Just heard that the Void finally managed to achieve 6th Dan (the first westerner to do so)! Big congrats to the fellow; that's a hell of a consistency, especially under exam conditions. Well played!
Congratulations! Must have been up at the JKA event in Yamagata this weekend. In case you guys are wondering what is required for 6th Dan here's the chart.
Congrats to that man Void, most impressive. And I thought the pressure was on when I did 2nd Dan, ha ha!
The race is over!! Serious congrats to Void, I know he's been on the hunt for that for quite some time. @MattSweets you'll probably be interested to check in here. Void, Sweets and Ruisch have all been trying to be the first westerner to obtain 6th dan for a couple years... I think they each took 2-4 attempts thus far. The consistency challenge side of it is no joke! And the examiners are much more strict at this level than they are for foreigners testing 1st or 2nd dan, from what I've seen. Move your pinky finger off the tama while catching that light house? MISS! I hope Void is enjoying a nice cold Asahi... or better yet, some Yona!
I've talked to @koisurustephen about this, but.. if I went for it I could have been the first 'westerner' to get 6th dan. (just due to the fact that I'd have way more chances) But I knew about the race and Void, Ruische, and Sweets have all paved the way for Kendama, and a nobody like me would be so undeserving of that title. Maybe I'll go for it now and be the second. hah!