Godan Eye-witness Reports
"Eye-witness Reports concerning the godan test"
Report Number 1: Contributed by: Leif Angestam , Sweden, 19 May 1998
"I saw the sakki test in the Tokyo Budokan in March this year. Four Americans and one Japanese guy took it, but what was quit strange was that one of the Americans got several shots at it, failing every time as it seemed. The last try was perfect though and he passed. Many of the people present thought that it was a bad test and that soke had been nice to the guy letting him pass. However, after practice someone asked soke about it and he replied that he had not used his energy of the killer the first three times but the last time he did and he actually felt the person moving. Soke did not even complete the cut before he congratulated the guy! "
Report Number 2: Contributed by: Marco Verheij ,Holland 17 August 1998
"I saw at around 50 sakki tests being taken by 35 people on one day at the Stockholm Taikai on the 7th of August. I was there because I took it as well, a report on that can be read in the personal experiences report. There were two people from Holland taking the test me and Michel de Winter. He was at the top of the list so he had to go first. Soke let him sit down put the shinai on his head raised it and hit with full force. Michel got it on the head just like the next 6 people who were next. After I had taken it I went to Michel and told him what Mr.Nagase had told me: to roll backwards. When it was Michel's second try he sat down again. Soke raised his shinai, his facial expression changed and he struck down. Within a split second Michel rolled to the left and backwards. He was congratulated by Soke and walked up to the group of people who had passed and said: "it worked".
Report Number 3: Contributed by: Leen Stam ,Holland 07 September 1998
It was Sunday, the tenth of august 1997, our last day and the unofficial first day of training at the Hombu in Japan. At the end of training there where three people who where going to take the test. Two from Australia and one from Holland. I'll write about the last one because that person is Marco Verhey, the one I train with and one of my best friends. As always Sensei said that there would be two tries for the three persons in front of him. The guys from Australia where hit on the head the first time. Marco came up, sat down and closed his eyes. In the training before I had never seen him so nervous, I couldn't tell when he sat down. Sensei hit him on his shoulders, then on his head, lifted the shinai up, closed his eyes and waited. To me it felt like ages and when the sword came down, it seemed like I watched it in slow motion. Marco reacted, bent forwards and then…, he stopped! It was just for a split second but he stopped and then made a forwards roll. He looked down and was convinced that he had failed. And in a way he did. He reacted at the right moment but stopped, he was not sure. He sat down at the side of room and the Australian guys went up again. They passed. Marco came up for his second time. I kept my fingers crossed. The sword came up, went down very fast, Marco reacted at the right moment. He bent over forwards and the same thing happened. He waited, was not sure for a split second paused and then rolled forwards. The sword missed, the shihan who where there said no. But because he was so close and maybe of the first day and all, Marco got another chance. The same thing happened the third time, the sword missed but he waited after he bent over forwards. "Again!" said Sensei. Fourth time, same thing. "Once more!" Everbody looked as Marco sat down again. It was so quiet on that extremely hot afternoon. Hatsumi Sensei was looking around, talked a bit and during that conversation he wanted to put the shinai on Marco's head who sat there with his eyes closed. When the sword came up towards his head Marco moved it away. Was he ready for it? I hoped so. This had got to be the one. But the same thing happened. The hesitation after the response. It looked good. Mr. Noguchi started to clap. But it had to be unanimous. Weird enough, Hatsumi Sensei gave Marco another chance! And again, the sixth time, no hit but that hesitation. Marco thought and maybe hoped it was over but he had to go up again. The tenth dans who were the had to give advise. I remember Bud Malmstrom say that Marco had to let go and let Sensei do it. To me I could feel the tension in the dojo. As before, Hatsumi Sensei held the sword up and after a pause of a few seconds it came down. Marco reacted, only now he was a bit slower and the sword hit him on his lower back. That was it, It was over. Marco stood up and Sensei looked at him and said: "Next time!". And that was it. Marco went home, a year passed and then there was a next time. The Sweden Taikai of '98. He passed. I could not be there because only tenth dans where allowed. This time he passed it after the first try. It was enough, no hesitation, no next time. Congratulations!
Send me your eye-witness report and it will be put here.
Complete reports should include:
- date of the test.
- where the test was taken.
- who took the test.
- the actual report.
Any comments or questions can be mailed to Marco Verheij at risu@luna.nl.