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Old 01-07-2012, 10:14 AM   #19
Tim Griffiths
Dojo: Nes Ziona Aikikai
Location: Suzhou, China
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 188
China
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Re: The crux of two ranks having any equality

Quote:
Anonymous User;300190 [... wrote:
I went in with an empty cup.
Not really, eh?

Quote:
They will not be as good as they can.
If Aikido was a 2-year course where you got your shodan then finished, I'd agree. But if you're doing Aikido for 30-40 years, who cares if you took your first black belt after 5, 7 or 15 years? Honestly, shodan *doesn't* have great "substantial value" by itself, and anyone preening because they have achieved any particular rank is due for a hard slap of reality anyway.

If one makes a distinction between the dojo and the battlefield, or being in your bedroom or in public, then when the time comes there will be no opportunity to make amends. (Hagakure)
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