5th Dan - Time served or Technical grade

[Dobbersky]

All.

I'm due my 5th Dan next year and according to the Original Syllabus it is a time served basis. But I'm toying with the idea of doing a full technical grade.

What are your thoughts on this.

I'm will be 50 next year and no where near as fit as I was when I took my lower Dan grades.

[Nidan Melbourne]

5th Dan is still a Technical Grading to me.

As with every other rank I’d want to earn it no matter what rank it is for. I’d want to feel like I truly earnt it.

[sensei8]

In Shindokan, the only ranks that aren't technical graded are Kudan and Judan; all other ranks are with no exceptions!! I'd have it no other way, imho.

[Dobbersky]

Glad to hear your all thinking the same way as me. I'd prefer the technical grading.

Already started preparing for it.

Got to do a 50 man kumite so that's over an hour of FC sparring including throws and takedowns etc.

Kata I practice Daily anyway.

Bunkai of every Kata in the Syllabus too.

So happy gonna be one of the best 16 hours of my martial arts journey

[bushido_man96]

I still like the idea of a technical grade, too. Best of luck in this endeavor! I'm sure you'll do great (and be very exhausted when you are done)!

[Tepul]

I know many people who got 5th dan because of their work in the karate world. For example promoting karate as a teacher/dojo leader or national trainer.

Most of them got their belt from the Shinhankai (Headquarter )

Now there are also some that took the test, but 5th dan is the highest rank you can do OUTSIDE Japan, so the test itself is pretty strict from what I heard. But most of my friends who took the test were already teaching for many years and also still training themselves, so all of them passed.

6th dan in JKA karate is required to be taken in Japan, which my teacher did.

Seemed it was pretty hard, but I could not get too much info, as my dojo did not want to seem to weak. (understandable)

[aurik]

In our organization, all gradings are technical. However, there is a huge difference between godan and higher dan grades. At Godan, you are tested over the entire curriculum. At rokudan and higher, you are only tested on the three core kata (sanchin, seisan, and sanseiryu).

[wagnerk]

IMO, for grades/ranks 5th Dan and above, I don't have any strong views one way or another.

I started my MA journey 23 years ago with Shotokan and considering that Gichin Funakoshi rank was a 5th Dan, so for me either or is fine. A pretty simplistic view, I know

[DWx]

For us all ranks are technical ranks up to 7th Dan. 7th Dan's are "masters" having completed the formal curriculum.

However for those going for 4th Dan and above, even though they are technical ranks, you still have to submit your application showing if you run a school and what wider events you have attended and participated in.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Glad to hear your all thinking the same way as me. I'd prefer the technical grading.

Already started preparing for it.

Got to do a 50 man kumite so that's over an hour of FC sparring including throws and takedowns etc.

Kata I practice Daily anyway.

Bunkai of every Kata in the Syllabus too.

So happy gonna be one of the best 16 hours of my martial arts journey

Sorry about bringing up an old post, but I just noticed that you said that it is going to be 16 hours!!!

How did/will that grading working out? Like will it be over 2 consecutive days or another method?