I must say, I do agree with the above posts in that in the Occident, those who have shodan are considered an expert.
However, IMO, when it comes down to it, rank really doesn't mean that much. If for instance, I'm a shodan in an art. Does that mean I can defeat anyone that is not a shodan in the same or 'better' art? Probably not. Rank means only as much as it means to you, when the time comes to 'use' your Aikido. Let's hope when your time comes that you've been focusing on your waza and not your rank.
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