Passing Japan’s hardest test: If there is a certifying exam for trading, this would be like it

By Paul | Published: September 26, 2009

I started watching this video (attached below) merely out of curiosity.  Just to see what test in Japan is harder than becoming a lawyer or a surgeon.  But as I was watching it, the parallel of their recurring theme on the goal of Kendo, which is to defeat yourself, rather than your opponent, is strikingly similar to what I’ve been trying to accomplish in trading.

The video follows two 8th dan Kendo test candidates, Ishida Kenichi, a National Kendo Champion 15 years ago (whom have failed this test 4 times since), and Kai Miyamoto, a 78-year-old that has tried this test for 24 times in 24 consecutive years and failing every time.

Watch the hour long video and take from it what you can yourself.  Here are a couple of quotes as teasers.

“Mr. Ishida trains to teach his body not accidental swings, but only perfectly calculated and timed movements.”  (flip through any trading psychology book and I’m sure you’ll find similar words)

Toward the end of the video, Ishida had to write an essay on the topic of “The Sword is Soul”.  The translator summarized Ishida’s essay as follows.

“The most important aspect of Kendo is to have a humble enough mind to admit that you are weak and train to improve yourself.”

Replace the word “Kendo” with “trading” and there you have it.  A seemingly trite statement, but only when you are able to appreciate the simplicity and truth of such words by a former Japanese National Kendo Champion can you begin to truly learn, rather be it Kendo or trading.

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