The Eight Elders of the Kakita Dueling Academy were the sensei who, under the command of the Master Sensei, dealed with most of the advanced instruction and administrative business there. The leders remaiedn at the Academy until death or retirement. A candidate was selected through vote upon by the remaining seven Elders, and accepted after the chosen duelist defeated one of the elders in a iaijutsu test of skill rather than one of honor, it \s m,ua\\y {ought with bokkcn rather than katana.