Originally posted by Darth Vious
I'd say ten years of training could certainly be enough to qualify someone as a Master depending on their aptitude and dedication to training. I trained to a certain degree every day (starting at 8) as my best friend's father was hanshi (Master)) and I am now hanshi myself. I am currently only yodan in bujutsu, because a person has to be over the age of 16 to qualify as shodan (paper equivelent of black belt) regardless of the age they started training. I don't know who Taro is, and I agree, there is always room for improvement and learning something new, however, that does not mean someone cannot achieve the status of Master sooner than others. Just because someone becomes a Master, it does not mean they stop learning.
I take it you study the Japanese art of fencing. I on the other hand study a European style of fencing, Foil and Saber: 2 out of the 3 types.