Test passed!

[ironphoenix]

I passed my shodan (first-degree black belt) test in aikido yesterday, after about 15 years of practice! I'm still in Montreal for day 2 of the seminar where the tests are held, feeling a bit stiff and sore from the 5 hours of practice yesterday; it'll ease up once I get back on the mats and moving, and I have tomorrow to recover.

Comments

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Woot! Congratulations!

I have a dumb Aikido question for you: How much practice do you get against people who have practiced offensive strikes/grapples before reaching your current stage?

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

It varies by dojo, of course, but we are fortunate to have several folks with considerable skill in "hard styles" to keep us honest. Our head instructor is one, with 10 years of taekwondo background; we also have a couple of students who actively practice and teach karate, as well as others with colorful histories.