and so you keep at it...
Aiki - if you notice, Steven Seagal does not practice any martial arts at a pace or rate that he used to 10-15 years ago. Back then, Kendo was completely different. AND it's like I said that the difference between Kendo and Kenjutsu is not clear (you just said it that the schools can't tell one from the other - "...Yes this is a kendo school even if we refer to it here as kenjutsu") - I was just explaining the traditional differences in the 'do' and 'jutsu' to the other members. I was also saying that Steven Seagal has given many interviews in which he referred to kendo as one of his mastered skills, in which he obtains a high rank (close to the one of his Aikido). You can certainly see that Steven Seagal's physical abilities are not what they used to be (for one, his endurance level has decreased greatly - which would explain his body doubles and those potential 'breathing problems') as he decided to take on his religion and focus on spiritual beliefs and values. I don't see why you are keeping at this. I was just giving you a bit of history, but you are stuck on the present (when you damn right know that Steven Seagal was not into fencing). I don't care much for the present kendo as it turned into a money making business and away from its traditional roots. You can argue all you want, but unless you get some historical facts straight I don't see the point.
Oh and by the way, Kendo does give out ranks in dan ranks today (although not traditionally - but you can make a rough approximation in transforming the skills from one to another ranking system). Ranks go from dan 1-9 (shodan-kudan) and the rough ability levels associated with rank would be for example 'Beginner with solid baiscs' = shodan (1st dan) ... 'Master instructor' = nanadan (7th dan) as opposed to 'Senior instructor' = rokudan (6th dan); 'Kendo God' = hachidan (8th dan).
Now for modern kendo you said something about high ranks not actually being given; well, here's an official stat I found: Every year, about 1500 nanadan candidates try the hachidan exam in Japan. The pass rate is usually about 2%. These are all famous guys - tournament champions and so forth, but the hachidan exam is very rigorous.