and again I think for accomplishing a show winner your absolutely right. But for many, tosai are an inexpensive way to see how patterns break. How underlying sumi appears, how brothers and sisters from the same folks are different.
in regards to that ladder I referred to earlier, the most important rung to get up to is confidence in keeping the water thru a well designed pond and filtration system. This gives energy towards achieving the next rung which is better and better fish if your purpose to to compete in shows.Or you want to
allow your koi to be the best they can be.
I'm always amazed in my seminars when I poll the attendees to learn that the vast majority could never imagine entering shows. Fortunately many do. I think there is a place in the education of those who want to advance in showing to begin seeing cause and affect. Also One thing I see in japan i don't see here is folks who will specialize in rearing koi for a special competition. Maybe it's baby grand, Jr Grand, best doutsu, best male. They develop a reputation and take pride in selecting and position a koi other than those that compete for GC or reserve.
But along the way we have to help educate those koi keepers to what's possible in their journey, and i quess I'll try and play my part by offering what I know about tosai selection. ( P.S. -Steve I get the urge every once in a while to buy a lotto ticket, myself....your right we all hold on to the impossible dream....a GC or winning big $$$$$ )
