Fighting

One of the biggest difference between Kyu and Dan is that...

It is ability to stand.

What does that mean?

Kyu is basically one long crawl, learning from mistakes, fighting back, bouncing back every time you fall. One long crawl, one long learning how to stand up.

Why the heck I'm making this metaphor, and looking up, the title is fighting?

Often, I have seen in the games, dan players seem to have an idea how to stand back, and find ways to fight back against opponent. Often, I see weaker players cowering, or following around, not taking initative. Or rather, trying to find ways to take initative so could fight back on even terms. That means finding moves that you would never have thought before. Finding tesujis that work in amazing ways.

What makes the difference? It's ability to find a way to fight back. Things may not go well on one part, but just fighting back can make a world of difference. Must have desire to win.

Cannot falter in fuseki
Cannot falter in middle game
Cannot falter in yose.

In all of those stages, must learn how to fight back.

In a way, kyu is like a baby learning how to walk. Dan players are like a toddlers who toddle, knowing how to walk, and how to stand.

With this realization, the board looks much bigger. So distant. So deep. More I understand, less I feel like I know about the game.