My Promotion to Yondan

I have some good news to share here on the blogosphere. After reviewing my 6,000 word written thesis on knife defense, as well as my teaching skills in a recent knife defense course that I instructed, among other things appropriately chosen by my superiors, my Sensei, Ed Hiscoe Shihan, informed me that I am to be promoted to Yondan, 4th degree black belt, in the art of Can-ryu Jiu-jitsu.

My belt will be presented to me by Steve Hiscoe Shihan (my Sensei's son) at the upcoming black belt seminar in Chilliwack, BC. I'll be teaching a two-hour course covering higher level ground defense curriculum that day. This is another milestone in my 17-year career in the martial arts.

Thanks everyone for all your support past, present and future!

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Comments (9)

9 Responses for "My Promotion to Yondan"

  1. Bob Patterson says:

    A bow and congratulations to you!

  2. FredInChina says:

    Congratulation on the promotion and the 17 years of study Lori.
    osu!

  3. Colin Wee says:

    6000 words? OMG. I only had to do something like that for my MBA program. So ... hearty congratulations! Colin

  4. Lori O'Connell says:

    Thanks for all your support everyone! This blog has been an invaluable tool, allowing me to bounce ideas of my readers. Go-kurosamadeshita!

  5. Lori O'Connell says:

    Rob,

    Thanks for your sentiments. I accidentally mis-clicked and rejected your comment though. You asked why I chose knife defense. I didn't actually choose it. It was assigned to me.

    Lori

  6. rob says:

    I like the concept of submitting a written thesis as part of your grading. It's not something I've come across before in jujitsu/judo but it has existed in Italian fencing for centuries and I think it makes a lot of sense.

  7. John W. Zimmer says:

    Congratulations Lori,

    I just did a word count on mine and it was just over 3000 words (I did for my Godan). It is funny the different requirements for each system... for my Yodan I had to create 10 techniques and 2 kata.

  8. Lori O'Connell says:

    Thanks again everyone! Rob, I agree. I think at the higher levels writing a thesis makes sense. It was a lot of work, but well worth the effort.

    John, the funny thing is that they never told me that it should be 6,000 words long, I just wrote it until I thought I covered enough ground to address the various points I was told to cover. Sound like what you did for Yondan must have been fun!

  9. Sylvie LaRose says:

    Congratulations!
    Mes respects!

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