Ming just read this thread after your pm, if I was on that grading panel I would not have failed you at all. Was not your fault, its this stupid WKF rules of sport karate that has ruined it for everyone, turns fighters into soft fairies who just want to throw attacks that look good but no damage
Had your grading been 10 years ago you would have passed with flying colours. Soft touch freestyle and all these new rules is not what Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki taught or even envisioned Especially when my mum learnt from him as well.
Its simply the guys fault for not block, and 50% power is controlled, by the sounds of it the guy walk straight into the kick before you could snap back in time
I spoke to my mum, not that it is worth that much being Shotokan, but she said had you of done that in her grading, she would of been awarding you your 2nd dan right now
You will get it next time bud