抄録
The purpose of this study is to clarify the actual state of Dan acquisition among European kendoists on the grounds of “THE EUROPEAN YUDANSHA-LIST 1987” issued by the European Kendo Federation (Aug.18,1987).
The results obtained can be summarized as follows.
1. As shown in Graph 1, SHO Dan graders represent 52 % and those under SAN Dan more than 90 %. It suggests that the shotage of higher-ranked, leading kendoists is, still a very serious problem in European countries.
3. Compared with the situation in Japan, the number of kendoists under 20 years or over 50 years is extremely small. The average age of the Yudansha in EKF is 28.4 years.
In Japan (e. g., Saitama-ken Kendo Federation) 92.6 % of SHO Dan graders turned out to be young kendoists under 20 years, while in Europe it was only 13.8 %.
3. Four hundreds and forty-two European Yudansha (75.8%) aquired their Dan within the practice period prescribed in the International Kendo Federation Standard Rules for Dan/Kyu Examination or during the next year. Those who were promoted within 4 years after getting former Dan reached the percentage of 90.2. In other words, we can say that 90 % of those remaining unpromoted over 5 years (284 in number, which corresponds to one third of the total EKF Yudansha) have very little chance of promotion.
4. The number of promoted kendoists in EKF is steadily, though not in a large manner, increasing when examined every 5 years since 1966.
