, sandan is a major accomplishment, showing a lifelong dedication to the martial arts!
Congratulations again!! :bow::bow::bow:

[HeadCheese]

Thank you all for your kind words. I hope to be worthy of the rank eventually. Being promoted to the rank of Sandan doesn't mean that I have 3rd-degree black belt skills so much as I successfully graduated from my Nidan rank. Now I'm ready to learn what a Sandan knows.

Tomorrow, I begin my 20th year of study.

Tabi notwithstanding, Dotanuki is correct about Iwama-style Aikido, though I'm sure the pre-war students who formed the other styles would argue that point. ;-)

[the blade master]

nice going h c

[wolfhound]

Well Done, after just going through a grading myself and due to soles of my feet being shot to bits I feel like I'm going to need to wair a large pair of Tabi come my next training session let alone fill them :)

[andysoard]

Congrats headcheese!